Chapter 1124: Susan is Angry

Hannah and Oscar rode in silence, two strangers carpooling, after leaving the mansion.

"The clothes were sent directly from the mall," Oscar finally said. Hannah remained gazing out the window at Northfield's streets, ignoring him. "I only gave them your size; I didn't request anything else."

He was clearly distancing himself from their matching outfits. "Hmm," Hannah replied flatly. It was likely a coincidence, but she still felt a pang of frustration over her clothing choice.

"Susan will ask a lot of questions," Hannah said, turning to him. "I don't want her to misunderstand our relationship."

"Okay, I won't let her misunderstand," Oscar assured her.

"Hmm."

Hannah turned away again, deliberately keeping her distance.

They arrived at the airport, their private jet waiting. The flight to the capital would take over two hours. Hannah hadn't fully considered the inconvenience to Oscar when she’d agreed to this trip.

After landing in Kensbury, a private car whisked them to Susan's villa. The Phillips family—reunited after years of turmoil—Edward recovered from his coma, Justine and Edward remarried, Susan reconciled with Manuel, and even welcomed a baby daughter. They were, undeniably, a happy family.

Hannah and Oscar entered the living room to find Susan waiting, her imposing presence offering no welcome. Edward, Justine, and Manuel, however, greeted them warmly. "Oscar, Hannah! You guys have been through so much!"

"It wasn't too bad," Hannah replied politely, as Justine invited her to sit on the sofa. Justine and Edward didn't recognize Hannah, but Manuel had prepared them. Edward's long coma had left him unaware of much that had transpired; his waking to find everyone still together was a blessing.

"Edward, how's your health?" Hannah asked.

"The doctor says I'm recovering well. Three-monthly check-ups show my condition is normal."

"That's good to hear. When you had your accident, Susan almost cried herself to death."

Edward chuckled indulgently. "Thankfully, it's all in the past now."

"Mm-hmm."

"Oh yeah," Edward said, remembering something. "Miguel and I went golfing a few days ago. I didn't tell him about you then, but he should know by now."

"I don't think he knows yet," Hannah said calmly. "Please don't tell my parents for now. When everything is safe, I'll explain myself."

"Sure thing." Edward readily agreed; Hannah looked so different now.

"I saw your father recently, too; he's still healthy." He continued their casual conversation.

Hannah smiled, but a twinge of sadness accompanied any mention of her parents. She planned to return home when it was safe, to be a family again.

"I heard your parents' health deteriorated after your accident, but Salem and Oscar's care has helped them improve. They'd be overjoyed to know you're alive."

Hannah could imagine their joy, but she wanted to avoid raising hopes only to dash them again. Another such disappointment could be devastating for her parents.

"You two done talking?" Susan interrupted rudely from across the room.

"You're already a mother; can't you speak properly?" Edward scolded her gently.

"I know you've always preferred Hannah, thinking she's better than me," Susan grumbled.

"It's not what I think; it's a fact."

"You old man!" Susan huffed.

"Hannah isn't disrespectful," Edward reiterated.

Susan's anger flared. Hannah's situation was upsetting enough; her father's deliberate provocation only intensified her frustration.

"Alright, alright. Susan's still in her postpartum period; let's not push it," Justine intervened.

Edward complied, though the tension between his daughter and Justine's son remained.

"You're still laughing," Susan said, her anger fueled by Hannah's smile.

"I'm so happy right now," Hannah explained.

"Do you think it's funny when I'm angry?" Susan's unreasonableness was escalating.

"You're the boss on postpartum recovery. Whatever you say goes." Hannah rarely argued with Susan.

"So you think I'm being unreasonable, right?"

"..."

"Hannah, we've been friends for decades, and you've been hiding so much. Are you my best friend?" Susan’s frustration boiled over. Why did everyone else know, while she remained in the dark? She’d been trying to set Hannah up with Doyle. Had she known about Doyle's confinement of Hannah, she would have killed him. Was there no decent man in the world for Hannah?

"To be honest, I haven't told anyone about my business," Hannah said truthfully.

Susan frowned.

"It's just that they are smart enough," Hannah emphasized.

"So you're saying I'm stupid?" Susan's gaze was bleak.