Chapter 10

The door trembled on its hinges. Anastasia stood in the hallway, her face burning red as if it might start steaming. Her mind was a total blank.
Silence hung heavy on both sides of the door.
After a moment, a low, calm voice sounded from inside. “I just knocked the body wash off the shelf.”
“Uh… I—I saw,” Anastasia stammered, barely able to get the words out.
Is there something you wanted?”
“Oh! I—uh, I just wanted to tell you something. It’s about… well, if my dad ever comes asking you for a favor-”
Inside, Harrison paused. His lips pressed into a thin line, a flicker of
disappointment in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain. Whatever brief flutter of anticipation he’d felt a moment ago disappeared.
Everyone said he was on death’s door—a lunatic, violent and cold. Under those circumstances, it was hardly surprising someone would marry in with ulterior motives.
Still, for her to bring this up on the very first day…
“Just promise me you won’t say yes to him!” For origınal chapters go to.net
Sorry?”
Thinking he hadn’t heard, Anastasia rushed to clarify. “If he ever tries to use me as an excuse to ask for your help-like, I don’t know, investing in my family’s company or anything-just ignore him, okay?”
Harrison took a couple of seconds to be sure he hadn’t misheard.
“Why?”
Why?
Anastasia’s eyes darted, searching for the right words. “Well, because I married you, I didn’t sell myself to you. I’m your wife—sure, I can spend your money, but that doesn’t mean my family gets to. Why should you be the one paying for them?”
Harrison didn’t expect her to say something like that. After a long moment of silence, he replied quietly, “Alright.”
For reasons she couldn’t name, the sound of his low, velvety voice made Anastasia anxious again—especially after the glimpse she’d just caught…
Her cheeks flamed hotter. “I’ll go now. You should get some rest-goodnight!” She darted off without waiting for a reply, missing the soft murmur from the bathroom just as she closed the door.
“Goodnight.”
Back in her own room, Anastasia’s face felt like it was on fire.
In her previous life, she’d married him, and even been with Aaron after that, but she’d never been intimate with anyone. That brief glimpse a moment ago had left her reeling…
The next morning, Anastasia woke up early.
She was looking forward to having breakfast with Harrison, so she hurried downstairs, only to find the dining table set for one.
“Where’s Mr. Lancaster?” she couldn’t help but ask. Had he already left so early?
Mary, the housekeeper, replied coolly, “Mr. Lancaster isn’t used to eating with others.”
Anastasia froze.
He had a habit like that?
In her past life, she’d kept her distance from him as much as possible-she’d never even noticed.
She couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.
She’d tried so hard this time around, hadn’t she? And yet he still didn’t want to eat with her…
Her breakfast tasted like cardboard, and she barely ate a thing before getting up.
“Where is Mr. Lancaster?”
“Mr. Lancaster is very busy. Even when he’s not, he prefers to be alone,” Mary said, her face stiff. “Unless it’s important, you shouldn’t disturb him.”
Anastasia stopped in her tracks. “Mary, what did you just call me?”
“Ma’am.”
Anastasia smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes.
“So you do know I’m Mrs. Lancaster-the lady of this house. Do you think I need anyone’s permission to do as I please? If Mr. Lancaster has a problem with something, I’m sure he’ll tell me himself. There’s no need for anyone else to worry on his behalf. Don’t you agree, Mary?”