Chapter 264

Honestly, even if there hadn’t been an apology, it wouldn’t have mattered that much. After all, Lady had already personally sent Mary and her daughter packing, and since she was Harrison’s beloved grandmother, Anastasia supposed she’d have to hold her in some degree of affection from now on.
That didn’t mean she’d ever feel truly close to her, though.
But in this moment, hearing Lady’s earnest apology, Anastasia couldn’t help but be moved. She could tell-the apology was sincere.
“Grandma, this wasn’t your fault. It’s Alice and the others who took advantage of you,” she said softly, wanting to comfort her.
Lady’s eyes grew misty. She looked at her gentle, thoughtful granddaughter-in-law with warmth. “Anastasia, you really are a wonderful girl.”
Seeing the tension between them melt away, Harrison finally ruffled his young wife’s hair. “Didn’t you say you were hungry? Why don’t you go see what’s in the kitchen?”
Anastasia immediately knew he was trying to get her out of the room. Still, the fact that he’d remembered her offhand comment about being hungry actually made her happy.
She obediently replied, “Okay,” and wheeled herself out, motioning for Fiona to come along.
Fiona had just done her part flawlessly. She deserved a little reward!
Once the two had left, Lady turned to her grandson, eyeing the inscrutable look on his face. “Alright, they’re gone. What did you want to talk to me about?”
Harrison waited until Anastasia’s silhouette disappeared from sight before slowly turning back to his grandmother. His face was expressionless, his tone cool. “Grandma, have you forgotten what I was like before Ana came into my life? Is that why you started to overlook her?”
Lady was taken aback. She instinctively wanted to protest, but then she remembered what her grandson had once been like—and what he was now. Her throat tightened.
He was right. She had begun to forget, and it was all thanks to Anastasia.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again, finally letting out a guilty sigh. “You’re right. I was wrong. I should give Anastasia a proper apology.”
She added, “She’s a good girl. From now on, I’ll treat her just like my own granddaughter.”
But as she said it, the thought of her grandson’s limited time left brought a painful heat to her eyes.
Harrison had more to say, but suddenly fell silent. He stared toward the kitchen, his gaze heavy and unreadable.
Lady’s voice was tinged with sadness. “Speaking of Anastasia, I can’t help but think of her mother. She was an extraordinary woman, too. If she were still alive… maybe there would have been hope for your illness.”
But fate had been cruel. The renowned healer, Cecilia Brennan, was long gone from this world. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on.net
Anastasia had some talent, that much was clear-she truly was her mother’s daughter. But Harrison’s condition was far too serious for a young woman barely out of school to cure…
Half an hour later, Anastasia returned to the living room. She immediately noticed Lady’s red-rimmed eyes and the somber look on Harrison’s face.
As soon as Lady saw her, she forced a cheerful smile, as if afraid Anastasia would notice something was wrong.
Harrison, on the other hand, was acting strangely. Normally, whenever he saw her from afar, his eyes would soften, an involuntary, gentle smile appearing on his lips, and he’d open his arms, waiting for her to come to him.
But now, those dark eyes just watched her approach, unreadable. He made no move at all.
Seeing him like this, Anastasia felt a sudden pang in her chest and wheeled herself to his side a little quicker than usual.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” she asked quietly, tilting her head up to look at him, concern and worry clear in her beautiful eyes.
Harrison was momentarily startled. The emotion faded from his gaze almost instantly.
“It’s nothing,” he said, giving her hair a gentle tousle, pushing down the shadows in his heart.