Susan stared at Hannah, speechless. She didn't understand what had gone wrong.

Suddenly, Hannah's phone rang, the call stretching on for an agonizingly long time. Susan couldn't bear it any longer. "Hannah, pick up the damn phone!" she exclaimed. She wanted to know how Hannah would explain this to Charles.

Hannah, striving for composure, answered in a low voice, "Hello, Charles."

"Hannah, my love, I'm so sorry I was too busy to pick you up from the hospital today," Charles's warm, soft voice came from the other end.

Hannah offered a wry smile. Charles was participating in the Influential Outstanding Youth election in a couple of days. She had gone to church and prayed for him, hoping for God's blessing and victory. Ironically, she'd had an accident because of him, yet he hadn't even bothered to pick her up. He simply didn't care.

Charles had been her top priority; she had been capable of great things, but she had sacrificed everything for him.

"Hannah, are you okay?" Charles's voice softened, sensing her silence.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Hannah replied lightly. "I prayed to God."

"Didn't you pray to God that we'd have a happy marriage and a dozen kids?" he teased.

She had, of course! Before the accident, Hannah had been a girl who believed in "Love Is All." Now, the very thought felt sickening. Before she died, she finally learned the truth: she couldn't get pregnant because Charles had been secretly sabotaging her with birth control medication. She had been humiliated by the Sawyers and endured it for years. To have his child, she'd undergone treatments and even considered in vitro fertilization.

"What's going on? Are you tired?" Charles's concern was evident.

"I've been hiking with Susan since early morning. I'm tired. I'm driving home now."

"I'm so sorry; I was tied up. Otherwise, I would have picked you up from the hospital," Charles said, his voice laced with guilt.

Hannah felt it pointless to feign emotion. She'd believed he was simply busy with work, but the truth was, he'd been busy with another woman.

"Drive safely, sweetie," Charles urged.

Hannah hung up without hesitation.

Susan observed Hannah's detached expression, noticing the profound change. She hoped a night's sleep would restore her friend to normal.

They drove back downtown. Hannah dropped Susan off at the Phillips Manor.

"Susan," Hannah said suddenly.

Susan turned, offering comfort. "Hannah, go home and rest. Don't think too much."

Susan remained carefree and innocent, untouched by the horrors Hannah had endured.

Hannah managed a genuine smile, her first since returning to her twenty-second year. "Thank God you're still alive," she said.

"Hell, you're crazy!" Susan exclaimed. "My dad always said someone like me would live a long time. That little accident wouldn't kill me!"

Hannah agreed; someone as innocent and carefree as Susan seemed unlikely to die easily. Yet, in her past life, Susan had jumped from the twenty-eighth floor, ending her own life. The pain had haunted Hannah for years.

She was grateful for this second chance at twenty-two, a time before everything went wrong. She still had a chance to change things.

"Don't tell anyone what happened today," she said calmly.

"What are you referring to?" Susan asked.

"My deal with Oscar."

Susan rolled her eyes. "I'll keep quiet. You'll be back to normal tomorrow."

But Hannah knew she would be more resolute tomorrow.

"I have to go."

"Drive safely," Susan said anxiously.

Hannah nodded and drove steadily home, returning to the Cooper Manor, a place both familiar and strange.

Overwhelming emotions washed over her. Her parents wouldn't have died in that car accident if she hadn't been deceived in her previous life. It had been a planned accident. She had only survived because her parents shielded her.

The horrifying image and the terrible misfortune were unbearable; she never wanted to relive them.

"Hannah, didn't Susan pick you up from the hospital? Where is she?" Hannah's mother, Michelle Cooper, asked softly.

Hannah fought back tears, forcing a smile as she approached. Everything would be different now. She vowed revenge on Charles and the Sawyer Group, ensuring no one would ever exploit or abuse the Coopers again.

"Why are your eyes so red?" Michelle asked, her concern evident.

"I dropped Susan home first. My eyes are dry; I rubbed them hard."

"The Sawyers called, wanting to discuss wedding details..." Michelle said.

Hannah took a deep breath. "Mom, I'm breaking off the engagement. I'm not marrying Charles."

"What?" Michelle was stunned.

Hannah's father, Miguel Cooper, lowered his newspaper. "Did you have a fight with Charles?"

"Charles isn't a good man. He's marrying me for our family's property, using us as a stepping stone," Hannah explained, sensing their doubt. "I can't prove it now, but please give me time. You'll see."

Miguel and Michelle were speechless, witnessing Hannah's unwavering resolve. She had always been a well-behaved child, causing them little worry. Her grandfather had arranged the marriage when she was young, and she had accepted it. She'd only known Charles, believing him to be her destined love. They had seemed a loving couple. Why this sudden change?

Hannah saw their confusion. "Dad, I've never done anything to embarrass you and Mom. I know the marriage would benefit our family, but I'm sticking to my decision."

"You're my daughter. Of course, I believe you," Miguel said, though hesitant. "But breaking off the engagement will hurt both families. How will the Cooper Group maintain its position in Kensbury?"

"It won't," Hannah stated firmly. "I'll break it off, but the Sawyer family will bear the consequences."

Miguel was shocked by her strength. She seemed different, unlike her usual gentle self.

"The Sawyer family will be humiliated by next month's cancelled wedding," Hannah declared with resolute certainty.