Chapter 549
Stella stared blankly for a second, then let out a heartbroken wail. “I copied Anastasia! She wrote hers the same way! Why did she pass and I didn’t?”
Marcus sighed from upstairs. *Silly girl. One is the love of his life, the other is a troublesome niece. Did you really think you’d get the same treatment?*
Stella’s protest was met with an iron wall. Harrison’s expression didn’t flicker. “Your attitude is insincere. Add another thousand words. Now go rewrite it.”
Stella stumbled back upstairs, sobbing wretchedly.
Marcus looked at her with pity. “I told you to listen to me. Now you know, don’t you?”
“It’s not fair!” she howled.
He offered a zen-like smile. “You’ll get used to it.”
Downstairs, Lady Lancaster sighed at the sound of the crying. “Don’t you think that’s enough? I’m sure Stella has learned her lesson
Harrison was unmoved, his face a mask of frost. “Does she sound like she’s learned her lesson?” he retorted. “She’s just a child. Where did she learn these depraved things? She had the audacity to try and make me a cuckold. If I don’t teach her a serious lesson, she’ll become completely lawless.”
After that, Lady Lancaster had nothing more to say. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs.net
Stella’s second essay was still not finished by dinnertime. Sensing she was procrastinating, Harrison was merciless. “Ms. Stella will eat when her apology is complete.”
So, while the family ate in the dining room, Stella sat just outside, furiously writing through her tears. Anastasia glanced out, shaking her head. *Tsk, tsk. How tragic.*
Stella caught her eye and shot her a venomous glare. Anastasia slowly turned back to her soup. Fine, her sympathy was clearly not wanted.
She assumed the whole affair was over for her and was settling in to watch the drama of Stella’s self-inflicted punishment unfold. But that night, as she was getting ready for bed, Harrison cornered her, his body pressing her down into the mattress.
His dark, intense eyes bored into hers. “You
seemed to be enjoying et
the attention of those of those ten men. Am I
not giving you enough of
Own?”
Anastasia’s heart leaped into her throat. “No, that’s not it, I—”
His lips crashed down on hers, cutting her off.
***
The next day, Anastasia had to call in sick again. She didn’t make it to the Global Harmony Medical, Inattute, nor to the company. It was three days before she finally reappeared at the institute.
“What happened to you? I haven’t seen you for days,” Cora asked, her tone now familiar and friendly.
Anastasia yawned. “Oh, nothing. Just some family stuff
Cora nodded. Noticing her constant yawning and exhausted appearance, she
asked, “Didn’t you sleep well?”
Anastasia forced a weary smile. Something like that.”
Mr. Lockwood happened to walk by. “Young people shouldn’t burn the midnight
oil,” he advised kindly. “It’s bad for your health.”
Anastasia nodded obediently, though her smile was bitter. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a good night’s sleep. A married woman’s time was not her own, and her husband had other plans.
After Mr. Lockwood left, Cora asked, “Are you heading to the company later? We could go together.”
Anastasia suppressed another yawn and nodded.
As they were talking, Erin approached, her face souring as she saw them chatting so amicably.
***