Chapter 282: Being Interviewed
Hannah and Susan dressed up, admiring their reflections in a full-length mirror. Susan laughed, teasing Hannah, "I can finally be the center of attention with you around! Turns out I'm quite attractive!" Of course, Susan was exaggerating slightly; Hannah possessed almost perfect features, her beauty enhanced by any attire. Even this evening gown, less striking than her previous ones, showcased her stunning presence.
"Bad taste," Oscar interjected, enveloping Hannah in his arms.
"Who has bad taste?" Susan retorted, annoyed. Oscar frequently contradicted her, though she couldn't fathom why.
"Manuel's a good man, but you don't like him. You like… well, you don't have bad taste, you have poor eyesight. No!" Oscar paused, fixing Susan with a look. "To be precise, you're blind."
"Oscar…" Hannah began.
"Okay, okay," she said, pulling on his arm. "That's enough." He was undeniably harsh. She feared further provocation would upset Susan terribly.
"It's a waste of time arguing with someone unintelligent and blind," Oscar declared, taking Hannah's hand. "Let's go. Don't let her lower our IQ."
Susan seethed, infuriated by his cruelty. Manuel intervened, "I told you not to provoke him," noting Oscar's volatile nature. Offending him resulted in either unbearable torment or worse. Those who knew him well avoided such conflict.
Fuming, Susan abruptly left the Celina luxury dress area with Manuel.
Hannah, Oscar, Manuel, and Susan arrived precisely at six. Reporters already thronged the entrance, surrounding the group. It being the Cooper Group anniversary, Hannah couldn't afford to antagonize them; negative press would be detrimental. She paused at the entrance to grant interviews.
"Hannah, your grandmother's live-stream accusations against you and your father were proven false yesterday. How did that make you feel?" a reporter pressed. Lorie's lies had propelled Hannah back to the top of search trends, making her a prime target for reporters.
"My grandmother has lived comfortably, so financial hardship makes her extreme. I'm not defending her, but I hope family matters remain within the family. Outside interference could damage our relationships," Hannah replied, carefully avoiding direct condemnation, a departure from the reporters' expectations for more sensationalized drama.
Susan, listening nearby, was displeased. She'd been furious watching Lorie's false accusations against Miguel and Hannah, wanting to confront her. The public revelation of Lorie's lies had been satisfying, yet Hannah's measured response felt inadequate. She felt Hannah should have been more forceful, publicly shaming Lorie.
Hannah, however, wasn't as charitable as Susan believed. She refused to emulate Lorie's self-serving betrayal of family, which only invites contempt, not sympathy. By defending her family, Hannah presented a stark contrast, portraying herself as honorable and Lorie as despicable—a far greater blow to Lorie's reputation.
"Will you attempt reconciliation with your grandmother?" another reporter asked.
"I'm sorry, but this is the Cooper Group anniversary. Let's focus on the Group," Hannah replied, deftly shifting the conversation. She understood the value of knowing when to stop, avoiding hypocrisy.
"You've achieved remarkable success at Cooper Group in less than three months, notably boosting the Light Building's popularity and improving the 'Huatan' Apartments. How did you achieve this so quickly?"
The reporter worried Hannah would refuse to answer.
"Diligence," Hannah smiled. "Practice makes perfect. I simply work harder."
"Are you advocating hard work for young people?"
"Diligence is beneficial; hard work is never wrong," Hannah affirmed.
"Oscar, there's a promotion opportunity for young officials at City Hall. Will you apply?" a reporter asked.
"A promotion opportunity? I haven't heard of it," Oscar feigned ignorance, successfully deflecting the question; pre-announcement disclosure was forbidden.
"Susan, there are rumors about your past relationship with Henry. Why marry Manuel? Is it pity, given his disability?" another reporter asked.
"No," Susan responded directly, refusing excuses.
"So you love Manuel? Why were you with Henry? What happened between the three of you?"
"It's private. Why should I tell you?" Susan's boldness and lack of concern for reputation allowed her to dismiss them, pushing Manuel's wheelchair to leave.
Hannah, sensing the interview's end, joined Oscar and Susan, escaping the press. Upon entering the banquet hall, they encountered Charles—a recurring presence. The hall was relatively empty. Hannah, still with Oscar, joined Miguel and Michelle to greet arriving guests.