Chapter 236: Teach Martina a Lesson

“We should go now; the banquet is about to begin,” Hannah reminded him. She didn't want to be entangled with Oscar like this again. She was unsure when she'd manage to extricate herself from these feelings.

“Did you just say you liked me touching you?” Oscar asked, refusing to release her.

Hannah pursed her lips. He'd clearly heard her.

“Didn’t you?” Oscar pressed.

“What I said was, ‘I’d rather let you touch me than Charles,’” Hannah explained.

“They all mean the same thing,” Oscar concluded, taking her hand and leading her to the banquet hall. Hannah retorted, “What I said has many meanings.”

Could this man be any more self-absorbed? It wasn't as if he and Charles were the only men in the world. Yet, reflecting on it, only these two had been significant in her life. A sense of loss washed over her; both Charles and Oscar had extensive experience with women.

They entered the hall, bickering the entire way. A man emerged from a hidden corner. Into a hidden microphone, he murmured, “They seem to get along well. Nothing abnormal about Oscar.”

“Just keep observing.”

“Okay.”

Hand in hand, Oscar and Hannah took their seats and waited for the meal. Charles and Martina sat at their table.

Hannah glanced at Charles, who appeared to be staring at her. Their eyes met. Hannah looked away, sensing Oscar had deliberately positioned himself to obstruct their view of each other.

What a childish man!

Charles looked wretched. He was brooding over Hannah's recent encounter with Oscar. He wasn't jealous, nor did he like her; he resented that after investing so much time, she'd moved on to another man. He vowed to exact his revenge.

“What a bitch!” Martina suddenly cursed.

The table was filled with younger members of the upper class, where family status and age were closely correlated. Martina's outburst would have offended any elder present.

Hannah's eyes shifted. Oscar's expression immediately soured.

“Martina!” Charles warned, acutely aware of the need to avoid embarrassment. His recent official appointment demanded impeccable behavior to secure his future. Any misstep could jeopardize his career, including his revenge on Hannah. He had to tread carefully. He couldn't let Hannah ruin him.

“I didn’t specify who the bitch was! Charles, what are you afraid of?” Martina countered, pointedly looking at Hannah.

Hannah sneered. Sensing Oscar was about to confront Martina, Hannah stopped him. Any negative press surrounding Oscar, now climbing the family ladder, would be detrimental. A confrontation with Martina would be a major scandal, and she was momentarily surprised by her own conviction that Oscar might actually react. She couldn't risk it. His future remained important to her.

She glanced at Martina and discreetly activated her phone's recording function. Playing with her phone, she said, “I’m truly impressed by the Sawyer family’s educational methods. Such vulgar language, usually confined to the lower classes, flows so readily from a wealthy young lady.”

“What did you just say?” Martina exploded, then forced herself to calm down, replying sarcastically, “I didn’t say it was you. But you’re awfully quick to react. Do you admit it? You’re the bitch I was referring to?”

Hannah sneered again. Her expression mortified Martina. No matter how hard Martina tried, Hannah remained unmoved.

Martina was just about to retort when her own voice, captured on Hannah's phone, echoed across the table: “Do you admit it? You’re the bitch I was referring to?”

Martina was stunned. She hadn't realized Hannah had been recording. She'd assumed Hannah was merely pretending to be nonchalant.

When had Hannah become so clever?

Martina was furious but silenced by the recording.

Hannah put down her phone, leaned forward, and looked directly at Martina. “If I make this recording public, everyone will hear the Sawyer family’s young lady swearing. Do you think it would trend for weeks?”

“Hannah, don’t you dare!”

“What do you think I wouldn’t dare?” Hannah raised an eyebrow.

“Hannah, Martina was just being blunt. Why use such a harsh tactic?” Charles immediately sided with Martina, ignoring the potential reputational damage to the Sawyers. He always defended his sister; even in her past life, he’d excused her behavior, claiming, “She’s young and sometimes blunt, but means no harm.”

Hannah knew Martina was simply malicious.

“A harsh tactic? Compared to what she just did, that seems rather mild, wouldn't you say?”

Charles was speechless, feeling terrible. He'd known Martina would be upset about Manuel Johnson’s marriage. He'd warned her against any rash actions, monitoring her throughout the day to prevent any embarrassing incidents that could hurt his career. Yet, she had still jeopardized his future.

“Of course, I don’t hold grudges. Since you, Mr. Sawyer, claim your sister meant no harm, I’ll accept that.” Hannah's tone was light, but Charles knew better than to believe her. He realized Hannah wasn't as forgiving as she sounded.

“Martina, apologize, and I will forgive you,” Hannah stated. Martina’s face, already pale, flushed crimson with fury. She was self-righteous and couldn't bring herself to apologize.