Chapter 11
Salma had been holding her breath for this moment. Hermanâs promise gave her a sense of tranquility âHerman, now that you two are hitched, as a mother, I just want you to live happily, work together, and make every day count. That would ease my mind.â
With affection in her voice, Salma said, âAnaâs been without a father since she was a child. It was me who raised her alone. I want her happiness more than anyone else If Anastasia steps out of line, send her back, Iâll set her straightâ
Even if there was a mistake, her daughter should be disciplined by her, not by others. No one should lay a finger on her.
Touched, Anastasia managed to whisper, âMomâ
Herman glanced at Anastasia, then solemnly promised Salma, Tll give Anastasia the good life she deserves. The men of the Salstrom family took their marriage vows seriously. As long as Anastasia was willing to spend the rest of her life with him, he wouldnât let her down.
Anastasia looked at Herman, and despite only having met three times, and not really having any emotional connection, his every word and deed gave her
a sense of security.
Herman said, âDig in before the food gets cold. Give this restaurantâs food a try and see if it suits your tasteâ
Anastasia took a bite and was pleasantly surprised. âThis is so delicious! Iâve never been to such a fancy place before or had a meal this expensive. Itâs definitely worth every penny.â
Herman laughed and said, âIâll make more money and bring you here once a month.â
Anastasia quickly waved her hands, smiling. That wonât be necessary. You work hard for your money. Eating here once is more than enough.â
Was his wife trying to save him money? Hermanâs eyes softened. Anastasia was such an easily contented woman. Her smile was lovely, like a warm spring breeze.
Seeing the two of them showing mutual respect, Salmaâs smile deepened.
As the three of them dined in the private booth, Flynn, who was also dining at the restaurant, was taken aback when he spotted Herman through a crack in the door. Did his eyes deceive him? Was his brother having a meal with a woman?
Flynn rubbed his eyes, confirming it was indeed his brother. But who was the woman next to him?
Curiosity piqued, and Flynn peeked through the door crack. He was stunned by what he saw. The woman was quite old.
From Flynnâs angle, he saw Herman and Salma sitting and dining together while Anastasia was in the restroom. Herman was serving Salma, pouring her a glass of water.
Outside, he was the man in charge of Elysian Technologies. But here, he was simply Salmaâs sonâinâlaw. He was simply following the Salstrom familyâs teachings of etiquette and propriety.
Flynn was excited. Aside from his mother, he had never seen his brother be so considerate of a woman. So, his brother had rejected those girls from their social circle because he preferred older women? Was this some kind of Oedipus complex?
Flynn, excited, accidentally pushed the door open and almost tripped.
The sudden appearance of Flynn made both Herman and Salma involuntarily turn their heads. Herman frowned, while Salma curiously asked, âWho might you be?â
Scratching his head, Flynn chuckled awkwardly and said, âI didnât mean to intrude. I was just passing by, thatâs all
Salma looked at Herman, who glanced at Flynn dismissively and said, âHeâs a distant relativeâ
A distant relative? Flynn was confused. Werenât he and Herman brothers? How did he suddenly become a distant relative?
Salmaâs face lit up with understanding, and she smiled kindly, âYouâre quite handsome.â
Herman was speechless. Just a few hours ago, his motherâinâlaw had also complimented him in the same way
Confused, Flynn sat down, not daring to say anything. He simply looked at Herman, silently asking what was going on. He thought to himself, if Herman actually liked older women, that would be such a pity. Even being gay would be better than this.