Chapter 25
The call ended with a click.
Alice’s face turned pale.
She knew Harrison far too well; just from his tone, she could tell Mr. Lancaster was furious.
She shot Anastasia a poisonous glare, then shoved the bouquet of flowers into her arms without a shred of tenderness. “Here. Take them. As if I ever wanted them!”
Anastasia sidestepped gracefully, refusing to take the flowers. “Oh, you didn’t want them? Funny, that’s not what you said a minute ago. You looked delighted to have them. Go ahead, keep them—I’ll just wait here for Mr. Lancaster to get back.”
With that, she found a seat and sat down, looking perfectly at ease.
Alice was seething.
Harrison returned sooner than expected.
As soon as Anastasia heard him enter, she sprang to her feet. “You’re back!”
He grunted in reply, his gaze softening just a bit when he saw her cheerful face. She certainly didn’t look like someone who’d just been wronged.
Then his eyes shifted to Alice.
“Mr. Lancaster Alice stood there nervously. The bouquet was now lying on the coffee table, abandoned.
“What happened?” Harrison asked.
“I have no idea,” Anastasia piped up, moving to push his wheelchair while Logan politely stepped aside. “You called me and said there was a present, I was so happy! Then Alice came in and insisted the flowers were for her. Weren’t they meant for me? Since when did they become someone else’s?”
Harrison wanted to know the same thing. He’d bought the flowers for Anastasia, to cheer her up. How had they ended up in someone else’s hands?
He frowned, turning to Alice, waiting for her to explain.
“I-I thought Mr. Lancaster meant them for me,” Alice stammered, sounding wounded.
“You thought?” Harrison echoed.
“Let’s say you misunderstood at first,” Anastasia said, “but when I told you the flowers were mine, you didn’t give them back, did you? Let me think-oh right, you even mocked me! You said, if they weren’t yours, could they possibly be mine? You told me to get into Kingsbridge University first—am I remembering that wrong?” Thɪs chapter is updatá´‡d by.net
Alice froze.
She shot Anastasia a look full of resentment, as if she’d been stabbed in the back.
It was just a misunderstanding, was it really necessary for Anastasia to make such
a scene? Did she have to be so ruthless?
Anastasia met her glare with a cool, faint smile.
If it had truly been a simple misunderstanding, Anastasia wouldn’t have minded. But Alice’s attitude made it clear: if she didn’t put her foot down, this girl would never take her, the lady of the house, seriously.
Eyes shining with unshed tears, Alice looked to Harrison. “Mr. Lancaster, you promised to give me a present
He actually promised her a present?
Anastasia couldn’t help glancing at Harrison, an odd pang of jealousy twisting in her chest.
He was always so distant-how could he be so attentive to Alice?
Sensing Anastasia’s gaze, Harrison paused and clarified, “I never said I’d get you a present. When your acceptance letter arrived, you asked for a reward. Because
of Mary’s sake, I agreed, but you still haven’t told me what you want.”
So Alice had asked for it herself, and he’d just gone along with it? Anastasia’s mood lifted instantly.
Alice’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. The way Mr. Lancaster said it, it was as if he couldn’t wait to distance himself from her.
“Well, say it now. What do you want?” Harrison’s tone was icy, patience running thin.
Alice glanced at Anastasia, biting her lip. “I want a bouquet exactly like hers!” Anastasia’s smile vanished. She snapped her head toward Harrison, eyes wide. This was the first time he’d ever given her flowers.
If he gave Alice an identical bouquet, it would feel like a slap in the face.
She glared at him, eyes fierce but pleading, silently begging him not to agree.