Chapter 29

He didn’t bother to hide his disdain anymore. “If I recall, Ana’s mother passed away some time ago.”
The implication was clear: Nora wasn’t Anastasia’s mother, so what right did she have to demand his presence at the party?
Penelope’s smile faltered for a moment.
Harrison felt Anastasia squeeze his arm a little tighter. He glanced down to find her eyes shining as she looked up at him.
He paused, then asked gently, “What’s wrong?”
Anastasia shook her head, replying quickly, “Nothing!”
But inside, her heart was light and joyful—he’d called her Ana! More than that, his thoughts aligned perfectly with hers. For a moment, warmth blossomed in her chest.
She wanted a private word with Harrison, but Penelope’s continued presence was starting to grate. Anastasia decided it was time for her stepsister to leave.
“Penelope, just leave the dress and head home, okay?”
But Penelope had worked hard to find an excuse to visit Rosewood Manor-there was no way she’d leave so easily.
She put on her best smile. “I picked this dress out for you myself. Took me ages to find just the right one! Go on, take a look-see if you like it.”
With a wave, she signaled for the dress to be brought out.
The moment the dress was unveiled, the air seemed to freeze.
Logan, who had just walked over, couldn’t help but stare in shock.
Anastasia’s mouth twitched as she realized, a bit belatedly, what was happening. She stared at the dress-an explosion of clashing colors, garish reds and greens, with a cut so bizarre that it was hard to tell if it looked more like a blanket or a set of bedsheets…but then again, was there really any difference?
It was exactly the kind of “unique” style Nora and Penelope had worked so hard to cultivate in her over the years.
“Do you like it, Anastasia?” Penelope asked sweetly, the picture of the caring older sister.
A glint of coldness flashed in Anastasia’s eyes. “Of course! Where would you even find something like this? You really went out of your way, Penelope.”
Penelope missed the sarcasm and continued beaming. “As long as you like it! I don’t mind spending a little extra time for you.”
“If you like it so much, you have to wear it for the party. Just imagine everyone’s surprise!”
Listening to her fawning, Anastasia’s lips curled into a half-smile. “Sure, why not?”
Satisfied to see Anastasia as easy to manipulate as ever, Penelope’s earlier frustration vanished in an instant.
So what if she’d managed to catch Mr. Lancaster’s eye? She’s still the same clueless fool!
Another birthday, another spectacle-Penelope couldn’t wait to see the outcome. With high spirits, Penelope finally left.
Harrison stared at the dress, frowning slightly, silent for a long moment before he asked carefully, “Do you actually like this style?”
Anastasia hesitated.
She shot a quick look at the offensively loud dress, then blurted out, “Not at all!”
Relief softened Harrison’s features.
Logan couldn’t help but chime in, “Then why would the Sterlings send you something like this?”
Especially when that sister of hers kept insisting Anastasia loved it.
Anastasia pressed her lips together. Because it’s the only style I ever wore before.”
Logan looked incredulous. “You don’t like it, but you wore it anyway?”
Harrison’s brows drew together again. “If you hated it, why didn’t you say so? Why keep wearing it?”
Anastasia glanced at him, her voice small and aggrieved. “I never liked these clothes. They’re ugly, and everyone always laughs at me when I wear them. I never wanted to, but every time I had to go out, Nora and Penelope would insist I wear something like this.”
The first time, she’d been naïve enough to listen to Penelope and ended up the laughingstock of the party. The second time, she tried to refuse, but Nora and Penelope always told her she looked wonderful that the others were just jealous.
Her mother had died young, and Nora married in not long after. Anastasia was raised by Nora, grew up alongside Penelope, and trusted them completely. She’d always taken their word as gospel. Follow current novels on
Looking back, she couldn’t help but feel pathetic.
And what a pair they were-she’d married into Rosewood Manor, and they still
made sure to send her a “thoughtful” dress.
Harrison’s gaze darkened at her words.
“If you don’t like them, you don’t have to wear them ever again.” His tone was cool
as he glanced at the dress. “Get rid of it.”
Logan nodded in agreement.
But Anastasia stopped him. “Wait-!”
She blinked innocently. “She went out of her way to send me a gift. How could I just throw it away?”
Three days later, Nora’s birthday party arrived.