Chapter 290

She’d taken only a couple steps when she suddenly remembered something. Turning back, she mustered her courage, leaned in, and planted a quick kiss on his handsome cheek-her embarrassment plain as day.
“I’m heading out now, just going to call my friends. Otherwise, they’ll worry about me.”
The sharp edge in Harrison’s eyes instantly softened, both at her bashful kiss and because she’d taken the initiative to tell him where she was going.
He reached out, ruffled her hair in that tender way of his, and his voice was full of gentle affection. “Alright, go on.”
After leaving the study, Anastasia glanced at her phone. Sure enough, Maggie had called twice and left several messages.
It was around noon-no classes at this hour-so she dialed Maggie straight away. “Anastasia!!” Maggie’s voice was shrill with excitement and worry. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine, really. What could possibly have happened to me?” Anastasia chuckled. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your husband didn’t hit you or anything? He was so scary yesterday! I honestly thought I’d never see you again!”
Anastasia rolled her eyes. “Isn’t that a bit much?”
“I’m not exaggerating! I’m just telling the truth. Ask Sandra if you don’t believe me!”
Sandra’s voice drifted in, quietly: “She’s right.”
Truth be told, Sandra was even more worried than Maggie. Maggie had no idea what kind of man Anastasia’s husband really was, but Sandra did.
Mr. Harrison Lancaster could make someone disappear without even batting an eye.
Just look at what happened to his previous wives-not exactly happy endings. And the way he’d stormed into their dorm last night? Maggie’s description was dead-on. For a moment, it really felt like they’d never see Anastasia again.
Sandra had barely slept all night, even pulling some strings at home to discreetly check if anyone had been carried out of Rosewood Manor that morning…
Listening to her friends, Anastasia couldn’t help but wonder-was her husband really that terrifying?
The more she thought about it, the quieter she got.
In the end, she forced herself to sound cheerful. “Relax, I’m fine. My husband… well, he just looks fierce. Deep down, he’s actually a good guy. He’s kind, really. He’d never hit me, let alone anything worse!”
Sandra was silent for a moment.
Harrison Lancaster, kind and gentle? Was she supposed to believe that?
Still, seeing Anastasia alive and well, chatting with them as usual, Maggie and Sandra finally felt reassured. It even seemed like Anastasia and her husband had patched things up.
As the call was winding down, Maggie suddenly piped up, “Oh, by the way, rumor has it we’re getting a transfer student-supposedly from Riverton. Big deal, apparently!”
“That’s odd. Who transfers colleges this late? And from Riverton, of all places? Everyone wants to go there, not leave.”
Anastasia asked offhandedly, “So, what’s this person like?”
“No clue. They haven’t arrived yet, but by the time you’re back on campus, they probably will be
Anastasia didn’t give it much thought. They chatted for a bit longer, then hung up.
She was just about to put her phone away when something caught her eye.
She quickly tapped into an inconspicuous app, only to see a bright red exclamation mark flashing-
Her phone had been tampered with. Someone had installed a hidden surveillance program.
Her heart skipped a beat as she tried to remember where, exactly, she’d picked up her phone earlier.
She hadn’t thought much of it before, assuming Harrison had simply handed it to her without a second thought. But now…
Frowning, she reached out to her friend Sonder. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.net
That monitoring app on her phone? He’d helped her install it remotely. There wasn’t anything particularly sensitive on her phone-she’d only agreed because Sonder thought it’d be fun. She never imagined it would actually come in handy one day…
Sonder replied almost immediately.