Chapter 227

Alice trailed after them for a couple of steps, only to catch the house staff
exchanging uneasy glances in her direction.
Wasn’t it Mr. Harrison Lancaster himself who’d made it clear? Alice was no longer welcome in this part of the house.
“Why are you just standing there?” Marcus asked, puzzled.
Feeling the weight of the servants’ stares, Alice seethed with humiliation. But
when Marcus looked her way, she quickly put on her most pitiful face, her eyes filling with tears in an instant.
Marcus’s concern was immediate. “What’s wrong? Who upset you? Tell me I’ll set things right!”
Alice’s heart leapt. She sniffled, turning her voice soft and wounded. “Marco, while you were gone, everyone’s been so mean to me!”
She let the tears fall. “Did you know Mr. Lancaster got married? His new wife— she’s the one bullying me! Ever since she moved in, she’s made things impossible. She even sent me to live in the servants’ quarters and won’t let me into this part of the house anymore.”
She bowed her head and let a few fat tears spill down, voice trembling. “Marco, I’m scared to go inside. If she catches me again, she’ll just give me more trouble
She sobbed, certain Marcus would be furious on her behalf, march her right inside, and demand justice from Anastasia.
But the silence stretched on. No comforting words came.
“Marco?” she prompted, glancing up.
Marcus was looking at her oddly. “You mean the new Mrs. Lancaster-Anastasia
-was the one who bullied you?”
“Yes!” Alice nodded emphatically.
Marcus’s brows knit together.
Alice gave a secret, triumphant smirk.
“No way,” Marcus said flatly.
Alice’s face froze. “Marco?” She wondered if she’d misheard.
But it was clear she hadn’t.
“Anastasia’s one of the kindest people I know. There’s no way she’d treat you that way. You must have done something to upset her,” Marcus said sternly. “Alice, maybe take a moment to reflect on your own behavior.”
With that, he wheeled himself inside without a second’s hesitation.
Alice was left speechless, gaping after him. Instinctively, she rushed forward. “Marco-”
He paused at the threshold. “You shouldn’t come in. If Anastasia asked you to stay in the guest house, then you’d better listen and stay put.”
And with that, Marcus disappeared inside.
Alice just stood there, stunned.
A burst of laughter broke out behind her.
Fiona and the other maids couldn’t help themselves, snickering as they hurried past her into the house. Fiona skipped ahead, excitement in her step-after all, how could she resist sharing such juicy gossip with the lady of the house?
Inside, the story reached Anastasia. She nearly choked on her water, laughing so hard she sprayed a mouthful across the table. “Marcus… well played!”
Fiona nodded in agreement. “Mr. Marcus Jackson might be a little eccentric, but he’s actually a pretty good guy!”
Anastasia raised an eyebrow. Eccentric? If Marcus wasn’t sharp, how could he be Harrison’s closest friend and the Jackson family’s heir all these years? That man was as cunning as they came-devious, even. “Eccentric” hardly covered it.
Later that evening, after dinner at Rosewood Manor, Anastasia reminded herself she had class the next morning, and so she tugged her husband along as they headed back to their apartment. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on
The next day, on campus-
“Did you hear about what happened at the fashion expo yesterday? Master Bing’s latest piece-gone within half an hour of the opening!”
“I heard! Apparently, some big-shot bought the dress just to impress his girlfriend. Is that true?”
“Most likely! A bunch of people saw it. The guy was shielding his girlfriend the whole way out. Everyone’s dying to know who she is-so jealous!”
Gossip always spread fast, but when it involved Master Bing and a mysterious, powerful benefactor, interest skyrocketed. Whispers and speculation filled the halls, and soon, everyone was trying to uncover the identity of the girl who had every woman on campus green with envy.