Amelia intended to run towards Anastasia to hug her, but Old Wace quickly intervened, extending her walking stick to block her path and gently urging her to step back.


    <i>Selene</i> was still a guest at the party, though she wasn’t entirely sure whether she was Selene or Anastasia. Despite her uncertainty, she didn’t want to make anyone feel ufortable.


    "She said she’s Selene Jones," said Old Wace. "So let’s not make this ufortable for my guest now," she added.


    Amelia backed off, her eyes meeting Michelle’s in silent understanding. They exchanged a nod, conveying a silent message, before they politely excused themselves from the gathering along with Robert and Jack. Richard stayed behind, ogling at <i>Selene. </i>


    A man d in a gray suit came over and said, "The party is going to start in a few minutes."


    Old Wace felt a pang of sadness as she reluctantly parted ways with the girl she had just met. However, she needed to attend to her guests and couldn’t linger any longer.


    Anastasia left old Wace’s side and went downstairs, where the other party guests were.


    A birthday song was sung by the old woman who seemed extremely happy about her day. She cut the cake happily but was immediately restricted by her daughter-inw to take any bite.


    A microphone was handed to her so that she could make her speech.


    "Good evening people of Radiatia, I’m d that all of you could make it to this old woman’s birthday. Thank you," she started and a round of apuse echoed in the hall.


    "Surprisingly today, I met a sweet girl who reminded me of someone. Her name is Selene Jones."


    All of a sudden, the spotlight was on Selene. She maintained a sweet smile as people murmured around her.


    "She looks like Anastasia from the Harrison family."


    "I know right? But she suddenly disappeared."


    "Maybe she fought with her younger sister, Michelle. Remember, she’s Michelle’s assistant."


    "I agree, but she looks so beautiful."


    Anastasia kept quiet. As long as they weren’t talking bad about her, she was willing to keep quiet.


    "She might be the one to win Xavier’s heart. Now, all of you who want to get your daughters married into my family can go ahead and bury that thought because it’s never going to happen," she added as if reading their thoughts. The party guestsughed it off as if it was nothing.


    Many other influential families had met her to discuss a marriage proposal, to either Kace or Xavier since Richard was a deadbeat but she immediately refused.


    She wanted them to pick their wives. She had wanted Anastasia to be her daughter-inw but thetter already <i>chose </i>Richard. She was very much aware of the mix-up, but Xavier had been silent ever since so she decided to keep quiet about it too.


    Anastasia was surprised with what old Wace had just announced to everyone in the hall. She spoke as if she already knew she was Anastasia and was just pretending.


    ’No one matches their grandson with anydy they just met. She doesn’t even know who invited me to her party,’ Anastasia thought to herself.


    From the corners of her eyes, Anastasia saw Robert, Michelle with Ameliaing out from the back where there was a door that led outside. It seemed they were scared that someone would overhear their discussions.


    "An—Selene," Amelia called with a big smile on her face, which only made Anastasia wonder if her cheeks didn’t hurt with how forced the smile was. "I’m truly sorry for calling you a ghost earlier. The thing is you look a lot like my daughter," Amelia said. "She suddenly disappeared and we haven’t heard anything from her as of the moment, so I mistook you for her."


    The person that stood in front of her looked a lot like Anastasia. Robert had told her what happened that night and she also didn’t believe she could survive that fall.


    Even though she wasn’t sure if <i>Selene</i> was Anastasia, the aura exuding from <i>Selene </i>made her feel slightly ufortable as if she was getting choked up.


    Michelle added, "She has been gone for a few months now. I just wish she woulde back to us."


    ’Such good actresses,’ Anastasia thought to herself.


    "Oh," said Anastasia with a smile, turning towards Amelia. "I can see that you missed your daughter so much. I mean, with the way you rushed toe try to hug me, it just shows you shared a really good rtionship with your daughter," Anastasia added. She didn’t fail to notice when Amelia’s lips twitched.