Divorced, She Became a Powerhouse

Chapter 6 At Silverpeak Mountain

Back when Anastasia was with Garrett, most of her time was spent helping his company.

If she hadn't made that choice, she might've already made a name for herself in the field of psychology. But now, years later, could she really return to the career she'd left behind, even if she hadn't missed a step in her knowledge?

Elliot could see the hesitation in her eyes and offered her a gentle smile. "There's no rush. If you decide to pursue this, I'd be more than happy to help."

"Thank you, Professor Sterling."

Anastasia truly appreciated him.

She realized that Adrian's appearance today was probably no coincidence. Elliot must've played a part in arranging their meeting.

Over the past two years, she hadn't had the time to visit him, but it was clear he hadn't forgotten about his once-rebellious student.

They chatted for a while longer, with Anastasia asking about Elliot's health. He even insisted she stay for lunch.

It wasn't until later in the afternoon that she finally left.

*****

The next day, Anastasia and Tessa prepared for the hunting trip by gathering their gear.

Tessa picked Anastasia up, and they drove straight to Silverpeak Mountain.

They arrived early, with only a few unfamiliar faces present. The hunting event was hosted by Beaumont Holdings, and it seemed like everyone was desperate to get in.

According to Tessa, people in Veridale had spent a fortune or pulled strings to get an invitation, all to get close to Beaumont Holdings.

Anastasia had no interest in making small talk. She headed straight inside to change.

"So it's true? You really saw Adrian Beaumont at Professor Sterling's?" Tessa asked, her curiosity getting the better of her as they changed.

"He's handsome, all right. And he's got those blue eyes—he could probably look at a cat on the street and still seem soulful," Anastasia teased with a playful grin.

The two laughed as they made their way to the hunting grounds, but their good mood was quickly shattered by a familiar, unwelcome voice.

"Garrett, Delilah, you're here too!"

"Yeah, Delilah wanted to get some fresh air, so I brought her along," Garrett replied smoothly.

Anastasia mentally rolled her eyes as she heard him.

Up ahead, one of Garrett's friends was eagerly greeting the two of them.

When the man noticed Anastasia approaching, he called out in surprise, "Anastasia... what a surprise!"

He immediately regretted it, glancing nervously at Garrett for his reaction.

Anastasia had tied her hair back and wore a simple yet striking black-and-white riding outfit that made her look bold and confident. Her sun-kissed skin only added to the image of vitality.

In contrast, Delilah stood there in a dainty pink dress, looking all too delicate and out of place.

Garrett's eyes flickered with surprise. He'd never seen Anastasia like this before, but his voice remained dismissive. "What are you doing here?"

*****

Anastasia raised an eyebrow, her irritation barely concealed. "Last I checked, this event is hosted by Beaumont Holdings. Do I need your permission to be here?"

The disdain in her eyes was impossible to miss. Her good mood had been completely ruined by these two.

"Ms. Langley, Gare didn't mean it like that," Delilah chimed in sweetly, latching onto Garrett's arm. "It's just that you two are divorced now, and since you don't even hunt, it seems a little... inappropriate to follow him all the way to Silverpeak Mountain."

Delilah's voice dripped with fake innocence, but her words sparked a wave of murmurs from the crowd. Even Garrett's friend, who had just greeted Anastasia, shot her a disapproving look.

The gossip spread quickly.

Everyone knew the story. Years ago, Anastasia had married Garrett when his family business was on the brink of collapse. It was a scandal that had rocked Veridale.

Despite knowing that Garrett's rise to success had been built on the support of the Langley family, people had always looked down on her.

Garrett had never openly acknowledged her as his wife, and now that they were divorced, Anastasia's presence here seemed desperate and shameless.

Tessa, infuriated, stepped forward, ready to tear Delilah apart. "You—"

Anastasia quickly stopped her, flashing a calm, almost amused smile as she addressed the crowd. "I think Mr. Stone might be too embarrassed to admit this, but I filed for divorce a week ago. He just hasn't had the decency to sign the papers. But no worries, my lawyer will be in touch with him tomorrow."

*****

The crowd's whispers grew louder, shocked that Anastasia had been the one to initiate the divorce.

"And as for why I'm here today... it's because I was invited by Mr. Beaumont."

"What did you say? That's impossible!" Garrett's expression immediately darkened, his initial shock giving way to disbelief as he interrupted her.

"Forget about whether you can even hold a gun—how could someone like you possibly know Adrian Beaumont?"

Anastasia couldn't help but laugh at Garrett's incredulity. After all these years, he still didn't know the first thing about her. But now, she didn't care. She didn't owe him an explanation.

Without bothering to answer, Anastasia calmly loaded her rifle with practiced ease, her confident smile making her even more striking in the eyes of those around her.

"I not only know how to shoot, I'm actually a skilled hunter. If you don't believe me, why don't you see for yourself just how accurate my aim is?"

Her words were met with sudden silence as the soft sound of footsteps approached.

Adrian had appeared, his gaze fixed on Anastasia.

His eyes were deep, unreadable, but he stepped forward, his voice breaking the stillness.

"That's right. I invited Ms. Langley."