Chapter 37

Her gaze flickered as she spoke softly, “I can’t share the details, but I can tell you this-he can’t really appear in public, and his reputation isn’t great. A lot of women wouldn’t want to marry him. Anastasia only agreed because of a family arrangement.”
The others fell silent, letting her words steer their thoughts.
So, was Anastasia’s husband one of those wealthy men with a questionable reputation—maybe someone disfigured, or with some kind of disability?
That would explain a lot. No wonder nobody got out of the car earlier.
Inside the car.
“Why did you come pick me up?” Anastasia glanced at the man beside her, a little embarrassed but unable to hide her delight. “I could’ve just grabbed a cab. It’s not that far.”
“It was on my way,” Harrison replied, his tone casual.
She hesitated, lowering her voice. “When did you get here?”
Harrison paused, then answered gently, “Right when you stood up for yourself back there.”
Boom.
Anastasia felt her face flush, heat creeping all the way to her ears. She looked up at him, panicked. “You-you heard all of that?!”
He gave a quiet nod. “Yeah.”
Harrison’s eyes rested on her, dark and steady. He was thinking of the proud little tilt of her chin a few moments ago it made something in his chest itch, a soft ache he couldn’t quite name. She was just… adorable.
Anastasia couldn’t meet his gaze. Trying to compose herself, she pretended to be nonchalant. “Well, I didn’t say anything wrong. My husband is handsome, after all
Not wanting to drag out this awkward conversation, she quickly opened the box she’d been holding. Inside was a thick stack of documents, which she proudly displayed. “Look-these are today’s spoils!”
Harrison noticed her discomfort and played along. “What are these?”
“My mom’s company shares-ones I just reclaimed!” she declared, beaming as she looked at him, waiting for his reaction.
Harrison seemed to understand what she was hoping for. He paused, then nodded. “That’s impressive.”
The praise slipped out almost automatically, but hearing it made Anastasia’s ears burn again. She turned away, flustered. “It’s not that impressive. I used to be clueless-let people trick me out of everything
Harrison watched her profile, his gaze gentle. “But you’re not clueless anymore. You’re smart now.”
The air in the car seemed to thicken, growing warm and heavy.
From the front seat, Logan thought, I shouldn’t be here. I should probably crawl under the car instead.
Anastasia, cheeks still burning from his praise, solemnly set the box in Harrison’s lap. “Here for you.” Read full story at.net
He looked surprised. “For me?”
She nodded, face pink. “Consider it my dowry. I wish I could give you something better, but right now, this is the most valuable thing I own.”
Her voice softened at the end, the words trailing off.
Seagate Innovations was a well-known company in its field. But compared to Harrison’s wealth, this gift was barely a drop in the ocean. Something that would make others green with envy was, to him, hardly worth mentioning.
“For me Harrison was momentarily stunned.
He’d received countless gifts in his twenty-seven years, but none had ever moved him the way this stack of papers did. Because she was giving him everything she had and she didn’t hesitate for a second.
Seeing him fall silent, Anastasia patted her chest and promised, “When I get rich, I’ll give you something even better!”
If anyone else had said that to Harrison Lancaster, he would have laughed at the absurdity. Money was the one thing he’d never lacked.
But when he looked into her clear, earnest eyes, the words were anything but ridiculous. They left him quietly, deeply moved.