"I cannot believe you, Anastasia Laurent!"
Caroline's shriek echoed through the grand corridors of the Laurent Estate as she grabbed Anastasia's wrist and yanked her straight into her old bedroom. The moment the door slammed behind them, she spun around, arms flailing in wild disbelief.
"Explain to me—no, scream it into my face—how you went from refusing to sign that devil's contract to married to Dante Alexander Montgomery in less than twenty-four hours!"
Anastasia didn't flinch. She just stood there, staring at Caroline with exhaustion painted across her features—her shoulders slouched, her skin pale under the soft lights of her old room.
"It was the only way," she said quietly. "I didn't do it just for me. I did it for my mother. For my grandfather. For your father too, Caroline. You know what was at stake."
Caroline's jaw dropped. "Oh my God…" she gasped, collapsing onto the edge of Anastasia's bed like she had just heard a death sentence. "Don't you dare guilt-trip me right now, Stassi! This was my fault—I pushed the blind date angle, I told you not to sign the contract, I sabotaged it!"
Anastasia shook her head, walking over and sitting beside her. "No, Caroline. Listen to me. Even if you hadn't done any of that, this would've still happened. You don't understand, everything was already prepared. My room in his estate—it was fully set up. My closet was filled with clothes and designer bags. All in my size. He had it all ready… like he knew I would eventually give in. The marriage was never spontaneous. It was inevitable."
Caroline's hand flew to her chest. "So you're telling me this man planned your entire marriage without your knowledge? Like… like some messed-up Cinderella mafia fairytale?"
Anastasia managed a faint chuckle. "Something like that."
"Girl," Caroline said, flipping around dramatically so she was facing her directly, legs crossed and brow furrowed. "Did he at least propose properly? Did he get on one knee? No? Did he give you a ring? A diamond ring the size of a Ferrero Rocher at least?"
Anastasia laughed weakly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "He didn't even give me a ring because I wouldn't even wear it after all this is a business transaction"
Caroline gasped. "Stassi! You let him business-deal you into marriage?! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"What was I supposed to do?" she snapped suddenly, the cracks in her calm composure finally breaking. "Let the company fall? Let my mother be humiliated? Let everyone see everything my father built collapse before their mocking eyes?"
Caroline shut up instantly. She looked at her best friend for a moment, her expression softening. "No… No, I guess not."
Silence hung between them like fog.
"I didn't want this, Caro," Anastasia whispered. "But I had no choice."
After a long moment, Caroline leaned in and pulled her into a hug. "We're gonna get through this. I don't care if you married a freaking devil. I'm not leaving you."
They pulled apart just as a servant informed them it was breakfast .
"Come on," Anastasia sighed, standing up. "Let's go face reality "
---
The breakfast table in the Laurent Estate was as tense as a boardroom. Grandfather Hugo sat at the head of the table, already halfway through his croissant. Genevieve sipped black coffee from her porcelain cup while Anastasia stared blankly at her plate, pushing scrambled eggs around like they were guilty memories.
But peace never lasted long in the Laurent household.
The tall double doors opened with a quiet creak, revealing Juliette in a soft pastel dress and perfect waves falling down her back. Behind her followed her snake of a mother, and her father—none other than Genevieve's brother, Aston's greedy, opportunistic son.
"Eve," he smiled, placing a dramatic hand over his heart, "I heard about the company's troubles. I came to offer my help, of course."
Genevieve's expression didn't budge. "How charitable of you, Maxime," she said, voice laced with velveted steel. "Unfortunately, your help isn't needed. Everything has been taken care of."
Maxime chuckled, taking a seat without being invited. His wife followed suit, smirking in that oh-so-condescending way she always did. Juliette remained standing, gaze flitting between her parents and Anastasia.
Anastasia sipped orange juice and then cleared her throat. "Indeed, Uncle Maxime. The matter has been resolved. Perfectly."
His wife turned to her, eyes narrowing. "Children should not interrupt adults when they're talking, dear."
Anastasia tilted her head and smiled. "That's probably because you're used to Juliette never speaking up. I, however, am not Juliette even though I like her personality. I'm Anastasia Laurent—the only heir to the Laurent Corporation."
Juliette blinked but smiled sweetly.
Maxime chuckled, clearly amused. "You've grown sharper, niece."
"Circumstances shape people," Anastasia replied coolly.
After some more veiled insults and unnecessary banter, Maxime and his wife stood, declaring they had another 'appointment' to attend. Juliette lingered behind, offering a small wave and an unreadable smile before stepping out as well.
Caroline returned from a call, breezing back into the room like a summer storm.
"Why do I feel like I missed a live episode of Dynasty?" she muttered, kissing Anastasia's cheek. "Anyway, gotta go. My dad wants me to check on some files at the office, but I'll call you later, okay?"
"Sure."
Caroline left, heels clacking dramatically down the hallway.
---
Later that afternoon, Juliette found Anastasia out in the garden, leaning against the stone balustrade overlooking the estate grounds. The wind teased her hair as she stared into nothing.
"You handled my parents well," Juliette said, stepping beside her and Anastasia smiled.
"They're always a delight," Anastasia muttered, sarcasm heavy in her tone.
Juliette chuckled. "So… what happened? How did everything get fixed overnight?"
Anastasia turned to her cousin, hesitant for a second—but then she sighed. Juliette had always been someone she could trust. Or so she thought.
"I married Dante Alexander Montgomery," she said.
Juliette's smile froze.
"What?"
"I'm his wife now," Anastasia repeated, this time looking her in the eye. "That's how I saved the company."
Juliette's lips parted in disbelief. Her carefully curated composure cracked, and something dark flickered in her eyes.
"You… married Dante?"
"Yes."
For a moment, the air between them stood still. Then Juliette's expression shifted into a weak smile which she hardly pulled.
"Well, that's out of the blue, congratulations then."
But Anastasia didn't reply and just turned look ahead.
Juliette had always liked Dante, he was her dream man the only man she had openly liked . She had just never said it out loud.
Juliette's heart clenched, her fist clenching tightly.
"How lucky you are, Stassi, " she muttered , her voice soft—but her nails dug crescent moons into her palm .
" I'm proud of you".