Chapter 409

Harrison nodded. “What brings you here, Mr. Brennan?”
“No particular reason. I’m just here to pick up my daughter.”
Juliet shrank back, guilt flickering across her face as she glanced at Anastasia for reassurance, like a child seeking shelter. She hadn’t expected her father to find out she was here if he knew, did her mother know too? Would they be angry? Would they forbid her from coming in the future?
Anastasia caught Juliet’s worried look and offered a small, reassuring smile.
Murray barely spared Anastasia a glance, his demeanor cool and polite before he turned to Harrison, exchanged a brief greeting, and then motioned for Juliet to follow him. Without another word, he was ready to leave.
Anastasia stood up. “Honey, let me walk Uncle Murray out.”
Murray didn’t reply, but his lack of protest was answer enough-clearly, he had something he wanted to say to her.
Anastasia was just about to follow them when Harrison suddenly spoke up. “Wait.” He caught her slender wrist in his hand.
His dark brows furrowed, as if he had something serious to say, but in the end, his gaze simply dropped to her bare heels. “It’s cold outside. Put your socks on
before you go.”
Anastasia looked down-sure enough, she wasn’t wearing socks. But her feet were tucked into a pair of fluffy slippers, warm and cozy.
“I’m not cold,” she protested, lifting one foot and wiggling it playfully in front of him to show off the thick, fuzzy slippers.
“Put them on,” Harrison insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Before she could object again, he pulled her right back onto the sofa. Without so much as a glance at the still-waiting Murray, Harrison calmly reached for a pair of socks and began to put them on her himself.
Murray’s eyes widened in disbelief, unable to process what he was seeing.
He shot a look at his niece, only to find she wasn’t the least bit shocked. If anything, she puffed out her cheeks and grumbled, “Honey, these socks are too thick
“They’re not,” Harrison replied firmly.
“Can I wear a different pair? These are too thick, it’s hard to walk.”
“No.”
The warmth and intimacy between the two was almost tangible, shutting everyone else out. Judging by Anastasia’s nonchalance, it seemed Harrison had done this sort of thing for her many times before.
After carefully making sure the socks were snug and comfortable, Harrison finally let her go. He eyed her thin loungewear, frowned again, and called for a thicker coat. Soon, Anastasia was bundled up so well she looked like a little snowball, and only then did Harrison seem satisfied.
“All right, go on. Don’t stay out too long-the wind’s sharp tonight.”
Anastasia nodded sweetly, promising to be quick, and walked Murray and Juliet to the door.
As they stepped outside and the cold wind hit them, Murray paused and glanced back. He caught sight of Harrison, whose eyes still lingered on Anastasia. For a brief moment, a complicated look flickered across Murray’s face.
He’d claimed he was just here to pick up his daughter, but in truth, part of him wanted to check on Anastasia’s situation as well.
He might have distanced himself from his niece, but she was still the daughter of his beloved sister. For Cecilia’s sake, he couldn’t help but care. Orıginal content can be found at
He’d heard the rumors about Harrison Lancaster-stories that made him worry for her. But nothing could have prepared him for what he’d just witnessed.
Far from tiptoeing around Harrison in fear, Anastasia was cherished, pampered, and treated like the most precious thing in the world.
As the crisp air snapped him back to the present, Murray instructed Juliet to wait in the car.