After Hannah and her family departed, the Sawyers abandoned their pretense of calm and erupted in anger.

"That infuriating girl really gets on my nerves!" Lee declared coldly.

Charles remained silent, his displeasure at Hannah's behavior palpable.

Loretta turned to her son, "Didn't you say Hannah was always under your control? How is this possible?" She added, "Today, it felt like we were being manipulated by her!"

Charles admitted his bewilderment. "I don't know what's happening," he confessed. "I'm with Hannah almost every day, or we talk on the phone. I don't believe she's suddenly changed, but her behavior today was unsettling."

"It's not her," Lee asserted. "It's that sly Miguel."

"Dad, you mean Miguel deliberately prompted Hannah to say those things?" Charles asked.

Lee concluded, "We've watched Hannah grow up, and you've been with her constantly. People don't change that quickly. Miguel must have feared we wouldn't repay the loan, so he manipulated Hannah. He's not as simple and honest as he appears. Everyone in this business world is cunning!"

"I was completely fooled," Charles said, a touch of anger in his voice. "I thought he was a good man. But it doesn't matter. When I marry Hannah, we'll get the two billion, plus the Cooper Group's fifty million market value!"

Lee smirked. "I'm counting on you, son."

"Don't worry," Charles assured him, his eyes gleaming with cunning. "I'll keep Hannah by my side."

The inherent wickedness of the Sawyer family was undeniable.

Leaving Sawyer Manor, the Coopers entered their limousine.

"Hannah, I'm so proud of you!" Miguel exclaimed. "I couldn't have imagined how to refuse the Sawyers' demands, but you got them to write the IOU willingly. Now we don't have to worry about them repaying the two billion."

Hannah offered a faint smile. Her thoughts, however, were not on the two billion, but on the 6.67% stake in Sawyer Group. In her past life, the Sawyers had ruthlessly seized her family's assets; this time, she would make them experience the sting of financial ruin.

"But Lee's audacity to demand full funding for their e-commerce project! They're trying to exploit us!" Miguel fumed. "I didn't realize it before, but you're right, they're selfish and ruthless."

"We need to be cautious and not show weakness," Hannah agreed.

"Are you planning to break your engagement with Charles?" Miguel asked, curious.

"Dad will find out in due course," Hannah replied mysteriously.

It wasn't that she needed to keep it secret, but she feared her parents' reaction to her deal with, and potential marriage to, Oscar. In their eyes, Oscar was simply not suitable. Convincing them of his worth would be a difficult task. For now, she wanted to spare them undue worry.

"Alright, I'll wait and see," Miguel said, his trust in Hannah clearly evident.

Hannah smiled and nodded.

The car arrived at Cooper Manor.

As she stepped out, Hannah announced, "Dad, I'm going out for a while. You and Mom go inside."

"It's late. Where are you going?" her father asked.

"To... look for Susan," she lied. Her friend's reputation was the least of her concerns at that moment.

"Be careful," her father cautioned. "Susan's too reckless. Why does a nice girl like her go to nightclubs? Advise her to stop, before she gets hurt."

"I will," Hannah promised.

"Go quickly, and return early," her mother added.

"Yes, Dad," Hannah replied obediently.

Miguel and Michelle, still uneasy, offered further reassurances before heading inside.

Hannah instructed her driver to take her directly to her destination. Once alone, she made a call.

A casual voice answered, "Miss Cooper?"

"I need to see you. Where are you?"

"I thought you were at the Sawyers' today? I'm surprised you even remember me," Oscar replied.

"Are you jealous?" Hannah challenged.

The media coverage of her visit to the Sawyers' had reached her while she was still at the manor. She'd dismissed it as insignificant, but clearly, it had created a misinterpretation.

"Well," Oscar sneered, addressing someone nearby, "come on, darling. Show Miss Cooper what's what."

A flirtatious voice, jarringly loud, responded, "Hubby, you're so annoying!"

Hannah's expression shifted. She pursed her lips. "Oscar, aren't you worried about catching something?"

"What are you implying?" he retorted.

"Where are you?" Hannah pressed, suppressing her anger.

"Why the rush?" he asked.

"Oscar!" she insisted.

"Room 333, Emperor Club," he replied, hanging up immediately.

Hannah felt a surge of anger. She could maintain her composure in the face of Charles, the man she despised, but Oscar's words were suffocating, like a heavy weight on her chest.

Taking a deep breath, she directed the driver. Throughout the journey, she fought to regain her composure.

The limousine soon arrived at the Emperor Club, Kensbury City's largest nightclub.

A male attendant rushed to open the door. Hannah exited the vehicle, her nerves frayed. She even considered calling Susan for support.

Gritting her teeth, she followed the attendant into the club. This was her first time in such a place. Susan had repeatedly invited her, but Hannah had always refused, until Susan finally gave up, lecturing her about the monotony that could bore men. Hannah had never taken it seriously; now the irony stung. She'd preserved her virginity for Charles, only to be abandoned.

She stopped before an ornate golden door. The attendant rang the doorbell.

"Ms. Cooper is here to see Mr. Wells," he announced respectfully.

The unlocking sound followed. Hannah had never been to a nightclub and was surprised by the reinforced doors of the private rooms – far more imposing than a standard security door. She waited, wondering what she might find.