Chapter 86
“It’s been ages, hasn’t it? I heard you got married? Who’d you marry, huh? Why’s it all so hush-hush? Don’t tell me your hubby’s someone you can’t bring out in
public?”
Delia’s words dripped with malice and smug curiosity.
Of course she didn’t know Anastasia had married Harrison. Anastasia wasn’t the least bit surprised by that-Delia’s family had never been invited to any of the Sterling parties, and Penelope, who did know, always hated to see Anastasia in the spotlight. There was no chance Penelope would let Delia know the truth.
Penelope probably wished everyone thought Anastasia had ended up with some nobody, someone utterly beneath her.
“Running your mouth like that didn’t your parents ever teach you any manners?” Anastasia shot back, not bothering to hide her disdain.
Delia’s eyes went wide. “What did you just say?”
“I said you’re a brat with no upbringing.”
“You-you dare talk to me like that?!” Delia sputtered, her face flushing with anger.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Anastasia almost laughed. She honestly couldn’t understand where Delia’s sense of superiority came from.
Delia’s father was Nora’s little brother. Back in the day, he’d been so poor he couldn’t afford a wedding, so he’d married into his wife’s family and taken her last name. That’s why Delia didn’t share the Sinclair surname.
The Sinclairs had originally lived in a tiny house out in the sticks. Nora couldn’t even afford school tuition until she met Anastasia’s mother. After they became close friends, the Sterlings’ help turned Nora’s whole family’s fortunes around. They paid off their debts, moved into the city, bought a house and a car. Nora even got a scholarship from Anastasia’s mother to study abroad and came back with a sparkling new degree.
Even Delia’s dad, Julian Sinclair-a middle school dropout who used to run with the wrong crowd-managed to get a little company of his own, all thanks to Anastasia’s mother’s help.
No one could’ve guessed that while Anastasia’s mother treated Nora like her dearest friend, Nora was already having an affair with Anastasia’s father. And barely had her mother’s funeral ended before Nora swept in as the new lady of the Sterling house. Ná´‡w É´ovel chaptá´‡rs are published on.net
Years had gone by, and the Sinclairs seemed to have forgotten who’d made all their comfort possible. Delia, for example, strutted around Anastasia as if everything Anastasia had was actually Nora’s doing.
What a joke.
Eighty percent of the Sterling family fortune had been built by Anastasia’s mother. Yet the moment she died and Nora married in, suddenly it all belonged to Nora? And now, Anastasia—her mother’s own daughter—was supposed to grovel and act grateful for spending what was rightfully hers?
In her previous life, Anastasia had been fooled, treating Nora as a beloved aunt and always trying to keep the peace. Even when she thought the Sinclairs were overstepping, she’d bit her tongue for Nora’s sake.
But this time? No more. She wasn’t about to let herself be trampled on again.
Delia, of course, had no idea what was going on in Anastasia’s head. She huffed, “Forget it, I won’t stoop to your level. Actually, it’s perfect running into you-I was just about to do some shopping!”
Her annoyance with Anastasia’s attitude was obvious, but she pushed it aside- she had more important things to worry about. After all, there was a whole pack of classmates behind her, waiting for someone to foot the bill. Her plan was simple: sweet-talk Anastasia, the perennial pushover, into paying for everyone first, and settle the score for the insult later.
“Shopping?” Anastasia raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I left my wallet at home. You can cover me, right?” Delia replied, as nonchalantly as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She turned to her friends, spreading her arms magnanimously. “Alright, everyone—pick out whatever you want! Don’t worry about me not having cash. It’s all taken care of!”