Kael was about to retort but a scowl from his father, Jeffrey, had him swallowing his words just as soon as he was about to open his mouth.
’What an active family,’ Anastasia thought to herself.
On social media, everyone acted poised and mannered, but in private, it waspletely different.
She couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
After being lonely for a while, her heartfelt warmth just from looking at them.
Anastasia walked toward Nora and clicked her arms with the woman.
"What have you prepared for me, mother? I’m famished. Xavier didn’t give me anything to eat along the way here," she said, and instantly, everyone’s eyes were on Xavier, silently cursing at him.
"Xavier didn’t give you anything to eat? Don’t worry dear, I prepared lots of meals for you and you have to finish them. You’ve lost so much weight," said Nora, pulling Anastasia into the house while subtly ring at Xavier.
Thetter could only sigh as he followed them in. Nothing he said they would believe anyway.
The family settled down and munched on their lunch.
Xavier felt a path of guilt for not inviting Kace. He despised the fact that he had to suspect his brother of working with Xander, but there was a chance of that happening, although Kace and Xander rarely interacted in the past. Besides, Kace was only a few years old before their father kicked Xander out of the house. Either way, Xavier couldn’t invite his brother to the dinner or inform him Anastasia was already found. It was sad since they were best friends, but he needed to do what had to be done until the culprit was found.
Anastasia couldn’t stopplimenting her mother throughout and the heart of the woman felt warm.
"Hey, I assisted in cooking too just for you," Tracie interjected, a scowl on her face.
"You found Anastasia and never told either of us," Jeffrey suddenly said, and Tracie could only sigh.
"Why am I still getting med for that? She was the one that suggested not telling anyone," she immediately defended.
Anastasia looked at Tracie with an innocent look, before shaking her head. "That’s a lie, I never told her to lie to anyone," she said.
Not only Tracie but Xavier was also stunned at how smoothly Anastasia just lied.
"What did you say?" Tracie gasped dramatically, her hand against her chest as if she’d just been heartbroken.
Anastasia didn’t reply but only winked at her before continuing to munch on her food.
Meanwhile, the rk couple red at Tracie for a few seconds beforeughing.
The atmosphere around the table was inviting, and truly beautiful. For the first time in a while, they were eating dinner like aplete family once again.
Nora continued to feed Anastasia and thetter ate until her belly was about to burst.
**
Anastasia and Xavier were sitting on a swing on the terrace of the mansion but it wasn’t close to the edge of the building so they wouldn’t fall off.
Anastasia’s head was resting on his shoulders with their hands intertwined together. It was quiet as they stared at the stars in the sky.
"This feels like a dream," Anastasia mumbled. "I’m scared that once I close my eyes, I’m going to wake up and you won’t be here anymore. I even though they would be disgusted to look—"
"Don’t say that," Xavier interrupted her. "They’re your family, and they wouldn’t do such a thing because they love you."
Anastasia nodded.
For the past few days now, everything had been great. Her life had been calm but she had this inkling feeling that something bad was going to happen.
With Xander and Mr. Wace still roaming about, it wouldn’t be a surprise. They still needed to get rid of them after all.
"I just remembered the time you almost shot me during the trade," Anastasia recalled,ughing.
A look of guilt crowded Xavier’s face as he held her tighter this time around. "I didn’t know what I was thinking."
"Stop worrying. I should be beating Julian up for shooting you," she replied.
Realization dawned on Xavier. No wonder he was thinking he’d seen Julian somewhere before. He was the one who’d shot him in the leg the other time. But that wasn’t it. Xavier still believed he’d seen the man in another ce.