Chapter 1398

"There's no need for that," Anastasia said flatly, lowering her head to drink more water. "I didn't tell my father, so you shouldn't either."

"Why?!" Maria exclaimed, surprised. "How could you not tell your father about something so severe?!"

"My father's been worn out recently, and I don't want to disturb him. Besides, if he finds out, he'll surely make a big fuss. I don't want things to get out of hand before I know the truth. Since this person is close to me, I want to talk with them and ask why they would do this."

Anastasia raised her head to look at Maria. "Aunt Maria, will you help me with this?"

Maria was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered. "Yes, of course! I'll help you! It's just..."

"We shouldn't discuss this now, and we should keep it a secret between us. Once we've cleared things up, I'll tell my father that you've helped me and even found a miracle doctor to help cure my illness," Anastasia said with a slight smile. "I'll also tell him the doctor suggested keeping things quiet until things are settled before treatment begins."

Maria thought this made sense. Although Anastasia sometimes seemed cold, she still trusted Maria. Even when Anastasia snapped at her, she ultimately turned to her aunt. This gave Maria comfort and satisfaction. She nodded with a smile.

"Okay. You're right. Let's not tell your father yet. However, you have to be careful. Let me look at your food before you eat it."

"I've thought about that. Since I've been poisoned in my own house, I won't be eating at home anymore. I'll be going to Lily's place for my meals. That way, the culprit won't stand a chance," Anastasia explained, using this as a pretext to visit Lily.

"But..." Maria began, startled. This wasn't what she meant.

Before she could continue, Anastasia interrupted. "Aunt Maria, I've thought about it. We shouldn't dismiss the housekeepers. After all, I don't know who did it. We might accidentally let the culprit go."

"Still, you'd be in danger."

"It's fine. The culprit probably has no intention of killing me soon, seeing that I've been poisoned for so long. I've secretly installed surveillance cameras in the house. If the person tries anything again, there will be evidence. Don't worry, Aunt Maria."

Maria subconsciously looked around, her arms prickling. Even though she'd done nothing, being under observation felt unsettling.

"Tasia, is it necessary for you to do all this?" she asked. "Why don't you just tell your father and let him—"

"If I tell Dad, it won't benefit us," Anastasia interjected. "If we find out who this person is, we'll learn what poison they've been using. That way, it's easier for the doctor to help me. If this gets to my dad, the culprit might take it to their grave."

Maria reconsidered, realizing Anastasia was right. She sensed something different about her niece.

"Hey, why have I never realized how intelligent you are? Everything you said made perfect sense! Who taught you all this? Is it Lily?!"

The mention of Lily brought a shadow over Maria's face. Anastasia shook her head.

"What's that supposed to mean, Aunt Maria? Was I stupid before this? I admit I'm fat, but I'm not stupid!"