Chapter 140: A Ruse

In the bustling hall, Hannah accompanied her father, meeting numerous people. While her father engaged in conversation with old friends, Hannah drifted from the discussion and excused herself to the restroom.

She found Oscar speaking with his older brother and chose not to interrupt. In the restroom, as she reapplied her makeup, Sandra unexpectedly appeared in the mirror. Hannah acknowledged her briefly and continued.

Sandra turned on the faucet, washing her hands. "Ms. Wells, what a coincidence!" she remarked.

Hannah responded with a hint of sarcasm, "I still remember you mocking me at the charity banquet for being ungrateful, for holding Mr. Sawyer's arm. Times have certainly changed."

"Yes," Sandra retorted, "I was reminding you of appropriate behavior. Some people don't deserve such devotion." Sandra's expression shifted subtly.

Hannah finished her makeup, checked her reflection, and said, "Take care, Miss Stein," before leaving.

Sandra was astonished. This confident and assertive woman was a stark contrast to the Hannah she knew. The transformation was remarkable, and Hannah seemed to possess an uncanny ability to anticipate events.

Sandra, no fool, understood that Charles was unattainable for any woman. His priorities were purely self-serving; he sought only those who served his ambitions or desires. Falling for him guaranteed misery. She had envisioned Hannah's unhappiness after marrying Charles, but never imagined she would see through his charade and choose another man.

Oscar was unreliable, his true nature transparent to all. Charles, however, was an enigma, his true depths and depravity unknown to most. Sandra, having worked alongside him for years, knew his manipulative methods intimately. She remained with him only for career advancement.

Lost in thought, Sandra exited the restroom and saw Charles dragging Hannah away in the distance. Even her changed perception of Hannah wouldn't alter her resolve: she would bring Hannah down from her newfound success. Working for Charles had taught her ruthlessness; anyone harming him became her enemy.

...

Charles dragged Hannah into the back garden. Upon leaving the restroom, she had seen Charles waiting, assuming he was expecting Sandra. She was unprepared for his sudden, forceful action. She resisted the urge to scream, avoiding a public scene.

Charles understood that Hannah wouldn't publicly confront him; such a display would be mutually embarrassing. Hannah, now shrewd and resourceful, would never jeopardize her reputation for him. His own reputation, however, was already irrevocably tarnished. He was a pariah, a scumbag in everyone's eyes, forever branded as the man who cheated on and was dumped by Hannah Cooper. Hannah, he believed, was the sole architect of his ruin.

"Let go of me!" Hannah demanded, her face grim. Charles tightened his grip. He was consumed by a desire to punish the woman who had dealt him such a devastating blow.

"Do you want to bark like a dog again?" Hannah challenged, ceasing her struggle and meeting his gaze with cold determination. Charles's grip betrayed his unease.

"You think Theodore will never tell me?" Hannah sneered, reminding him of his humiliating forced submission to Theodore.

"I'll count to three. If you don't let go, we die together," she threatened.

Before she could begin counting, Charles released her. He feared what she was capable of, convinced she would act on her threat. He was baffled by her transformation. Once completely under his control, she was now a different person. He'd heard of her swift rise at Cooper Group and her decisive expulsion of her father's nemesis.

He was struggling to reconcile this assertive woman with his past understanding of her. He desperately tried to regain his composure, suppressing his turbulent emotions.

Finally, he mumbled, "I'm sorry, Hannah. I was impulsive."

Hannah laughed, the irony bitter. Was he still attempting to deceive her?

"Not only am I sorry for dragging you, but also for the previous incident. I was jealous, and I deeply regret my actions," he continued.

"What you regret is probably being recorded by Theodore," Hannah scoffed.

"Theodore humiliated me, but what truly haunts me is what I did to you," Charles said, reverting to his manipulative charm, attempting to coax her back.

Did he think she was still as easily swayed as before?

"Charles, feel free to pretend. But know this: everything you did is meaningless to me. Or perhaps not entirely meaningless; it's simply disgusting," she retorted.

Charles sagged, defeated. Hannah ignored him, utterly repulsed. She couldn't comprehend her past attraction to him.

As she turned to leave, Charles grabbed her again. "Ahh!" she screamed.

Losing her balance, she fell into his arms. As she struggled to free herself, he hastily released her.

"Hannah, be careful," he said, affecting concern. He reached out to touch her hair, but she dodged his hand.

At that moment, she saw Oscar standing nearby.