章 12: Reluctant Burden
"I'm sorry to disturb you in the middle of the night. I knew I should've waited until tomorrow," the woman in front of Anastasia began, "but the company really needs the funds as soon as possible."
Anastasia stared blankly into the eyes of the woman who introduced herself as Caroline, the Legal Adviser for Flynn's Company. "Why me?"
"Sorry?" Still catching her breath after rushing over to the restaurant when Anastasia agreed to meet, she was a bit confused by Anastasia's question.
Anastasia raised her eyes and repeated, "Why did you come to me? You should ask Bella. I'm not even his daughter."
Caroline looked baffled, taking a few seconds before responding. "Is there something wrong? I knew this would be hard to handle, and I can't say I fully understand why Flynn named you as the one he trusted to take over the company."
"He must think I deserve this, after ruining her daughter's future," Anastasia muttered under her breath. Though conscious, she seemed lost.
"Are you... okay?" Caroline asked, her concern evident. She had noticed that Anastasia looked dishevelled when she arrived earlier—her hair, makeup, and emotional state all seemed far from okay. "I know this is a lot to ask, especially under such circumstances, but Flynn's company is in a delicate position right now."
"No… I am totally not okay and about the company, can I just… not care about it at all?" Anastasia's voice trembled, reflecting the fragile state she was in. "Everything... Everything was fine last week. Why...?" She gazed down, her eyes welling up with tears once again.
The silence lingered for a few moments. Caroline looked down at her clasped hands, "I'm sorry," she said softly, understanding the burden Anastasia was carrying. "We tried everything, but the damage was already done. Flynn never expected his closest ally to be the one who'd betray him. That's why we're reaching out to you—you might be our last hope."
Anastasia remained silent, her gaze fixed on the empty plate in front of her. She pressed her lips together, struggling to process everything.
Caroline hesitated, then continued, determined to find a way forward. "Actually… Flynn didn't immediately accept the marriage proposal from the Harrington family. He seemed conflicted when he first received it." She shared a bit of information, hoping it might help. "But then, this happened to the company, and luck seemed to be on our side when Edward visited again and yes, again, asked for your hand."
The topic finally caught Anastasia's attention. She raised her head and asked, "So, when they proposed the marriage and he agreed, the company was already in crisis?"
Caroline nodded, her expression sombre. "Yes, the company was already in trouble by then. Flynn was trying to keep it under wraps, but the financial strain was growing. When Edward proposed the marriage a second time, it came at a moment when Flynn was desperate. He saw it as a lifeline, a way to stabilise things—at least on the surface."
Anastasia's face hardened as she absorbed the information. "So, he agreed to sell me off in exchange for saving the company."
Caroline winced at the harshness of Anastasia's words and quickly responded, "No! Flynn was in a difficult position. He genuinely believed he was protecting you and the company. He thought agreeing to the marriage would secure your future and the company's stability."
"Protecting me?" Anastasia scoffed, letting out a bitter laugh. "You're talking about the money offered in exchange for me marrying Edward's son, and you call that protection?"
Caroline fell silent, realising that Anastasia's anger wasn't misplaced. She tried to think of something to say, but the words wouldn't come.
Anastasia's chest heaved with emotion, her thoughts spiralling out of control. She couldn't take it anymore. "I'm sorry but I really couldn't think of anything right now. Standing up, she turned on her heels and stormed out of the restaurant, leaving Caroline frozen in place.
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The continuous ringing of his phone made Daniel groan. He turned his head and grabbed it. "Hello…"
"Where are you?!" Diana's sharp voice pierced through the line.
"Home, Mom. Where else would I be?" he mumbled sleepily.
"I heard you met Anna yesterday," Diana continued, her voice tinged with worry. "What did you do to her?"
The mention of that name made Daniel's eyes snap open. Glancing at the clock on his bedside table, he realised it was only five-thirty in the morning. "Mom… do you know what time it is?"
"Answer me," Diana demanded.
"I didn't meet her," he replied, not entirely lying since it was Leo who had met Anastasia.
"Don't lie. Marleen told me you were supposed to meet Anna last night. She hasn't come home, and her mother is worried," Diana pressed, her voice filled with concern. She had just received a call from Marleen, who was equally anxious. The unexpected call at this hour had startled Diana, but Marleen's worry made sense.
"How am I supposed to know where she is? She went home—" Daniel paused, replaying the events of the previous night in his mind. As he waited for Leo, his car had been parked facing the restaurant entrance. He distinctly remembered watching people come and go, but before Leo arrived, no one else had left. The realisation made him stop mid-sentence. "Ahh... Mom... I don't know. All I know is that I went home with Leo after that."
Diana sighed on the other end of the line, sensing her son's unease. "Well, if you hear anything, let me know. Marleen is really worried, and so am I."
"Okay..." Daniel answered, clearly unwilling. "If there's nothing else, I'm going to hang up."
"Wait," Diana interrupted before he could end the call. "Why did you meet her, though? Did she finally agree to the marriage?" Her voice carried a hint of excitement.
"Mom... I'm the one who disagrees..." he mumbled softly, almost to himself. "And she will too."
"What did you say?" Diana asked, her concern deepening as she strained to catch his words. "I don't feel good about this. Did you do something to her?"
Daniel sighed heavily, his patience wearing thin. "Mom... I'm really sleepy. Can we talk later? All you need to know right now is that I told her clearly—I don't want to get married, especially not to women like her."
"Ethan Daniel Harrington!" Diana's voice cut through the phone with sharp precision, causing Daniel to wince as it echoed in his ears.
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