Chapter 407

The old man’s sharp gaze pinned her in place.
Penny’s heart fluttered with anxiety as she lowered her head.
For a long moment, he said nothing, simply letting the silence stretch between them. At last, he looked away, his voice flat and unyielding. “Don’t let this happen again.”
He didn’t say anything more.
Both Penny and Lauren let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Thinking the ordeal was finally over, Lauren was just about to slip away when the old man suddenly spoke. “Lauren.”
Her heart skipped a beat; she froze and turned back. “Grandpa?”
He watched her steadily, his words heavy with meaning. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness. If you’d brought anything else, from anyone else, I wouldn’t have said a word. But that was something Anastasia sent. You’ve already taken enough from her-don’t touch what belongs to her again.”
A flush crept up Lauren’s cheeks. She bowed her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, Grandpa. I understand.”
He nodded. “Go on, then. Take care of your business.”
Only after Lauren’s figure disappeared down the hall did the old man slowly withdraw his gaze.
Cecilia’s daughter needed an heir. In that regard, Anastasia had been a disappointment, while Lauren was outstanding-everything he could hope for. There was no question in his mind that Lauren was the only suitable successor. Not even blood ties to Anastasia could change that.
Yet, for all his harshness, Anastasia was still his granddaughter. Even if he’d publicly declared he no longer recognized her as family, that didn’t mean she was fair game for everyone’s scorn.
Mrs. Brennan’s eyes were red-rimmed with worry. “Dear, Anastasia came all this way to see you. Maybe she’s changed for the better? Can’t we bring her back into the family?”
“No!” The old man’s answer was firm as stone. “The Brennans already have Lauren. What would it mean if we took Anastasia back now?”
Besides, after everything that had happened, he truly was disappointed in Anastasia. Out of respect for his late daughter, he’d see to it that Anastasia was cared for, but he would never welcome her back into the family fold.
Mrs. Brennan was a soft-hearted, gentle soul. She cared deeply for both her granddaughters-for Anastasia, who was family by blood, and for Lauren, whom she’d watched grow up with her own eyes. Seeing there was no hope for Anastasia, she turned her thoughts to Lauren, remembering how hurt she’d looked as she left. Worried, she stood up.
“Sigh… How could you speak to Lauren like that just now? She only took the ginseng for your sake. That child’s always been sensitive—she must be feeling awful. I’ll go check on her.”
Meanwhile, Logan returned to the apartment and reported everything that had happened at the Brennan estate to Anastasia.
She nodded. “You did well.” Dıscover more novels at.net
Logan’s expression was tinged with regret. “Still, she managed to talk her way out of it. The Brennans seem to have bought her story.”
Anastasia wasn’t the least bit surprised. She gave a soft, mocking laugh. “If Lauren were that easy to deal with, she never would’ve stolen the heir’s position from me. And this was only a minor incident.”
She’d never expected to take Lauren down in a single move. She just couldn’t stand anyone touching what her husband had prepared for her and she’d wanted to plant a seed of doubt in the Brennans’ hearts.
One day, that seed would take root and grow, slowly undermining the trust Lauren had spent years building in the Brennan family.
The mask Lauren wore-Anastasia would tear it off, piece by piece.
“This is exactly the outcome I was hoping for. So really, you did a great job,” Anastasia praised him generously.
She turned to Harrison and teased, “Honey, since Logan did so well, don’t you think he deserves a bonus?”
With her arms wrapped around Harrison’s neck, she leaned in playfully. He could never resist her he slipped his arm around her waist, bent down, and brushed a kiss against her lips. “Alright, I’ll give him a bonus.”
Logan’s smile grew even brighter. “Thank you, Mr. Lancaster!”
But Harrison barely heard him-his world was entirely focused on the woman in his arms, his eyes so full of adoration and tenderness it was almost overwhelming.
Truth be told, for Ana, he’d have given much more than a bonus. In that moment, if she’d asked for his very life, he probably would have handed it over without a second thought.