Anastasia feels like some awkward stranger in front of Gray family. Even though Wanda is trying to make her feel at home but nothing is surpassing the poor girl's anxiety and shyness.

"Hahhh you know! Big sister Angelina was like you when she was your age. There was always a sweet blush formed on her cheeks and she was just so shy when it came to being sociable." A big smile forms on her lips as she remembers those old days with her palms holding her chin.

Anastasia slowly listens to her ramblings.

She looks up at Wanda's face and finds her lost in thought. Wanda is staring at nothing with a gloomy smile on her face.

Just in the same minute, a maid arrives to inform her that dinner is ready.

"I will call and ask Tristan first if he's joining us for dinner."

"Yes, my lady." The maid bows politely and heads back in the direction from where she came from.

"I will be back in a minute. Victor sweetie, keep your big sister company, eh?" Wanda looks adoringly at her three year old son who is reading a book.

Victor looks up from his book and glances at his mother before sending a look in Anastasia's direction.

"Yes, mother."

Wanda beams at him and leans down to kiss her serious, a bit strange son's forehead.

"That's my good boy." She praises him and soon she walks upstairs to call her husband.

Anastasia looks at the child a little less anxious who has his eyes fixed on his book. But suddenly-

"I'm not going to hurt you."

Anastasia blinks in shock at the first words he ever spoke in her company and the words he said, doesn't match his three year old persona.

"I have observed that you aren't just socially awkward but you are scared from us. Not only us but your own family too. That's why I was reading this book on people's fear. I can only assume that it must be some kind of trauma you faced in past." He raises his book up as if to prove his point.

Anastasia is speechless and slowly trying to process these mature words coming out of a three-year-old-kid.

"That's why I found the need to assure you that I'm not going to hurt you. I don't think no-one from our or your family would. But I have doubts regarding your stepsister, no offence." Victor shrugs with his brows furrowed.

"But your brothers are nice. As you have seen my mother is pregnant- I'm going to be a brother soon and I'm aspiring to become one like your brothers. Even though they do not say but I can perfectly see worry and unconditional love running in their eyes." He speaks calmly and places his book down on the table.

"My mother never really talked about you but when she got pregnant, she became extra sensitive. She used to cry a lot saying that she misses you and aunt Angelina terribly. My mother is gullible because she loves and worry about others with her whole heart even though some people don't deserve it. It is concerning. She loves you too and I'm talking to you because I know you won't hurt her intentionally. That's why if you ever need my help, I will be willing to help you. It's my promise."

He holds his fist up.

Anastasia stares at it unblinking before it clicks in her mind. She slowly extends her fist up too and gently bumps it with him...

The comfortable moment between them is cut off as the door opens.

Victor looks up and a smile forms on his lips.

"Father!" He stands up to greet him.

Anastasia gazes down at the floor awkwardly.

"Hey, my boy." Tristan chuckles and ruffles his hair before his eyes finds a slightly sweating Anastasia.

"Hello Anastasia." He says gently not wanting to scare the already trembling girl.

She nods a little in greeting while fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"Welcome dear." Wanda arrives downstairs in the same second. She hugs her husband and pecks his lips.

"Ana is joining us for dinner."

"I'm aware, beautiful."

Wanda looks around and frowns.

"Where is he?"

"He is having a important meeting. I suppose that he won't be back till late midnight."

Wanda sends a glance in Victor and Anastasia's direction. A smile curves at the end of her lips effortlessly.

"You can read your book after dinner, Victor."

Victor looks disheartened but shuts his book down again obediently.

"You should freshen up too, dear. I will tell the maids to set the dinner.....You can come with me, Ana."

Seeing a comforting look on Wanda's face, Anastasia mindlessly follows her to the kitchen.

After the strange yet comfortable dinner with Gray family, Anastasia is shown a guest room to sleep.

All alone in this new, unfamiliar room, Anastasia sits down on the bed and pulls her legs to her chest. A frown remains intact on her lips as she stares at her feet sadly.

Though her heart is still clenching in worry, her mind is still showing the picture of Stefano as he protected her by putting his own life on sake.

A good hour later she manages to fall asleep but it was not a good sleep though.

Someone was screaming.

Something wet was rolling down her face. That she was already so familiar with.

Suddenly every movement was restricted and loud yelling reached her ears.

Her shoulder were being shook fiercely and in the instant, her eyes snapped open, wide and horrified.

But as she did, Anastasio's panicked eyes made contact with her.

It takes her a minute to recognize him.

"A-anastasio." She croaks out.

"Sia." He whispers calling her by a new nickname. But she could not pay attention to it just yet. His voice is filled with strange horror and it made her confused.

That is when she notices.

Anastasio's hand is tightly pinning her wrists above her head. His grip is extremely tight and almost bruising. However, it feels like Anastasio is not even aware of it in the state of sheer panic. Then, she feels the pain in her throat and finally understands that the person screaming at the first place was she, herself.

Her throat feels raw.

Tristan is present in the room too. Whereas, Wanda is standing at the doorway. Tears are rolling down her face unstoppably and her hand is covering her mouth to stifle her sobs.

Victor is standing beside his mother with a concerned look on his face and his hand tightly clutching his mother's hand to provide comfort. Even though Victor is a prodigy but he is still a child with young heart.

"Shh." Anastasio whispers as his sister lets out a small whimper. He releases her wrists and picks her up slightly to hug her, basking her cold body in his warmth.

Anastasio could never describe the moment, he arrived. He originally planned to come in morning to pick Anastasia but due to the meeting of Adriano with Dominic and William, he thought about changing plans.

But as he stepped through the front door, loud screaming of Anastasia greeted him. He rushed toward the direction of the source blindly.

When he made it at his destination, he found Tristan trying to wake her up from her sleep with his hands gripping her wrists to stop her from hurting herself.

The loud screams were nightmarish and it sounded so haunting and blood curdling that Anastasio wanted to burn everything.

He could finally sigh in relief when everything went silent and his grip around Anastasia tightened while his ears picked up the sound of her soft, broken sobbing.

He realized his fear was true.

She was definitely not fine.

Triple updates!

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Again, thanks for reading.... Davina🧡