Chapter 74
But underneath her anxiety, what she felt most was a sense of grievance. Weren’t you the one who told me to leave?”
“You say you love me?” Harrison pressed, his gaze dark and unyielding as he fixed his eyes on her.
Anastasia opened her mouth to answer, but the sting of his earlier rejection made her falter. She turned her head away in frustration, her voice small and wounded. “You don’t even believe me, so why bother asking?”
She shifted in his arms. “Let go of me. I’ll just go home!”
Before she could pull away, his warm hand cupped her cheek, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes-eyes as black as midnight, swirling with something dangerous.
He ignored her protests. She couldn’t tell if he was warning her, or simply thinking aloud. “I gave you a chance. You refused to leave. Don’t regret it later.”
With him so close, Anastasia felt like prey caught in the gaze of a predator. Her heart fluttered, and for a moment, she was genuinely afraid of him. But she held her ground, refusing to look away. “I won’t regret it,” she mumbled, stubborn as
ever.
Harrison studied her for a moment, then abruptly released her. “Go get changed.”
Anastasia blinked, confused. “For what?”
“We’re going to the Registry Office.”
“The-Registry Office?!” She stared at him in disbelief, eyes wide.
“What, don’t want to?” His deep-set eyes seemed to see straight through her.
“No-no, that’s not it!” Anastasia stammered. “It’s just… sudden.”
But just as quickly, excitement bubbled up inside her, lighting up her face. “So… you believe me now?”
From the moment he’d mentioned the Registry Office, Harrison hadn’t taken his eyes off her, watching every nuance of her reaction. When he caught the joy in her gaze, the tension in his jaw finally eased. á´›his chapter is á´œpdated by
“Go on, then,” he said quietly, brushing her cheek with his fingers.
Whether he truly believed her or not didn’t matter. She knew all too well what it would mean to lie to him-she’d seen what happened to the last person who tried.
He didn’t answer her question, and for a moment, Anastasia felt a pang of disappointment. But the thought of finally becoming his wife made her heart soar again.
“I’m going to get changed!”
After being slapped twice, Alice simmered with hatred for Anastasia. When she heard Anastasia had gone into Mr. Lancaster’s room, she let out a cold, derisive laugh.
“She honestly thinks she can win Mr. Lancaster back? In her dreams. Just wait- he’ll throw her out on the street before long!”
“Mr. Lancaster’s wife? More like a stray dog!”
The maids who favored Alice gathered around, comforting her and gossiping freely. No one held back when it came to Anastasia. As far as they were concerned, she was finished.
Who did Anastasia think she was, crossing Mr. Lancaster? She was done for.
Just then, Harrison’s door opened.
Anastasia stepped out.
She spotted Alice and the others and shot them a frosty glance before heading straight for her own room, not sparing them another moment. She was in a rush to get their marriage certificate-she wasn’t about to waste time on people who didn’t matter.
Alice, however, mistook Anastasia’s indifference for weakness. She strode forward, blocking her path. “Getting kicked out, are you? I knew it. Someone like you—what makes you think Mr. Lancaster would ever—ah!”
A loud slap rang out.
Alice froze, stunned, before clutching her cheek and shrieking in disbelief.
“Anastasia! You actually hit me?!”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Anastasia replied coldly, giving Alice a look reserved for idiots. “What’s the matter, Alice-memory failing you already? Did you forget the lesson I gave you earlier, or do you just need another reminder?”