Chapter 154

Yuria’s eyes lit up with delight. “Thank you so much, sister-in-law!”

Jayden stood nearby with his usual cool demeanor, just nodding briefly in acknowledgment.

For the uncles, Anastasia had brought premium whiskey and cigars.

Grandfather Rhodes watched the scene with satisfaction. “Alright, enough standing around. Let’s eat!”

At the dinner table, everything looked harmonious on the surface, but there were definitely undercurrents.

Miranda seemed to casually comment, “Anastasia, I heard you were raised by your grandmother? You’re so lucky to have married into the Rhodes family.”

Before Anastasia could respond, Cassian smoothly interjected, “Aunt Miranda, you’re being too modest. Anastasia is kind, intelligent, graduated from Columbia, and incredibly talented. I’m the lucky one who gets to call her my wife.”

Miranda looked a bit embarrassed and gave an awkward laugh.

“You two better get busy making some babies soon—give the Rhodes family some heirs,” Michelle said with a smile.

Anastasia blushed and looked down shyly.

God, rich family politics are exhausting.

Gilbert, sensing the tension, changed the subject. “Cassian, I heard there’s a new project at the company. How’s it progressing?”

Cassian looked up with a slight smirk. “Uncle Gilbert, you’re quite well-informed. But project details should probably wait for the board meeting after New Year’s.”

Gilbert’s face stiffened momentarily before he recovered.

Damn it. Gilbert had been hoping to use the new project as leverage to get transferred back to headquarters.

Being stuck running satellite offices was getting him nowhere—no real power, no real money.

He’d always been overshadowed by his nephew, and it was eating at him.

This Christmas visit was his chance to work on the old man, see if he could angle his way back into the main operation.

After dinner, everyone retired to their rooms.

Tonight everyone would stay at the estate—it was tradition to spend Christmas together as a family.

So they’d all remain here until after New Year’s before returning to their own homes.

The Rhodes estate was massive—sprawling gardens, multiple wings, dozens of rooms. Everyone had their own guest suite.

After the family dinner, people scattered to their own activities.

Christmas Eve was always pretty much the same everywhere—twinkling lights, festive decorations, everyone celebrating the holidays.

This year felt completely different for Anastasia.

In previous years, she’d spent Christmas quietly with her grandmother while Jasper went to the Hale family gatherings.

He’d never brought her along—too many judgmental relatives who’d make snide comments that he couldn’t stand.

So all those years, Anastasia’s Christmas Eves had been simple affairs—dinner with Elisabeth and watching holiday movies.

But this year she was married to Cassian.

Cassian took her hand as they strolled through the estate’s winter gardens, decorated with thousands of twinkling lights.

The second and third branches had also gone to their rooms.

In their suite, Thomas was giving Miranda a serious look. “You need to watch what you say, especially around Anastasia. Did you see how Cassian was of her?"

Miranda rolled her eyes dismissively. “She’s just some nobody. Why are you so worked up? Cassian’s probably just infatuated—it’ll wear off. What’s so special about her anyway? Wasn’t Cassian with that Sonia girl before? What happened there?"

Thomas frowned, lowering his voice in warning. “You don’t get it! Grandfather clearly approves of her—you saw that at dinner. Plus…”

He paused, his eyes gleaming with calculation. “Cassian controls the company now. We can’t afford to piss him off.”

Miranda snorted, carelessly tossing her earrings onto the vanity. “I just can’t stand how she acts like she already owns this place. So fake and prissy…”

“Enough!” Thomas slammed his hand on the table. “You think this is still the old days? You know what Cassian’s capable of—remember what happened to Gilbert’s people in finance? Even Grandfather couldn’t save them.”

That incident made Miranda’s face pale. Last year, Gilbert’s plant in the finance department had been publicly fired by Cassian over some accounting irregularities, and even the old man hadn’t been able to intervene.

“So…what do you think we should do?” Miranda’s bravado deflated.

Thomas narrowed his eyes, lowering his voice further. “Right now, the priority is getting Jayden established in the company. Starting tomorrow, you need to be nice to Anastasia. Maybe even befriend her. I hear Cassian’s crazy about her—we might be able to work through her…”

Meanwhile, in the third branch’s room, it was a different scene entirely.

Gilbert was pacing frantically, tugging at his tie in frustration.

Michelle brought him a drink, trying to calm him down. “Don’t stress yourself out. Take it slow—the project hasn’t even started yet.”

“Take it slow?” Gilbert laughed bitterly. “Any slower and we’ll be completely squeezed out of the company! That kid Cassian is getting more arrogant by the day—you saw how he wouldn’t even discuss project details.”

Michelle’s eyes gleamed with calculation. “I think our best angle might be through that girl.”

Women notice these things. Michelle could tell that Cassian was completely smitten with Anastasia.

During dinner, his attention never left her. He was constantly serving her food, being incredibly attentive.

The old cold, distant Cassian would never have acted like that.

Gilbert stopped pacing and looked at his wife questioningly.

“I was watching them during dinner,” Michelle whispered. “Cassian’s completely different with her. And she’s new to the family—she’ll need allies… we could work on her.”

Gilbert nodded thoughtfully, a calculating smile spreading across his face. “You’re right. Yuria’s about her age, isn’t she? We should have Yuria spend more time with her…”