Chapter 179

“Is that Dr. Quill?” Elisabeth’s warm voice drifted over from the bed.

Garthan wanted to make a good impression on her grandmother, so he put on his biggest smile and walked over. He figured that even though Anastasia was shutting him down, at least her grandmother liked him. His plan was to work from the inside – win over the family, clear the obstacles, and then he’d have a shot with Anastasia.

“Oh honey, be careful where you step. Watch out for—”

Garthan stopped dead when he saw the room absolutely packed with gifts and flowers.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be super careful and won’t trip,” Garthan said, picking his way through the maze like he was navigating a minefield.

Elisabeth said to him, “Oh, I’m not worried about you, sweetie. I’m worried you’ll trip and break something my daughter-in-law’s family sent me.”

Garthan’s smile twitched. So… he’d been reading way too much into her concern?

Wait, did she just say “daughter-in-law’s family?”

Then Elisabeth continued, “Ana, your mother-in-law is way too generous, sending all this stuff over. I can’t possibly eat all of it. Why don’t you take some home and share it with Mrs. Lawrence and the other neighbors?”

“Sure thing, Grandma,” Anastasia replied.

Garthan was internally freaking out but managed to keep smiling. “Let me just check how you’re healing up.”

Elisabeth looked at him thoughtfully. “That’s funny, didn’t my attending physician already come by today? Though I have to say, Dr. Quill, you’re very skilled and quite handsome too—I’m sure that makes you an excellent doctor. With so many patients needing you, it’s really touching that you make time for an old lady like me.”

Damn, Anastasia thought. Grandma’s laying on the passive-aggressive charm thick. That’s a total verbal takedown disguised as a compliment.

Garthan said, “It’s really no trouble at all. Anastasia and I went to school together, so it’s the least I can do.”

“Well, we won’t keep you from your important work then. Goodbye, Dr. Quill.”

Garthan basically fled the room. He’d thought he could play the long game and slowly win her over, but the old lady had seen right through him and shut him down with surgical precision. He was way too embarrassed to stick around after that.

After Garthan left, Elisabeth said, “That Dr. Quill seems like a decent young man. When the nurse was wheeling me around, I saw him being very helpful to other patients.”

Anastasia couldn’t figure out why her grandmother was bringing this up.

Seeing her confusion, Elisabeth explained, “Garthan’s a good kid, but you’ve already found someone better.”

She patted Anastasia’s hand. “At my age, I’ve learned that nothing matters more than being truly happy.”

Elisabeth paused, then asked, “Ana, are you happy now?”

Anastasia’s heart skipped a beat. Something about the way her grandmother asked felt… heavy.

“Grandma, don’t scare me like that,” Anastasia said worriedly.

Realizing she’d alarmed her, Elisabeth quickly reassured her. “Oh honey, I’m fine. I think it’s just because your mother’s anniversary is coming up, so I’ve been feeling a bit emotional.”

Mentioning her mother’s death anniversary made Anastasia’s chest tighten too. Mom had been gone for years, but her loss was like this permanent cloud hanging over both Anastasia and Elisabeth. Every time they talked about her, it still hurt.

Though it was weird – usually as her mother’s anniversary approached, Anastasia would get terrible insomnia and headaches, lying awake all night. But this year felt different. She remembered the date, but she wasn’t having those same intense reactions.

“You should tell Cassian about it. We should all go visit your mother together,” Elisabeth said, her eyes filling with tears. She quickly turned away to wipe them before looking back at Anastasia like nothing had happened. “Now that you’re married, you should introduce him to your mother.”

Anastasia nodded. “Of course.”