Chapter 22

“Who upset you?” he asked.
Anastasia shot him a plaintive look.
No one.”
He watched her walk away, hesitating for a long moment before turning to Logan
at his side. “Why is she upset?”
Logan was a little surprised-Mr. Lancaster, actually showing concern for someone?
But how would he know? He wasn’t the lady’s husband, after all!
He kept those thoughts to himself and answered carefully, “Sometimes you don’t need to know why she’s upset. You just need to cheer her up.”
Harrison considered this, nodding slightly. “How?”
Logan racked his brain, and suddenly remembered something.
“Mrs. Lancaster’s a student at Kingsbridge University, isn’t she? Didn’t they say they’d be sending you flowers soon? Maybe you could give them to her!”
Kingsbridge University-renowned for over a century-had a famous garden of hybrid roses that bloomed every summer, drawing crowds from all over. Every year, a few rare, homegrown varieties were carefully cut and gifted to a select few. These bouquets weren’t for just anyone; they were reserved for distinguished alumni or outstanding students, and receiving them was a point of pride.
The university had been reaching out to Mr. Lancaster, hoping he’d attend an event. Harrison hadn’t been interested, so Logan had handled it all—just yesterday, someone from Kingsbridge had called, humbly asking which variety Mr. Lancaster preferred. For others, it was a surprise package; for him, he could simply choose.
But what was a great honor to others meant nothing to Harrison, and Logan hadn’t thought much of it, casually telling them Mr. Lancaster wasn’t interested.
“Mrs. Lancaster’s a student there too. I bet she’d love to get those flowers. If you gave them to her quietly, she’d be thrilled.”
Harrison thought it over and nodded. “Take care of it.”
Logan responded immediately, picking up the phone and calling Kingsbridge University.
The staff on the other end were both stunned and delighted to get the call. “Of course! If Mr. Lancaster wants them, it’s our honor-we’ll deliver them right away!”
Meanwhile, Anastasia had no idea that Harrison was secretly planning a surprise to lift her spirits. She was on the phone with Nora. The source of this content ɪs.net
Nora’s birthday was coming up next week, and there would be a party. She’d called Anastasia to invite her, and then, fishing a little, asked, “Do you think Mr. Lancaster will be able to make it?”
Anastasia nearly laughed.
Harrison’s status? There were plenty of powerful people in Fairhaven who couldn’t get him to show up for their birthdays-what made Nora think she could?
“I’m afraid Mr. Lancaster won’t be attending,” she said bluntly.
“Why? Didn’t you ask him?” Nora pressed. “I know our family isn’t exactly on Mr. Lancaster’s level, but things are different now
“Oh, I asked,” Anastasia replied smoothly. “Mr. Lancaster said if it were my own mother’s birthday, he’d definitely be there. But the problem is-you’re not my mother, are you?”
On the other end, Nora’s smile froze.
She hung up, her expression darkening, feeling as if she’d been punched in the gut. She couldn’t even tell if Anastasia had said it on purpose.
The old Anastasia, the one she’d molded into a docile fool, would never have spoken like that. But ever since the girl had moved into Rosewood Manor, she’d changed-and Nora couldn’t decide if it was just her imagination.
Rosewood Manor.
Anastasia glanced at her phone’s call log, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.
Meanwhile, in a guest room down the hall, Alice was thriving in the Kingsbridge University freshman chat group, already fitting in like she’d been there forever.