Hannah approached the scuffling women while Manuel watched from a distance. His reluctance stemmed from past troubles with Martina during their school years. He wanted to avoid further complications.

Witnessing the two women wrestling on the floor, Hannah delivered a swift kick.

"Ouch!" Martina shrieked.

Hannah exclaimed, "Oh, did I kick the wrong person?"

"Get this crazy woman off me!" Susan yelled.

"Alright," Hannah said, squatting and pushing at both women. She appeared to be separating them, but her actions suggested otherwise.

"Ouch…You pinched me!" Martina cried out.

"Ah! Don't pull my hair, Hannah!" Susan added to the chorus of complaints.

"Don't step on my leg!"

"Urgh! You hit my nose…"

Susan had initially believed Hannah would help Martina, but Hannah was clearly more enthusiastic about the beating. Martina sensed their duplicity. Bruised and bleeding, she struggled to fend them off. She felt utterly humiliated, more so than ever before in her life.

"You did it on purpose!" Martina accused Hannah, tears streaming down her face.

"I didn't," Hannah replied innocently.

"Don't lie to me! You're helping her! I'll tell my brother about this! Let's see how you explain it to him!" Martina threatened recklessly, certain Hannah feared her brother, Charles.

But Hannah remained unmoved by the threat.

"Did you hear me, Hannah? Do you think I'll ask my brother to abandon you? Don't you dare dream of marrying him in a month!" Martina spat hatefully.

"Then tell your brother when you get back," Hannah responded indifferently.

Martina's fury intensified at Hannah's lack of reaction. She shivered with rage. Realizing she was outmatched, she gritted her teeth. "Hannah, you'll regret this," she hissed before storming off, pausing only to glance at Manuel.

Manuel offered no intervention, merely watching Martina's beating. As she left, Martina lashed out at him. "Manuel, Susan doesn't like you! She's marrying Henry. After all these years as her second choice, do you think you have a chance? Aren't you tired of being lied to?"

"Martina, who are you calling a liar? I never liked Manuel. He flattered himself. Do you think everyone likes to play with people's feelings like you?" Susan retorted.

"Shut up, Susan!" Martina snapped.

"If you don't leave, don't blame me for beating you up again!" Susan threatened, poised for another fight.

Terrified, Martina cursed and fled. Susan, initially disgusted by Martina's intrusion, felt a thrill at seeing her so thoroughly defeated.

Turning to Hannah, Susan said, "I thought you didn't want me to beat her. I'm so glad you helped me."

Hannah, consumed by a desire for revenge, suggested, "We're almost done. Let's go."

The restaurant wasn't ideal for Manuel, and Hannah had underestimated Susan's tenacity.

"I'm just getting started…" Susan grumbled.

"Then suit yourself. I'm leaving with Manuel." Hannah replied.

"It's no fun to dine alone. Wait up." Susan conceded, eventually joining them.

It was late. Hannah needed to prepare for her mother's banquet the next day. A designated driver took her home as she'd had drinks with dinner.

"I should go home now. Manuel, eat something later. You barely ate. Come to my house early tomorrow," Hannah instructed Manuel.

"OK," he replied.

Once in the car, Susan realized, "She left me here?"

Before Manuel left, Susan teased him, "You just came back, and your mother bought you a million-dollar car?"

"I bought it myself. I did some business overseas…" Manuel explained, but Susan ignored him, beaming at a call from Henry.

"OK, I'll wait here," Susan said before hanging up, noticing Manuel still standing nearby. "Why are you still here?" she asked impatiently.

Manuel departed in his car, looking back as he drove away. He saw Susan embracing a man in a suit as he pulled up beside her. Manuel turned away, his expression unreadable.

His phone rang.

"Oscar?" Manuel answered.

"It's been a while. Let's have a drink tonight," Oscar said, his voice husky.

"I'll pass. I had drinks with Hannah, and I feel dizzy. Plus, I'm allergic to chili," Manuel excused himself.

"Hannah?" Oscar inquired.

"Yes. I haven't seen her in a while. She's changed, quite pretty," Manuel said pointedly.

Oscar chuckled. "OK, next time," he said before hanging up. He subconsciously dialed another number.

Hannah's phone displayed Oscar's name.

"Do you like the present I sent for your mother?" Oscar asked directly.

"You call that a present?" Hannah retorted, remembering his gift.

"At least it won't make your mother think I'm less than Charles," Oscar replied.

"You're not less than him," Hannah blurted out. If not for Oscar's past reputation, Charles wouldn't have won this year's event.

"Thank you, my wife. I'll keep it up," Oscar said playfully.

Hannah was speechless. The thought, 'When did we get married?' and 'His wife? How could he say that without shame?' ran through her mind.