Chapter 357

“Why are you staring at me like that, darling?” Anastasia pouted playfully as she darted over to him. Follow current novels on (.)net
She added, “Did Aaron and his parents show up?”
Harrison’s lips had just begun to curl into a smile at her first question, but at the mention of Aaron, the fleeting warmth vanished.
“Are you worried about him?” he asked, tone a little too even.
He couldn’t stand hearing another man’s name on her lips-especially not Aaron, the man she’d once been involved with.
“I was just asking,” Anastasia said quickly when she noticed his displeasure. She scooted closer, trying to soothe him. “I bet they’re here to beg for your help. As long as you’re willing to back them up, they won’t have to worry about the West family’s retaliation.”
“Is that what you want, Ana? For me to stand up for them?” With a possessive arm, Harrison pulled her into his lap, holding her securely against him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Why should you help them?” Anastasia retorted without thinking, giving a soft, dismissive snort. “They’re only getting what they deserve.”
He glanced down, catching the obvious distaste and hint of mischief in her expression. Whatever annoyance he’d felt faded completely. He pressed a light kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Alright. We’ll do it your way.”
He looked up and called to Logan, “You heard what my wife said. Show them out.”
Logan nodded, turning to leave, though he couldn’t help but mutter privately. As if Mr. Harrison Lancaster would ever actually help the Aaron family, even if Mrs. Lancaster asked him to. If anything, he’d probably prefer to see them wiped from the face of the earth.
At the gates of Rosewood Manor-
“What? How could Mr. Harrison Lancaster refuse to see us? Aaron’s his nephew! Is he really just going to turn his back on us?”
“Logan, please! Just speak to him for us one more time!” Debby pleaded, frantic.
Logan faced the desperate trio with a cold, polite smile. “Mr. Lancaster, Mrs. Lancaster, Aaron-this is Mr. Harrison Lancaster’s final word. Please leave.”
Debby opened her mouth to protest, but Logan cut her off smoothly, “Mr. Harrison Lancaster is in a good mood tonight, because his wife is keeping him company. So I’m only asking you to leave quietly. But if you cause a scene and disturb him, if you make him angry, I can’t promise what might happen next.”
Debby froze, her threat dying on her lips.
In the end, the three of them had no choice but to leave, resentment simmering beneath the surface.
“What now? If Harrison Lancaster won’t help us, we’re finished!” Barry snapped, his face dark with frustration. “I never thought that little Anastasia would manage to worm her way into his favor!”
Mentioning Anastasia only darkened Debby’s mood further. “It must be her! She must have said something to turn him against us. That wretched girl-everything that’s happened to this family is her fault!”
She wouldn’t dare speak ill of Harrison, but her hatred for Anastasia ran deep. Just thinking of Aaron’s broken leg made her blood boil-if she could, she would tear the girl apart with her bare hands.
“Is this really how it ends for our family?” Barry said hopelessly.
The three of them fell silent. Aaron, listless and withdrawn, hadn’t said a word.
“No.” Debby’s voice trembled with determination. “We still have one option left.” Barry looked at her, incredulous. “After all this, what could we possibly do?” Debby suppressed her anger, eyes narrowing. “Anastasia… she used to be in love with our Aaron, didn’t she?”
As soon as she said it, husband and wife exchanged a glance. The same idea flashed in their eyes, and they turned in unison to look at their son.
Aaron, who had been in a daze the entire time, suddenly seemed to wake up. A strange glint flickered in his eyes as he realized what his parents meant.