Katelyn''s words hit Anastasia like a cold ssh of water.


    She had been bending over backward to amodate Katelyn''s feelings, especially when it came to Emmie and Nancy. Over and over, she chose to step back, avoiding conflict.


    During the baby shower, when Katelyn criticized Pattie, Anastasia let it slide.


    Katelyn always had her demands: Salma had to sanitize before holding the baby, Pattie couldn''t be left alone with her siblings, and so on. Anastasia put up with it all, out of respect for Herman and for the sake of peace.


    But now, hearing Katelyn''s harsh words, everything clicked into ce for Anastasia.


    "Mom, is that all I am to you? Just the mother of your grandkids, a baby machine, a tool for managing thepany? You''re scared I''ll have my own interests if Herman transfers everything to me. You dislike Pattie, you think I''m not generous enough..." Anastasia''s voice trembled as she locked eyes with Katelyn, "You weren''t always like this. You used to adore Pattie, you were happy with me. Is it because Pattie is my biological daughter that you''re dissatisfied now?"


    This was the first time Anastasia directly confronted Katelyn about these issues.


    Now that she had started, Anastasia couldn''t hold back any longer. "Mom, you''re Herman''s mother. I know you''re hurting after what happened to him. I''ve tried to be amodating because we''re family. Even if Herman''s gone, I still nned to care for you on his behalf. But what about you?"


    Katelyn sat silently, her face like thunder.


    Anastasia gave a bitterugh, "You don''t see it that way. You''ve been looking into Pattie''s biological father, subtly prying information from my mom, even snooping around Neon Dreams. You think I''m clueless? I''m not. I just pretended not to know. I understand your intentions. You want to send Pattie away, have her biological father take her so she doesn''t threaten Emmie and Nancy." Anastasia''s words struck a nerve with Katelyn, leaving her visibly shocked.


    Yes, she had been quietly investigating, hoping Pattie''s biological father would take her away.


    She never thought Anastasia knew. But Anastasia knew everything.


    The nanny overheard the tension and quickly went to inform Feiman and Flynn. Hearing themotion, Feiman and Flynn rushed over.


    As they hurried along, Feiman muttered, "I knew Mom was acting all anxious. Something was bound to happen."


    "Mom''s really something, picking a fight with Anastasia first thing in the morning," Flynn added.


    They didn''t know all the details yet, but they instinctively sided with Anastasia. They''d noticed Katelyn''s recent changes. If patient Anastasia was finally speaking up, Katelyn must have crossed a line.


    Facing Anastasia''s usations, Katelyn''s face was stormy. "You''re young, beautiful, with every reason to find another man if Herman''s gone.Can you really promise single forever? To not favor Pattie? Emmie and Nancy are Herman''s


    stay


    children. As his mother, isn''t it my


    duty to protect their interests?"


    "I can." Anastasia''s voice was steady, her gaze unwavering. "I can promise never


    to remarry and to treat all three children equally, without favoritism."


    "How can you say that?" Katelyn retorted, "Pattie doesn''t even share Herman''sst name, she..."


    "Pattie does have the samest name. She is Herman''s biological daughter," Anastasia dered firmly. "Pattie is our first daughter. I have only ever been with Herman."


    Katelyn was stunned into silence.


    Feiman and Flynn, who had just arrived, were equally floored.


    This was unbelievable. How could Pattie be Anastasia and Herman''s biological daughter?


    To anyone else, this would sound like a story spun from desperation, which is why Katelyn was so angry.


    Sensing the rising tension, Flynn tried to ease the situation with a chuckle, "Anastasia, Mom, let''s not argue. We''re family, and Mom''s been on edgetely. Let''s just let it go."


    Feiman''s knack for smoothing things over was clearly his gift.


    "How can we just drop it?" Anastasia turned to Katelyn and Feiman, saying, "Dad, Mom, I only recently found out that Pattie is indeed Herman''s biological daughter, you don''t believe me, we can do a DNA test. And Flynn," she added, turning to him, "you should know about the Neon Dreams incident."


    Flynn looked puzzled, "I should know?"