The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 33

"Greendale is about a three-hour drive from here."

Tomorrow.

Time was incredibly tight.

Annelise needed to immediately fabricate a bulletproof excuse that would allow her to leave the Lehman Estate for an entire day without arousing any suspicion.

She thought of a plan.

Pulling out her everyday phone, she scrolled to her college group chat.

She found a classmate she was still relatively close with and sent a private message.

"Anya, do me a favor. Post a status update later saying some of the old college girls are getting together tomorrow, and make sure to tag me in it."

Anya quickly replied with an 'OK' sticker.

Half an hour later, phone in hand, Annelise sought out Lizzie, who was pruning roses in the garden.

"Mrs. Lehman," she approached, wearing a perfectly calibrated expression of youthful excitement. "My college friends are organizing a reunion tomorrow. We haven't seen each other in years, so I was hoping..."

She left the sentence unfinished, just looking at Lizzie carefully with her clear, bright eyes.

Lizzie rarely objected to appropriate high-society socializing.

In her view, her daughter-in-law getting out and networking with useful people reflected well on the Lehman family.

She glanced at the tagged post on Annelise's screen and gave a casual nod.

"Go ahead. Have the driver take you."

"Make sure you're back early in the evening."

Annelise's heart finally settled.

At dinner that evening, the atmosphere at the dining table felt strange.

There was an extra person.

Clarissa.

She wore a loose, cream-colored turtleneck sweater, her long hair draped smoothly over her shoulders. A gentle, demure smile graced her lips.

Instead of sitting in the guest seat where she usually belonged, she had intimately positioned herself right next to Lizzie.

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