Soon, Hannah and Miguel arrived. Besides the invited guests, journalists from various media outlets were present. Hannah and Miguel were seated in the front row, alongside representatives from the Top Four families—the Wells, Coopers, Sawyers, and Phillips—and officials from the Municipal Bureau of Land Management.

"Hannah!" Susan called from a nearby seat.

Hannah smiled politely. Susan rushed over, affecting an air of elegant nonchalance.

"Hannah, so glad to see you! I thought I'd be alone at this dreadful meeting with Father."

Hannah cautioned her to lower her voice; bureau officials sat close by. Only Susan would dare complain so openly.

"I want to sit next to you," Susan pleaded.

After a moment's consideration, Hannah approached Edward with Susan. "Edward, could we exchange seats? I'd like to sit next to Susan. Perhaps you could take the seat beside my father?"

"Certainly," Edward said gently. "Hannah, please keep an eye on Susan; this is a formal occasion."

"Okay," Hannah nodded.

Susan looked annoyed. Hannah firmly urged her to sit down. "Behave yourself!"

"If he's worried I'll embarrass him, he should have kept me home! I don't even want to be here!" Susan grumbled about her father.

"You need to understand him," Hannah reasoned. "You're his only daughter; of course, he wants to cultivate you. He divorced for your sake. Have you considered how lonely he feels?"

Susan pouted, speechless. Lately, her relationship with her father had improved, but she'd noticed his aging. She remembered his violent cough during a recent conference, the gray hairs at his temples. She tried to dismiss these thoughts, yet the memory of her mother's death remained, fueling her resentment towards her father.

At 3:00 PM, the meeting began. After a project overview, the official announced the bidding process, which Hannah followed intently. Susan, meanwhile, found the meeting excruciatingly dull.

The meeting lasted an hour and a half. Afterward, attendees and journalists dispersed.

"Hannah, let's have dinner," Susan insisted.

"But I need to work on the bidding," Hannah replied.

"You can do it tomorrow. I heard Oscar left town. Aren't you lonely?" Susan asked, smiling.

Since childhood, Hannah had found it difficult to refuse Susan; she usually acquiesced unless it violated her principles.

Hesitantly, Hannah told her father, who was speaking with Edward, "Dad, I won't be back to the office. Susan and I have plans."

Miguel smiled; he understood their intention. "Okay, I'll head back then."

Hannah said goodbye to Edward, and Miguel left. Hannah called for Jimmy to pick them up. Since it was early for dinner, Susan suggested shopping. Hannah agreed.

Suddenly, hand on her stomach, Susan retched.

"What's wrong?" Hannah asked.

"I don't know. Maybe carsickness," Susan replied weakly.

"I don't think so."

"Remember how sick I was after Oscar's party? That feeling is back. I wonder if it's a stomach bug."

"Have you seen a doctor?" Hannah asked.

"I thought it would pass. I have a phobia about hospitals… my mother died there…" Susan's voice trailed off, haunted by the memory.

Hannah, holding her hand, felt sympathy; she remembered Susan's grief.

"Don't be afraid. Let's go to the hospital together," Hannah offered.

"No, I don't want to," Susan refused.

"Listen to me!" Hannah said firmly.

"I'm terrified something's wrong."

"If something is wrong, I won't let you know," Hannah said bluntly.

"Don't jinx it!"

"Don't worry. Bad girls live longer."

Susan was speechless.

"Take us to the hospital," Hannah told Jimmy.

"I said I don't want to…" Susan protested.

"Don't worry, you won't die of disease," Hannah interrupted.

"Then what will I die of?" Susan asked.

"Stupidity."

"Damn you!" Susan exclaimed, though she knew Hannah wasn't seriously predicting her future.

They arrived at the hospital. Susan saw a gastroenterologist.

"When did this start?" the doctor asked.

"A week ago."

"And you waited until today?"

"I was afraid of an incurable disease," Susan admitted frankly. Both Hannah and the doctor were momentarily speechless.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"Boyfriend?"

"Is that relevant?"

"Just answer the question," the doctor insisted.

"No."

"Yes, she does. She's married," Hannah interjected.

The doctor glanced at Susan, who looked away.

"How long have you been married?"

"Are you interrogating me?" Susan bristled.

Hannah soothed her hand. "A little over two months," she told the doctor.

"Have you used contraception?"

Susan nearly choked. "What kind of doctor are you? How dare you pry into my private life?"