Chapter 601

He couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if they had taken Anastasia Sterling in from the very beginning and nurtured her talent.
With that thought, he glanced at Lauren Brennan again. For years, she had been the prodigy the entire Brennan family prided themselves on. But compared to Anastasia, she seemed utterly dim and insignificant.
“Thank you for saving your cousin,” the old man said, sighing inwardly. He chose his words carefully. “If you’d like, you can stay for dinner tonight.”
His words hung in the air, and every Brennan present understood their meaning: the patriarch was finally ready to acknowledge Anastasia’s place in the family.
Mrs. Brennan and Juliet Brennan were instantly overcome with joy and excitement, their faces beaming.
Anastasia, however, merely glanced at Harrison Lancaster before replying, “It’s getting late, Grandfather. I’ll come back another day.”
No one had expected such a calm, and frankly, dismissive response. She had actually refused.
Even Harrison shot her a surprised look.
Their eyes met, and Anastasia offered him a small, reassuring smile, her decision firm. “Grandfather, Grandmother, I’ll be heading back for today.”
She looped her arm through Harrison’s and bid the Brennans farewell. Then, under the lingering, regretful gazes of her grandmother and cousin, she left the Brennan estate.
Once they were in the car, Harrison asked, “Why didn’t you want to stay?”
Anastasia shook her head. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to stay. It was that *you* didn’t want me to stay, Hubby.”
Harrison paused, taken aback.
Resting her head on his steady, reliable shoulder, Anastasia looked up at his handsome profile. “You were upset,” she said softly. Latest content publıshed on
He turned his head, his eyes meeting hers. He hadn’t expected that to be her reason. He ran a hand through her hair. “I was,” he admitted.
His Ana was his most precious treasure, someone he couldn’t bear to see slighted. Who did the Brennan family think they were? To discard her when it suited them, only beckon her back now? They bad treated her with such disdam, but now that they saw her genius, they were willing to acknowledge her as if bestowing some great favor? What did they take his Ana for?
Sensing his turmoil, Anastasia felt a wave of sweetness wash over her. She was his treasure, and he couldn’t stand to see her wronged which meant he wouldn’t allow anyone else to wrong her either.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling into his chest. “Don’t be upset anymore. Let’s just go home.”
Finally gaining her grandfather’s acceptance didn’t feel as exhilarating as she had once imagined. In that moment, her entire focus had been on Harrison, on her husband’s feelings.
Looking down at the woman in his arms, Harrison held her close and placed a gentle kiss on the crown of her head. The coldness in his eyes softened. “Alright. We’re going home.”
Meanwhile, the atmosphere back at the Brennan estate was anything but pleasant.
With Anastasia gone, the family’s attention finally turned to Lauren. The pride and affection that had once filled their eyes were now replaced with cold indifference and scrutiny.
“Well done, Mr. Brennan said, his voice laced with ice. “All these years and you managed to fool even me.
He couldn’t believe he had failed to
see Lauren’s true nature for so long.
The old woman shook her head, her tone dripping with disappointment. “I always thought you were a good child
Lauren’s face went pale. She forced a strained smile, a rare flicker of panic in her eyes. “Grandfather, Grandmother
“Don’t call me that!” the old woman snapped. “I only have one granddaughter, and that’s Ana!” After everything Lauren had done to her Ana, how dare she still use that title?