The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 31

"I didn't see her downstairs today. She's staying all alone in the east guest wing, so far from us. Won't it be too lonely?"

Hackett's hand, which had been flipping through his documents, paused for a fraction of a second. It was incredibly subtle, almost imperceptible.

But the way his rain-soaked shirt clung to his rigid shoulder betrayed the sudden, sharp tension in his body.

"Clarissa... is used to the quiet." He didn't even look up. His tone was perfectly measured, devoid of any anomaly. "You don't need to worry about her."

"Oh," Annelise replied softly. She forked a small piece of mango, popped it into her mouth, and chewed slowly.

She continued to test the waters. "But I heard your mother say Clarissa hasn't been feeling well lately?"

This time, the fountain pen in Hackett's hand left a harsh, glaring streak of ink across the pristine white document.

He finally stopped what he was doing and closed the folder.

Looking up, he met Annelise's gaze in the mirror.

For a fleeting moment, his eyes were full of probing scrutiny, like two sharp scalpels trying to dissect her mind and see exactly what she was thinking.

He was trying to determine if she knew something.

But the woman in the mirror wore the same innocent, slightly concerned expression as always. Her eyes were as clear and blank as a fresh sheet of paper.

It was the exact same look she had worn every single day for the past four years.

Hackett's taut nerves seemed to relax.

He leaned back into the sofa and sighed, his tone reverting to the professional coolness of a seasoned doctor.

"It's probably just a cold from the changing weather."

"Once I'm done with this busy stretch, I'll find some time to check on her."

Watching him through the mirror, Annelise nodded and said nothing more.

She lowered her head and continued eating her cake, making it seem as if the conversation had genuinely just been a casual display of concern for a family member.

A moment later, Hackett stood up.

"I'm going to take a shower. My clothes are damp, it's uncomfortable."

With that, he turned and walked into the bathroom.

His phone was left sitting casually on the corner of the sofa.

Annelise's heart nearly hammered its way out of her throat.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify