Chapter 685
She shot Gabriel a sideways glance but kept that thought to herself.
Gabriel, however, seemed to have conveniently forgotten his own role in the affair, cursing Anastasia as if she were solely to blame.
“Penelope is her sister! They grew up together, all those years of history, and she was so vicious! How could I have raised such a daughter?!”
Queena frowned. The Anastasia she remembered was simple-minded, almost foolish, easily manipulated by her and her mother for years. How could she have changed so drastically? ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ.net
Nora, having already paid the price for underestimating Anastasia, grabbed her daughter’s arm and warned her, “Anastasia is not to be trifled with anymore. She’s married into the Lancaster family and has Harrison Lancaster behind her. He dotes on her so much he even pulled strings to get her into the Global Harmony Medical Institute. You can’t underestimate her!”
In the past, Nora would never have dared to speak so candidly in front of Gabriel, needing to maintain her image as a kind stepmother. But now that her true colors were exposed, she couldn’t be bothered to pretend. As for Gabriel’s opinion? He was the one who needed her daughter’s help now. What could he do, even if he disapproved?
Sure enough, Gabriel shot her a dark look but held his tongue, acting as if he hadn’t heard a word.
Nora sneered inwardly.
Queena observed the shift in her parents’ dynamic, a subtle frown creasing her brow. She had only learned about the turmoil back home recently. Nora, not wanting to distract her, had kept it a secret. By the time Queena found out, her sister had already been sent to the countryside, and the dust had settled.
It seemed Anastasia did have some fight in her, to have pushed her mother this far.
Even so, while Queena took Nora’s warning to heart, she wasn’t overly concerned.
Get into the Global Harmony Medical Institute? Pulling strings might get you into a small branch
like the one in Fairhaven, but t
she
was at the headquarters now. You couldn’t just waltz in here with connections.
As for the Lancaster family… Harrison Lancaster was certainly a formidable man, but her current position had allowed her to build her own network of powerful
acquaintances. With their protection, Harrison wouldn’t risk offending so many influential people just to settle a score for one woman.
Having reasoned it out, Queena smiled serenely and took her mother’s arm. “I understand, Mom. Let’s go, it’s time for dinner.”
Gabriel quickly asked, “Did you get in touch with Mr. Larry?”
Queena gave a casual smile. “I did. He had an important business deal he was supposed to handle personally, but when I called to invite him, he postponed it.”
Gabriel’s face lit up with pride. “That’s my girl! Even a man like Larry makes time for you!”
She was leagues ahead of that wretched daughter, Anastasia. With Queena’s connections, he was certain he could rebuild his fortune in Riverton.
His mind raced with possibilities, already planning how he would win over Mr. Carry. No, he wouldn’t even have to win him over. If Larry was willing to cancel an important meeting just for Queenas invitation, he would surely agree to anything his daughter asked.
Gabriel beamed, his gaze on Queena growing even more satisfied.
Meanwhile, Anastasia finished her business and, instead of heading straight back to
the Lancaster estate, took a cab to the Lancaster Group tower.
She was going to pick Harrison up from work.