Anastasia''s sudden voice gave Monica and Salma a start, leaving them flustered and at a loss for words.


    Seeing their panicked expressions, Anastasia asked, ''Are you guys keeping something from me? I heard you guys talking about Cason just now. What does Cason know? Has something been found out?" Salma was at a loss for words, but Monica thought fast and said, "Uh, I was talking about how Cason''s bankruptcy is now known to everyone, even his old ssmates"


    It was a strained answer


    Looking at the two, Anastasia noticed both Salma and Monica were acting sketchy with shifty eyes.


    "I heard you say that Cason knows something about me. What is it?" Anastasia asked.


    Monica stumbled over her words


    "I want the truth," Anastasia said, feeling uneasy, "What are you hiding from me?"


    She then remembered her recent medical check-up and how Monica had acted simrly secretive then. Salma tried to deflect. Why would we keep anything from you? There''s still food in the pot, go check on it." Anastasia looked at Monica again, and Monica smiled reassuringly "Really, there''s nothing Just like I said"


    Seeing the two still not giving straight


    "Does it have to do with my lost m


    At this, both Monica and Salma became even


    Anastasia became even more suspicious


    a persisted. If you won''t tell me, I''ll ask Cason"


    flustered


    "Don''t you dare, Salma said sternly "Cason''s a jeri What would you want with him? We told you, there''s nothing. What else do you want to know? There''s still food in the pot Ana leck on it. Monica, you''re staying for dinner tonight" Salma rarely spoke this


    Anastasia frowned.


    omething was up, but decided not to push further, not wanting to upset her mother


    She knew Monica was tight-lipped and wouldn''t


    As for Cason, she didn''t trust him. Even if there was something to tell, it wouldn''t be righting from him


    If she wanted to re


    her lost memories, the


    d have to do it herself


    Anastasia turned and headed into th had a way of being discovered eve


    During dinner, the three of them were pr


    After dinner, Salma packed some leftovers for Hern


    ash the vegetables. Salma and Monica exchanged a nce, their hearts far from being at ease. Things


    As Anastasia and Monica left theplex together Mo


    own thoughts, and


    atmosphere became somewhat eerie


    thermos


    a seemed to want to say something several times but held back, ultimately keeping quiet.


    By the time Anastasia got home, it was already nine o''clock at night.


    She only turned on a single night light and sat alone on the couch, hugging a pillow, staring nkly out the window, lost in thought


    What could it be that had Salma and Monica conspiring to keep things from her?


    And she began to question whether her prior depression was really due to Cason and the school''s gossip.


    She considered herself pretty stress resilient, so how did she end up with depression severe enough to cause memory loss?


    Anastasia sank into deep thought. The night was cold, and the silence was deafening. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn''t realize when Herman came home until he called out her name Herman" Anastasia, what''s wrong? Are you upset?"


    At the sound of his deep, mellow voice, Anastasia looked up. Seeing Herman, she suddenly threw her arms around him.


    She just held him, not saying a word,forted by his familiar scent


    Herman assumed Anastasia was upset about being fired. He patted her head, sat down next to her, and magically took out a gift box from behind him


    "This is for you Open it"


    Looking at the gift, Anastasia asked, "Why are you giving me another gift? Don''t waste your money"


    1 bought it with my bonus, Herman said, his eyes full of tenderness, You worked hard this morning"


    At his words, Anastasia blushed in an instant