Chapter 1124

Anastasia quickly pinched Salma between the nose and upper lip, and within moments, Salma was back to her senses, gasping for air.

"Ana, I just saw your dad! Is he not resting in peace? Does he still have something left unfinished?” Salma was still a bit dazed, convinced she'd just seen a ghost.

Before she could finish, Tavon popped his head in with a grin. "Salma, did you call me?"

Salma turned toward the voice, saw Tavon, and let out a scream. Her face went pale as she sprang up from the sofa, shaking.

Anastasia hurried to hug her. "Mom, Dad isn't dead. He's right here, alive and well! It was all a big misunderstanding."

Salma, still on edge, stammered, “A—a misunderstanding?"

Tavon came closer, smiling. "Salma, I'm really alive. If you don't believe me, touch my face. See? I'm warm!"

Salma hesitated, glancing at Anastasia and then at her son-in-law, who both looked completely unfazed. Maybe it really was all just a mix-up?

Herman finally spoke. "Mom, it was just a false alarm. Dad's perfectly fine."

In this family, the son-in-law's word was practically law.

Summoning her courage, Salma reached out and touched Tavon's face, even gave it a little tug. Her shock melted into relief and delight. "He's—he's alive. He's warm!" Overwhelmed, Salma started to cry from a mix of happiness and lingering fear. “You jerk! I thought you were dead, you scared me half to death!"

Whatever had happened between them when they were young, Tavon was Anastasia's father. No matter how tough she pretended to be, Salma could never be indifferent if something happened to him.

Tavon tried to look apologetic. "It's my fault, I scared you. I had no idea that just a few days away at the convent would make everyone think I was dead."

"Convent?" Salma's ears perked up at that. "I thought you went to the monastery on Nabb Mount. What business did you have at a convent?"

Anastasia couldn't resist chiming in, "Mom, convents are full of women! What do you think Dad was doing there? Like some prince who wandered into the land of women. He was probably enjoying himself so much he lost track of everything else."

Tavon jumped in, flustered. “Ana, stop stirring things up! I was only at the convent because a snake bit me. I swear, nothing else happened. Salma, don't listen to Ana's wild stories."

Salma's anger flared. "Tavon, you really know how to live it up! Now you're not satisfied with ordinary

women, you've set your sights omet

nuns? You'll never change your ways. Here I am, crying my eyes out thinking you were gone and you'r off enjoying yourself. You might as well have just stayed gone!"

Women-never saying what they actually mean.

Salma stormed out, leaving Tavon rushing after her. "Salma, wait, let me explain—”

Anastasia couldn't help but laugh, delight dancing in her eyes. Herman, smiling fondly, tapped her nose. “Just as the old saying goes, 'never mess with a woman.' They never forget."

Anastasia huffed. "After all those

tears my

mom shed, my dad

deserves a little payback. Now that he's back, I realize I misjudged

Sandy before wonder what ne

will do when he finds out Sandy spent all his money." .net

With that, Anastasia let go of her suspicions about Sandy, realizing she'd just been overthinking.

At the Mortons' house...

Sandy stumbled in the door, barely making it to her room before diving under her covers and pulling them up tight around her.

Afraid of the dark, she flicked on every light, muttering to herself, "It wasn't me, don't come after me... I didn't do anything..."

“Sandy?” Sean knocked on her door, concern in his voice.

The sudden knocking made Sandy's heart jump; she trembled from head to toe.

"Sandy, what's going on? Sandy..." Sean's voice was worried as he knocked again. After a while, Sandy finally cracked the door open, still wrapped up like a burrito in her blanket.

"Sis, what happened to you?"

Sean was startled by how pale she looked, reaching out to feel her forehead. "Are you running a fever?"

“Sean, Dad's back. I saw him. I really saw him." Sandy's words tumbled out, wide- eyed and breathless. "He was right there."

Sean's face changed in an instant, his worry deepening as he grabbed her shoulders. "Sandy, you must be really sick-you're talking nonsense. Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital."

"No, really, Sean, I saw Dad-" Before she could finish, Sandy's eyes darted

past Sean and landed on Tavon,

who had appeared in the hallw She let out a piercing scream, "Aaaah! Ghost!"