Chapter 1401

"Mr. Russell has gone abroad, and there are some problems at the company," Anastasia began, then continued hastily, "Lily, I didn't know your family was going through such a difficult time. You were so busy with my matters these past weeks. You must be upset. I'm so sorry I wasn't more considerate. I even doubted you! I'm truly sorry!"

The more she spoke, the worse she felt. She knew she had been wrong to be skeptical of Lily, who had worked so hard to help her.

"Is there anything I can help with?" For the first time, Anastasia wanted to leverage her family's influence to assist someone.

Lily smiled, shaking her head. "It's all right," she said, finally understanding Anastasia's distress and hurried visit.

"You don't need to dismiss me so quickly," Anastasia insisted. "While my help may be limited, I'll do my best for anything you need!"

Lily patted Anastasia's shoulder lightly. "Really, it's fine," she said solemnly.

"Really?" Anastasia remained slightly doubtful, only calming down after Lily's affirmative nod. "There are some problems, yes, and Alex had to attend to them as CEO. Everything's stable now; the authorities are investigating. I spoke with Alex a few days ago, and he said it'll be fine."

Lily smiled, appearing neither worried nor anxious. This reassured Anastasia. She trusted Lily wasn't just offering comfort; the situation might not be as dire as she'd feared.

Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief. "I knew Aunt Maria was exaggerating! I was shocked by what she said; I thought your family was in serious trouble."

"Your aunt told you about this?" Lily asked, raising her eyebrows. "That explains her anxiety. She probably heard rumors, given the Russell family's involvement. It attracted a lot of attention, and Maria likely heard it from her husband. Our competitors probably believe we're vulnerable and are waiting to supplant us."

"Yeah," Anastasia replied, oblivious to Lily's thoughts.

"Oh, right," Anastasia continued. "I moved all the plants from my house and sent them here. But..." She looked around, puzzled. "Where are they?"

"They're in the back garden, and I moved some to my office," Lily explained. "I grouped them by properties to avoid mixing them up." She gestured toward the garden.

Ordinary medicinal herbs wouldn't cause illness or stimulate the central nervous system simply by their presence. However, combining various herbs could mix their properties and effects, potentially creating toxins harmful to humans. Anastasia, unfamiliar with this, had placed them randomly at home, which gradually harmed her health.

One thing puzzled Lily, though: why was Anastasia the only one affected, when the maids, living in the same house and breathing the same air, were fine? She didn't know the answer yet, but she was confident she'd find it soon.

"I see!" Anastasia exclaimed, nodding in understanding. "So, what's for lunch?"

The abrupt change of subject caught Lily off guard. She pinched Anastasia's cheek. "What a hungry little cat you are."

If anyone else had said that, Anastasia would have been angry. But from Lily, she just grinned and looked up. "You're right. I'm a hungry little cat. Meow!"