Chapter 263

Harrison, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. His broad palm
absentmindedly kneaded her delicate hand, his gaze never lifting, as if everything unfolding was exactly what he’d expected.
“Lady, please don’t!”
Only now did Mary and her daughter’s bravado collapse into terror. They dropped to their knees, sobbing, begging Lady to take back her order.
“Someone, escort them back to the guest wing. I want them out of this house by tomorrow morning-no exceptions!” Lady’s tone was cold and unyielding. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the.net
“Lady, please!” Alice’s tears streaked down her cheeks as she tried to rush to Lady’s side. “You just said I was like a granddaughter to you! Doesn’t that mean anything now?”
But before she could get close, someone held her back. Lady closed her eyes, turned her face away, and steeled herself, refusing to look at the girl even once.
Amid the cries and pleas, Mary and Alice were dragged away.
Anastasia glanced over at Lady and noticed the old woman looked weary, the fight gone from her shoulders.
So many years of shared history-how could it not hurt to personally send Mary and her daughter away?
Anastasia turned from the scene and looked at the man beside her, about to speak, when Lady suddenly cleared her throat softly.
“Anastasia, that remedy you gave me last time I tried it for my feet. It worked wonders. Where did you get it?”
Anastasia paused, surprised, and when she looked up, she saw Lady’s awkward, almost shy expression.
Clearly, the old woman was trying to start a conversation.
Anastasia smiled. “I made it myself. I’m glad it helped, Grandma.”
Lady had only meant to find something-anything-to talk about, but the answer genuinely surprised her.
“You made it yourself? Anastasia, you know medicine?”
She hadn’t been merely making conversation earlier. When she’d first received the herbal sachet, she hadn’t thought much of it. But when her legs had ached unbearably and nothing else had worked, she’d figured it was worth a try.
She’d never expected it to work so well.
Wallis had even speculated it must have come from some legendary, reclusive healer.
Who would have thought-it was her own granddaughter-in-law who’d made it. “My mother is a doctor. I picked up a few things from her,” Anastasia replied. Understanding dawned on Lady’s face.
Of course her mother, Cecilia, had once been a renowned physician. If Cecilia hadn’t been so exceptional, how could she have secured her daughter’s marriage into the Lancaster family?
Even so, Lady’s gaze on Anastasia changed. Cecilia was outstanding, but Anastasia had never had that reputation. In fact, plenty of people outside considered her nothing but a useless ornament.
Yet Anastasia met Lady’s astonished look with calm composure. “If you found it helpful, Grandma, I’ll make up a new batch for you to use.”
Lady’s face finally broke into a smile, but her heart was heavy with guilt over what had just happened.
She’d let herself be misled by Mary and Alice, but the real problem was that she’d never truly paid attention to her granddaughter-in-law.
She’d only treated Anastasia kindly because she made Harrison happy-if he wanted the moon, she’d have pulled it down for him, as long as it brought him joy.
But now, hearing the girl’s gentle, thoughtful words, Lady felt both pleased and terribly ashamed.
She shot her grandson a meaningful glance, silently urging him to help smooth things over, but Harrison merely lifted his eyes lazily, then dropped them again, continuing to toy with his wife’s hand in silence.
Lady shot him an exasperated glare. Useless boy.
With a sigh, she turned to Anastasia. “Anastasia, this whole mess-it was my foolishness. I believed Mary’s lies and mistreated you. That was wrong of me
Anastasia blinked, genuinely surprised.
She hadn’t expected Lady to apologize first.