𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇, 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤.

THREE, stormy nights

❝ I'M A PERFECT ALL AMERICAN BITCH ! ❞

CHAPTER THREE
STORMY NIGHTS

the last thing anastasia wanted to come back to was hurricane agatha.

but here she was, driving straight into the storm, both literally and metaphorically. agatha had arrived in the outer banks with fury—winds tearing through trees, rain lashing against the windows, and the ocean crashing against the shore with an unforgiving rage. it was chaos. it was exactly how she felt inside, and the poetic irony wasn't lost on her.

her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she navigated through the flooded streets, the wipers working furiously to clear her view. she'd barely been back for a day and already the world seemed intent on testing her limits. maybe it was fate's way of reminding her that returning to this place—this mess of expectations, broken promises, and faces she could never escape—was never going to be easy.

pulling up to the lennox estate, she was greeted by the sight of toppled statues, shattered branches, and chaos strewn across the once-pristine grounds. the storm had ravaged everything, like an uninvited guest determined to leave its mark. she stepped out of the car, the wind tugging at her hair and rain drenching her within seconds. for a brief moment, she stood there, letting it all soak in—the cold, the weight of her return, the storm she couldn't control.

"miss lennox, you shouldn't be out here!"

she turned to see mrs. aldridge hurrying out with an umbrella, her expression one of worry mixed with disapproval. anastasia forced a smile, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. "seems fitting, doesn't it?" she said, her voice raised over the wind. "the storm coming back just as i do."

mrs. aldridge frowned, as if she wanted to argue but thought better of it. "come inside, miss. you'll catch your death out here."

anastasia followed, glancing back at the storm-torn estate. hurricane agatha had made sure to leave its mark, as if warning her that nothing would be simple. the eye of the storm had passed, but the aftermath? that was where the real mess lay. just like her life, anastasia thought bitterly.

inside, she shed her soaked coat, water pooling around her feet. she knew it wouldn't be long before her mother appeared, before the questions and judgment came crashing down. the hurricane outside was nothing compared to the one inside these walls.

and anastasia, as always, would have to weather both.

as anastasia stepped further into the estate, droplets still trailing from her soaked hair, the familiar chill of the marble floors beneath her feet sent a shiver up her spine. it wasn't just the cold; it was the weight of what was to come. she didn't have to wait long.

her mother, victoria lennox, descended the grand staircase. not a hair was out of place despite the chaos outside. dressed impeccably in a tailored navy-blue suit, every inch of her screaming dominance, perfection, and cold command. she paused on the final step, her eyes narrowing at the sight of her daughter dripping water all over the ornate carpet.

"really, anastasia," her mother said, her voice low and cool, as if she hadn't been waiting for this confrontation all day. "must you make a mess the moment you step through the door?"

anastasia's fingers twitched at her sides, but she refused to flinch. "i'm sorry. next time i'll tell the hurricane to wait until i've had a chance to wipe my shoes."

"do you have any idea what kind of mess this storm has caused?" victoria's voice was as sharp as the wind outside. "and you thought it wise to drive through it? really, anastasia."

anastasia forced herself to meet her mother's icy gaze, refusing to be the one who looked away first. "but i'm fine," she replied, her tone light and mocking. "i thought you'd be glad i didn't drown."

victoria's lips pressed into a thin line, a clear sign that she wasn't amused. "spare me your theatrics, anastasia. we have more pressing concerns."

before she could respond, heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway. her father, charles lennox, entered the room with the kind of commanding presence that had made him a force in the business world—and in their household. the storm had taken a toll on him too; his shirt sleeves were rolled up, and there were traces of dirt on his hands. he'd been out managing their staff and property, trying to salvage what they could. yet, when he saw anastasia, the weariness in his eyes softened into something else. unlike her mother's razor-sharp criticism, his eyes carried something warmer—something anastasia had craved more of, even when she pushed him away.

"you're back," he said, and though his words were the same as victoria's, the weight behind them was different. there was relief, as if he hadn't been sure she would actually return.

anastasia shrugged, unable to help the faint, tired smile that tugged at her lips. "it seemed better than staying away."

"you could have been hurt," he said, quieter this time, a tremor betraying how much the thought unsettled him. "you should've waited."

"since when do i wait for anything, dad?" she replied, half a joke, half a truth.

charles reached out, placing a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "you need to be more careful," he said, but there was no dissaproval in his voice, just the weight of a father's worry. "i'm glad you're here."

the warmth of his words spread through her, breaking the ice that had settled in her chest since she walked through the door. "so am i," she admitted quietly.

"you shouldn't have been out in this storm." he shook his head and opened his arms for a hug. "come here."

without hesitation, anastasia crossed the room to her father, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace. it was warm and strong, a fragile pocket of comfort amid the chaos of everything else. she hadn't realized how badly she needed it until now.

"is it bad out there?" charles asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear. his arms loosened but didn't let go entirely.

anastasia nodded against his chest. "worse than i thought. the roads are a mess."

"of course they are." he stepped back, his hands lingering on her shoulders as he examined her face. "why don't you dry off? we'll talk more later, okay?"

"okay."