Chapter 331

Downstairs.
Juliet, Maggie, and Sandra sat side by side on the couch, their backs straight and hands folded nervously in their laps.
Every so often, Maggie sneaked a glance toward the staircase, her unease showing in the way she shifted and fidgeted. Sandra was tense too, though she hid it better, her smile a little too tight to be completely convincing.
Only Juliet seemed more at ease. She’d visited before, even shared a meal at the same table with her cousin’s husband, and once-when it got too late-she’d stayed the night. Compared to the other two, she blended into the room’s comfort more naturally. Still, worry tugged at her; her cousin’s phone had gone unanswered, and now, after coming all this way, there was still no sign of her. Was something wrong?
The wait dragged on, each minute stretching. Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the stairs. All three women looked up at once.
It was Logan, returning from upstairs, a step behind the man who led the way-a strikingly handsome figure whose presence seemed to fill the entire room: Harrison.
Instinctively, all three women stood.
“Hi, Harrison.” Juliet managed to greet him, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Maggie and Sandra looked stiff, unsure how to address him, and could only stammer, “Hello, sir.”
They looked ready to bow, as if they’d wandered into a headmaster’s office instead of a living room.
Harrison nodded curtly and motioned for them to sit. Once they had, he asked, “What brings you here to see Ana?”
The three hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances.
“Ana’s not feeling well,” Harrison said, his tone brisk. “She’s resting upstairs. If there’s something you need, you can tell me I’ll make sure it’s taken care of.”
Juliet took a breath. “Harrison, is my cousin alright?” She remembered how Ana had been in so much pain earlier she could barely walk, and now she hadn’t appeared at all. The worry gnawed at her.
“She’s fine,” Harrison replied.
Juliet relaxed a fraction, sharing a look with Maggie and Sandra before finally explaining, “It’s just… there’s been some trouble at school.”
Juliet fought to keep her anger in check as she recounted what had happened.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Harrison listened. Any warmth in his expression vanished, replaced by a cold, intimidating calm that made the three women fall instantly silent.
Maggie summoned her courage. “We tried to explain everything on the school forum—that Ana is your wife, legally and all—but nobody believed us.”
“But if you showed up yourself,” Sandra added quickly, “it would clear things up in no time.”
Harrison’s eyes narrowed. “Logan ”
He was about to give instructions when suddenly, from the top of the stairs, came the sound of footsteps-slow, unsteady, and faint.
Anastasia appeared, pale and weary, her steps uncertain, as if she might tumble down at any moment.
At the sight, Harrison’s heart jolted. Before the three women on the couch could even react, he was already on his feet, crossing the room in a flash toward the stairs.
Anastasia moved as if half-awake, rubbing her eyes, not quite steady. She misjudged a step, her foot slipping. Before she could even cry out, she toppled forward-straight into Harrison’s solid chest.
“Who taught you to walk without watching where you’re going?” His voice, low and edged with anger, came from above her head.
His chest was like a wall; her nose stung from the impact, and the near fall jolted her fully awake.
She looked up, startled by the stormy look on Harrison’s face. “Harrison
Her face was still pale, her voice barely above a whisper, fragile and small.
Harrison replayed the scene in his mind, a wave of dread washing over him. If he hadn’t come over just now, what could have happened? Fresh chapters posted on
He’d meant to scold her, but as he met her watery, pleading eyes, the words dried up in his throat. He couldn’t even muster a proper lecture.
All he could do was stiffly change the subject. “Why did you come downstairs?”
Anastasia sensed the danger had passed, her tense posture relaxing a little. In a soft voice, she replied, “I woke up and you weren’t there… I got worried.”