Chapter 434
Herman chuckled. There was a smile dancing at the corners of his lips. âWhy donât you entertain your cousin while I retreat to the study with some work?â
âGo on, off you go.â Anastasia gently touched her flushed cheeks.
As soon as Herman left the room, Anastasia promptly rose from bed to freshen up. She slipped into a loose outfit before heading downstairs to meet Gianna.
Pattie had already taken off for school and Salma had plans with some former colleagues from the hotel.
In the living room, Gianna was comfortably seated while the housekeeper, Katie, poured her a cup of coffee. Upon seeing Anastasia, Katie offered, âWould you like some lemonade, milady?â
At five months pregnant, Anastasia still endured bouts of morning sickness and often found relief in sipping lemonade.
Anastasia responded with a smile, âThat sounds wonderful. Thanks, Katie. Could you also prepare some breakfast for me? Iâm quite peckish. A bowl of oatmeal would be perfect.â
âCertainly, Iâll get right on it,â Katie replied. Then she tactfully retreated to the kitchen, leaving Anastasia to host Gianna.
Placing a bag of coffee beans on the table, Gianna said, âThis is a new blend from my shop. I thought you might like to try it. Itâs safe for expectant mothers.â
âThank you,â Anastasia replied. Her smile was gentle. âHowâs business at your shop, Gianna?â
âItâs going well. Itâs profitable. Iâve done the math and it should break even within a year.â Gianna boasted, âI might even open a second shop at that point.â
âReally? Thatâs impressive, Gianna. Youâre quite the entrepreneur.â
Gianna glanced upstairs. âIs your husband not going into the office today?â
âHeâs working from home today to keep me company,â Anastasia admitted, a little sheepishly.
âAnastasia, youâre so lucky. Herman earns money by the minute. Just think of how much heâs giving up to spend the day with you,â Gianna said. Her eyes were brimming with envy.
âOh, itâs not as dramatic as all that,â Anastasia demurred. âBesides, heâs not a machine. He needs to rest too. We have Flynn holding down the fort at the office.â
âBy the way, whatâs the status of the Salstrom familyâs illegitimate child? Are they planning on acknowledging him? Could it impact Herman?â
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sence of the Sastromâs illegitimate child wasnât exactly a secret, and a good hunter of wople know about it
not entre sureâ Anastasia admitted. âHis parents are still at odds over the matter.â
wmen are truly faithful, especially when their partners are pregnant. Most canât resist Temptation. According to research, nearly 80% of men are unfaithful during their partnerâs pregnancy.âGanna trailed off observing Anastasiaâs reaction. âIâm not implying anything about Herman, Anastasia.â
tâs fineâ Anastasia reassured her though she felt a sudden discomfort in her stomach. âI need to use the restroom. Feel free to make yourself at home, Gianna.â Pregnancy often
et to constipation
Sureâ Gianna replied. Her eyes wandered around the house as soon as Anastasia left the room. The mansion was extravagant, from the decoration to the sheer size, not to mention its prime location in Riverdale.
The property was worth billions and Salma had mentioned that it was registered in Anastasiaâs name. The realization made Gianna envious. Her previous comfortable life caled in comparison to the opulence of Anastasiaâs. Every piece of furniture, every cup in the mansion was worth a small fortune.
As Giannaâs hand traced over the $1 million pine table, her gaze wandered upstairs. Upstairs was the man she adored.
The image of Herman and Anastasia sharing a passionate kiss earlier still lingered in Gannaâs mind. It pricked at her heart like a thorn.
Unconsciously, Gianna found herself moving towards the staircase. She didnât know the exact location of the study, but she carefully treaded along the carpeted hallway,
eventually finding herself outside the study.
The door was ajar, and through the gap, Gianna could see Hermanâs silhouette against the large window, deep in a phone conversation. Her heart fluttered at the sightâ¦
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