Anastasia noticed how the bustling party guests beside Old Wallace quieted down. Their eyes, filled with curiosity, followed her every move. Even Old Wallace observed her with keen interest.
"Anastasia?" Old Wallace called as a smile pulled on her lips. "Where have you been? Your father told us that you left. Where did you go?" Old Wallace asked, covering Anastasia’s hands with hers.
Anastasia blinked at her, pretending not to understand her question.
"I’m sorry, I’m not Anastasia. I’m Selene Jones," said Anastasia, but it was obvious from old Wallace’s smile that she didn’t believe her.
"You’d better stop with this prank," said Old Wallace. Anastasia blinked at her again.
She parted her lips to deny Old Wallace’s claims but Michelle suddenly spoke, "Anastasia, you are back! Why didn’t you tell us where you went? You just disappeared for several months and didn’t even bother to contact us."
Michelle was an A-list celebrity in Radiantia, so pulling off expressions of sadness mixed with happiness was second nature to her. As she spoke, she made sure to force a few tears to glisten in her eyes. Her words flowed convincingly, although, in truth, no one in the room doubted her sincerity.
But unfortunately for her, Anastasia saw through Michelle’s lies. She remained composed, knowing that any outburst would lead to guests questioning why she was calling her sister a ghost.
Instead, she masked her shock perfectly, maintaining a calm and collected deanor.
Anastasia smiled. "I’m sorry, but you must have mistaken to be soone else. I’m not Anastasia, I’m Selene. Have we t before?" She asked, the smile still evident on her lips.
Michelle’s smile froze as confusion etched on her face. The makeup Anastasia wore was not too heavy, neither were they too light but so of her features did change which confused Michelle even more. She decided to smile and let the matter go for now. She would bring it back once her family arrived.
Facing Old Wallace, she said, "I got this for you." She handed over a box to her.
Opening it, Grandma Wallace gasped in astonishnt as she stared at the beautiful erald necklace that matched the color of her eyes.
Rembering that Grandma Wallace had vivid green eyes, Anastasia was confident that the necklace would be a perfect gift for her.
"It looks so beautiful," Grandma Wallace said with delight, her hands caressing the beautiful necklace. Anastasia watched the grandma close the box and put it in her purse, keeping it safe.
Xavier watched the interaction, revealing a faint smile.
Suddenly, he felt soone nudge his shoulders. His eyes landed on Kace, his youngest brother and his mood soured instantly.
Kace was a young man, the sa age as Anastasia, 24, and he was the only brother Xavier had that he could tolerate.
"Say, doesn’t Selene Jones look a lot like Anastasia Harrison, the daughter of the Harrison’s?" Kace whispered so no one would hear their conversation.
"She is," Xavier responded without hesitating.
"What?!" Kace exclaid but imdiately closed his mouth.
Xavier hissed in annoyance. "I will explain it to you later. But I have a mission for you." He said and Kace’s eyes sparkled in anticipation.
Whenever Xavier would say sothing like that, he would always grow excited because Xavier always paid him well, despite how little the mission was.
He served as Xavier’s right-hand man in Xavier’s organization known as X, relishing every mont in that coveted position.
Xavier walked away, and Kace, without needing to be told, fell into step behind him. They kept a few paces distance from the rest of the family, but despite the distance, his gaze remained fixed on Anastasia.
"You will be Selene’s bodyguard from now on," Xavier said to Kace.
Xavier watched as his shoulders slumped, a palpable sense of disappointnt settling over him.
"I got excited all for nothing," Kace mumbled before sipping from his drink. "But why does she need a bodyguard though? Is soone going to kill her or kidnap her?" He asked, growing confused.
Xavier explained everything to Kace, leaving the part where Anastasia had a miscarriage. He felt that would be her story to tell.
Kace’s eyes widened in shock.
"You are worried that sister-in-law would get killed by those scumbags? Don’t worry, I will protect her, but you will have to pay double the price this ti around since I will have to spend my entire ti protecting her when you are not around," Kace said, bargaining his price.
"2 million," Xavier said.
"That’s too small! What is 2 million going to do for ? You are a billionaire, raise it," Kace urged with a huge grin on his lips.
Xavier glared at him but he ended up giving in to his little brother. "5 million, take it or leave it."
"Now, you’re speaking my language," said Kace, his grin widening on his lips which only irked Xavier even more. He needed Kace around who could protect Anastasia when he wasn’t around.
Xavier’s eyes caught a group of people amid the party guests downstairs.
"Your job has begun," he said.
Kace followed his line of sight and he gritted his teeth.
"Those bastards. I’ve never liked those people. I’ve always known they weren’t nice like they portrayed themselves to be," he spat out.
They walked back to the family group, where Old Wallace seed to be regaling Anastasia with a story, and she listened attentively, hanging on every word.
Alia walked with her arms linked with Robert’s. Her smile was so wide that it exposed her gums as they walked towards old Wallace while their son, Jack walked behind them.
Anastasia was busy listening to Old Wallace who had abandoned her fellow old people she was chatting with before she arrived.
When Anastasia made eye contact with both Alia and Robert, she saw their eyes widen in surprise, and their mouths dropped open slightly. It was evident that they were beyond shocked to see her standing there, alive and well, after everything that had happened.
"G-g-ghost!!!" Alia scread out loud while pointing at Anastasia.
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