Chapter 67

Anastasia finally replied to Logan in an unhurried tone, “No need. I’ll be heading back soon.” The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the
She ended the call.
“Penelope, care to explain what Logan meant just now?” Gabriel turned to Penelope, his voice sharp and demanding.
“I Penelope felt cold sweat bead on her forehead.
She knew just how much Gabriel cared about this marriage arrangement. If he found out she’d deliberately tried to sabotage it, she’d be finished.
Nora, anxious for her daughter, quickly wrapped an arm around Penelope and tried to shield her. “Honey, maybe there’s just been some misunderstanding. You know what kind of person Penelope is-she’d never do something like that!” Penelope immediately chimed in, “That’s right! I was only trying to help Anastasia
“Penelope, don’t twist the truth.” Anastasia cut her off with a cold smile. “You went running to seduce my fiancé, and you’re claiming it was for my sake?”
Around them, the staff exchanged knowing glances, sneaking looks at Penelope.
Trying to steal someone’s fiancé and then pretending it was for their own good- how shameless could she get?
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, clearly not buying Penelope’s wild
excuse.
Penelope bit her lip. “That’s only because Anastasia was planning to run away with another man! I was afraid Mr. Lancaster would get furious and drag our family into it, so I went to talk to him first!”
“What? Run away?”
Instantly, all eyes snapped to Anastasia.
She, however, didn’t so much as flinch. Her face was a mask of calm, not a hint of panic.
“If you want to make accusations, at least bring proof. When did I ever plan to run away? And why would I even do something like that?”
“You just don’t have the nerve to admit it! Dad knows all about you and Mr. Lancaster-if you hadn’t wanted to elope with him, why would I have gone to talk to him? I nearly sacrificed myself for you, and now you’re trying to blame me!” Penelope buried her face in her hands, sobbing.
“Is what Penelope says true?” Gabriel demanded, his voice rising with anger. Anastasia inwardly scoffed.
Penelope had already gone home that first day at Rosewood Manor and dropped plenty of hints-Gabriel knew all about it. He hadn’t said a word back then; now suddenly he cared? Even the slowest person wouldn’t take this long to react.
In the end, Gabriel was just playing favorites. Now that Penelope had found something to use against her, he was all too happy to play along.
“My head’s on straight, thank you. Since when does Aaron compare to Mr. Lancaster? Why on earth would I elope with him?” Anastasia denied it without hesitation.
“In fact, it was Penelope who kept urging me to go. Thank goodness I didn’t listen to her.”
She gave Penelope a half-smile. “No wonder Penelope was so keen to push me toward Aaron-turns out she had her sights set on Mr. Lancaster all along.”
Penelope’s face changed instantly. “Anastasia, don’t you dare slander me!”
“Call it slander if you want. Why not ask Martin and clear things up?” Anastasia shot back coolly.
Martin was the driver who’d taken her to Rosewood Manor that day.
“Bring Martin in,” Gabriel said, his expression dark.
Penelope’s face went pale.
A moment later, Martin entered the room.
Penelope rushed to speak first. “Martin, tell my father the truth. Wasn’t it Anastasia herself who wanted to run away that day? Now she’s too scared to admit it and is trying to frame me!”
Martin’s eyes flickered, and he hesitated, as if wrestling with what to say. “Speak,” Gabriel ordered.
Martin sighed. “It was indeed Ms. Anastasia Sterling’s own idea
Penelope’s shoulders finally relaxed, a smug smile flickering across her face. How
naive of Anastasia, thinking Martin would ever take her side.
True, Martin had once been loyal to her mother, Cecilia, but Cecilia had been gone for years. Out of sight, out of mind. After all this time, Martin was firmly on her and her mother’s side now.