Daniel parked the car outside Anastasia's house, as she had requested. She mentioned that she didn't need him to act like her boyfriend yet and would let him know when the time came.
"Thanks for driving me home," Anastasia said with a smile. She was about to open the door when she paused, remembering something. "Oh, about the investment money—are you sure it will be in by tomorrow morning?"
It would be a lie to say she wasn't worried. The amount was huge, and she still couldn't quite understand why she had agreed to register the marriage first when Daniel had informed her that the money couldn't be transferred today.
"Ah, I'm sorry. You're probably worried I'd run off, right?" Daniel teased with a smile. "I understand your concern, but it's just a formality. The company needed to finalise some internal approvals for such a large transfer, and the bank requires a bit of extra time to process everything. I promise the money will be in the account by tomorrow morning."
Anastasia quickly shook her head, "Actually, could you transfer it to this company's account instead?" She rummaged through her handbag and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Daniel acted as though he didn't know what it was. "Which company is this? Jnes?"
"Yes, it's my father's company. We've been facing some issues and suffered a great loss. The investment you're providing will help us recover..." She offered a sincere, innocent smile, unaware of the deeper connections behind the scenes.
"Ah, really? I've heard of Jnes, but I didn't know it was facing issues. I'll make sure the money goes to this account, then." A white lie—or perhaps grey? He knew he shouldn't keep lying, but he found himself doing it one after another.
"Thanks, Mr. Daniel," Anastasia said, her eyes sparkling with relief as she smiled.
Nodding, Daniel returned the smile. "You're welcome."
"I'll go now," she added, feeling reassured after their conversation. As she opened the door and stepped out, she bent slightly to say goodbye, "Bye, Mr. Daniel. Drive safely."
Daniel was ready to say goodbye when Anastasia suddenly paused and turned back. "Wait, wait… I forgot something." She opened the door again and leaned forward. "About your parents, when should we meet them?"
"Ah…" Daniel was caught off guard by the question, his lips quivering as he struggled to respond.
Anastasia looked puzzled. "Why? Is something wrong?"
Quickly, Daniel shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just that I need to inform them first, and then I'll arrange for us to meet with my parents." He managed to regain his composure and smiled, trying to appear calm.
"Ah, really?" Anastasia's smile was genuinely bright. "Is there anything I should know about them? Like, how should I dress? What kind of qualities are they looking for in a daughter-in-law?"
She paused when she noticed Daniel smiling at her with amusement. "Why? Did I cross the line?" Her cheeks flushed pink as she felt a bit shy under Daniel's gaze.
"No, it's just… you're so beautiful," Daniel said before he realised he had spoken his mind.
"Sorry?" Anastasia's eyes widened, and she quickly covered her cheeks with her hand as the embarrassment from the unexpected compliment took over.
"Aaah, no… what I meant is, they'll love you just as you are. You just need to be yourself, and I'm sure they'll be happy to know it's you," Daniel blurted out sincerely. He noticed the confusion in Anastasia's eyes and added, "I mean… you're not someone anyone could dislike."
Anastasia blinked, her cheeks still tinged with pink. "Oh, um, thank you. That's… really nice of you to say."
Daniel cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Well, I'll let them know about our meeting. I'll make sure to keep you updated."
"Sounds good," Anastasia said, her smile returning. "I'll be looking forward to it."
"Great," Daniel replied, feeling a bit more relaxed. "Head inside, and send my regards to your mother."
As Anastasia waved goodbye and closed the door, Daniel watched her walk away, a small, content smile on his face. He took a deep breath and drove off, feeling a sense of relief and excitement about the future.
Meanwhile, Bella was lounging on a garden chair, flipping through a magazine with an air of disinterest when she saw Anastasia walk through the gate. Bella's eyes followed her stepsister with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. Anastasia seemed unusually cheerful, which piqued Bella's interest.
As Anastasia disappeared inside the house, Bella's attention was drawn to a sleek car that passed by the gate. The car's brand and the unique choices of colour made Bella think of Ethan Harrington. Her obsession with Ethan meant she knew a lot about him, including his vehicle.
"Was that…?" Bella wondered aloud, her eyes narrowing as she watched it drive away.
'Why was Ethan's car here? And why was she looking so pleased?'
Bella's mind started racing, and her heart began to feel anxious. Displeased, she rushed inside, determined to ask Anastasia straight away.
"Stop!" Bella shouted from downstairs, making Anastasia freeze just as she was about to reach the second floor.
Looking down, Anastasia saw the angry expression on Bella's face. "What is it? If it's not important, can we talk tomorrow? I'm really tired today," she said, hoping to avoid an argument.
"Ethan…" Bella said, rushing up the stairs. "Was he the one who drove you back?" She stopped right in front of Anastasia, waiting for an answer.
"No!" Anastasia quickly denied, frowning. "I told you, I have nothing to do with him anymore. That was my boyfriend, Daniel. D-A-N-I-E-L. Remember his name." Exhaustion took over, and she felt her irritation rising.
Bella snickered. "And you think I would believe such a lie?" She suddenly yanked at Anastasia's hair, her frustration clear. Though she hadn't seen the car's licence plate, she was almost certain it was Ethan's.
"Bella! Stop! Remove your hand now. I said–" Anastasia tried her best to remove Bella's hand from her hair but the grip was too hard and she lost control of her body balance and suddenly stepped at the edge of the stair and fell.
"Bella! Stop! Remove your hand now. I said—" Anastasia struggled to pull Bella's hand from her hair as the grip was too tight. Losing her balance, she accidentally stepped off the edge of the stairs and fell.
"Anna!" Marleen, who was coming from the kitchen, saw Anastasia tumble down from the stairs. "What are you doing, Bella?!" she shouted, rushing to Anastasia's side.
Bella's eyes widened in shock. She froze at the top of the stairs, nearly losing her balance but managing to grab the railing just in time. "I…I…" Her voice quivered as she stared at the blood on Anastasia's head, her face pale with fear.
"Are you okay?" Marleen asked, holding Anastasia gently.
Anastasia managed to nod but grimaced in pain. "Mom… my hand… it hurts… it really hurts…"
Marleen's face turned pale with panic as she looked at Bella, her eyes blazing with anger. "What have you done, Bella? Look at what's happened!"
Bella's eyes widened in shock and guilt. "I-I didn't mean to…"
Marleen's anger erupted. "The marriage between Anastasia and Ethan Harrington will not happen! I already told the Harrington family that Anastasia will marry someone she truly loves, not someone she's forced into!"
Bella's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "But—"
Marleen cut her off, her voice rising with each word. "No 'buts'!"
As Marleen's words hung in the air, she turned her attention back to Anastasia, who was wincing in pain. "We need to get you to the hospital right away. Hang in there, Anna."