Engagement

Anastasia first stopped by the police station and provided her statement about the incident the previous evening.

After that,she was driven to Beverley's house by Augustus, but he left her behind to attend to something important instead.

She had already fixed an appointment over the cell phone while she needed to wait for the hour to meet him here.

Upon entering the house, Anastasia couldn't shake, feeling uneasy about Mr. Beverley's reasons for wanting to meet with her.

As she approached the dining table, she observed Mr. Beverley, his wife, and a young lady setting the table with eager anticipation.

It struck Anastasia how genuinely enthusiastic they were about having her over, especially considering it was only their third meeting since her return to the country.

While studying the joyful family scene, Anastasia noticed Mrs. Beverley motioning for her to join them, her expression radiating excitement.

"My dear, come here." Mrs. Beverley said with a broad smile, and others moved their attention to Anastasia, who was approaching further.

Anastasia put on a warm smile to drive her haughty expression as usual before saying in a lovely tone. "Mother, you don't have to stress yourself always. The maids are here to serve us."

As Anastasia came closer to Mrs. Beverley and wanted to assist her in setting the meal on the table, but Mrs. Berveley collected the plate of dishes from her reach.

"Serving my daughter when I'm healthy isn't a big deal. I can always do it. The maids are humans who need rest, too." Mrs. Beverley declined her assistance while she set the last plate of meals on the table before her daughter.

Mr. Beverley took his seat at the farthest side of the table as he said in excitement. "My princess, don't be upset if your parents are greedy to see you again. I know you are supposed to rest after a tiring movie shoot."

Anastasia pulled a seat and sat beside Mrs. Beverley, who was in the middle between her and the young lady, Erica.

"I don't mind coming to my parents anytime they miss me," Anastasia said wholeheartedly, smiling sweetly at them.

She had lived with the spouse in her spare time for the past three years, growing fond of their love and affection, and almost forgot she was just their daughter for a limited time. However, unknown to them she was an imposter.

She drifted her gaze from the spouse and it fell on the appetizing tomato-sauced pasta before her as her eyes were gleamed with hunger.

The aroma from the hot-served tomato-sauced pasta slowly dissipated in the room, filling her nose with its sweet scent mixed with another meal aroma.

Anastasia heard her stomach rumbling loudly, causing her cheeks to blush in embarrassment while she nibbled on her soft lips, craving a bite.

Hearing the rumbled stomach nearby, Mrs. Beverley giggled as she knew her daughter must be starving.

"I made your favorite meal. Don't hesitate to have them all." She said, dishing out another plate of her daughter's favorite meal to add to the tomato sauce pasta.

She picked up a spoon and started gnawing and savoring the sweet taste of the pasta after Mr. Beverley started eating.

After just a few spoons of soup, Anastasia felt the weight of silence in the room as she looked up, only to see everyone's gaze at the doorway as if expecting someone to walk in.

Mrs. Beverley returned her gaze to Anastasia. "Where is Valentino? Why didn't you come with him or he changed his mind?"

"Didn't you see my message, Princess?" Mr. Beverley asked, calling her by the name Princess he usually calls her.

"I thought you wanted to see me alone, so I didn't come with him. Well, my cell phone battery was down and I didn't get to see the text." Anastasia lied.

She saw the message earlier from Mr. Beverley that she should invite Valentino to join them for breakfast, but she didn't want him since she was fed up with his clingy and possessive behavior around her.

"There is no problem. I can call him myself to come over." Mr. Beverley said and was about to bring his cell phone when Anastasia stopped him.

"You don't have to do that, Father. Today is Monday, the busiest day for businessmen and workers. Valentino must be busy with his business. It will best we don't disturb him." Anastasia said, hoping Mr. Beverley would let it pass.

"My dear, you are right. But, it would be nice if we continued to reconnect with him every time, making things easier for you with your in-laws in the future once you marry him. I made large meal and now it will go to waste." Mrs. Beverley whispered in dissatisfaction, sweeping her gaze across the table filled with different dishes as she hoped for Valentino's presence.

"You don't have to waste them, Auntie. I will eat them all. Next time, Anastasia will bring Valentino home to dine with us," Erica said.

"I invited him over because we have to discuss taking your relationship to another level. I wanted us to discuss your engagement first with him before consulting his family." Mr. Beverley said, and Anastasia choked on her food as she heard the word 'engagement'.

"Easy, Dear. Have some water." Mrs. Berveley said, rubbing Anastasia's back gently to calm down.

Anastasia gulped down a full glass of water, unable to pretend that she didn't hear what Mr. Berveley said earlier.

Engagement to marriage? Selina thought in her head with a soured expression.

She couldn't imagine her life caged again in another marriage with Valentino, who she wasn't sure if he genuinely loved the real Anastasia or not. She didn't expect this to be announced suddenly.

"Father, it is too sudden for me to marry Valentino. I can't marry him now because I still have some model and movie contracted work in the remaining days of this year." Anastasia objected, maintaining politeness in her voice.

"That shouldn't be an issue, Princess. There are 365 days in the calendar, and you can pick a perfect day on this day to fix your wedding. Have you forgotten that you are the one desperate to marry him? Why the delay?" Mr. Beverley asked, confused at his daughter's sudden delay in claiming the man she dreamed of being with forever.

"I'm still young, Father. And marriage shouldn't be made in haste between two couples. I have to know Valentino as a grown-up man he is. For the time being, we can still manage our boyfriend-girlgriend relationship." Anastasia insisted, acknowledging the real Anastasia's relationship with Valentino was existing before she walked into this new life.

However, she knew nothing about this Valentino as she had been avoiding him in any way she could.

Mrs. Beverley chuckled as she brushed Anastasia's hair to the side, softly speaking. "My dear, I know you are too shy to be married now, but being a 25-year-old lady isn't young. You have known him since high school. How much more do you want to know about him? If you don't want to marry him, we can get you another suitor, someone you will like. What do you think?"

Selina is 28 years old lady who didn't have an interest in marriage, although, she cannot ruin Anastasia's relationship with Valentino because of the hate she developed from her past relationship against romantic relationships or feelings with men.

Also, she needs to be sure of Valentino's intention before accepting or rejecting him for Anastasia happiness.

"That is not the case, Mother. Valentino is a nice guy, but I think marriage has to be formed of love from both partners, not one-sided love, just like you both love and take care of each other." Anastasia said.

She paused, finding it difficult to utter the word she was about to say half-heartedly.

"I love Valentino, and everyone knows about my feelings for him, but people's hearts change with time. It would be best if Valentino and I rekindle our feelings deeper as adults than that of our teenage love when we understand nothing about what love is back then." Anastasia tried to convince them, hoping they would give her some time from the marriage proposal until she achieves her goal and leave this new identity unnotice.