Hannah considered ignoring his post, leaving him alone after his continued lack of results. However, she hadn't anticipated his renewed efforts.

“He’s not capable; I’m afraid someone’s manipulating him.”

Theodore admired her shrewdness, sensing the reasons behind her successful career at Cooper Group. He also began to respect Oscar’s perceptive nature, particularly regarding women. After all, Hannah had been relatively unknown before marrying him.

“Right, I’ll keep an eye on Wayne. I’ll notify you if anything’s amiss.” Theodore promised readily.

“Thanks.”

“Anything else?”

“No.”

He immediately hung up and called Oscar.

“Oscar.”

“Yeah?” Oscar’s cold tone displeased Theodore. Oscar’s lack of contact—not a single call in a week since leaving Kensbury City—irked him. The indifference stung.

Theodore suppressed his irritation. “Your wife asked me to keep an eye on Wayne.”

“Just do as she asked.”

“I already promised her,” Theodore said, anticipating Oscar’s response.

“Great.” Oscar’s tone was perfunctory.

“Are you busy?”

“Kind of.”

“What are you doing out in the boonies?”

“A lot,” Oscar admitted. “I need to stay busy to avoid being analyzed and framed.”

Theodore frowned, understanding the implication. These six months were crucial; one mistake could ruin everything. And there were those who wouldn't want his return.

“Anything else?” Oscar asked.

“Nothing. When are you coming back?”

“It depends,” Oscar replied. “At least a month, or I risk being discovered.”

“I don’t think you’ve had a moment’s peace since you left!” Theodore complained.

Oscar thought privately that he'd never known freedom.

“I gotta go. Call me if there’s a problem.” Oscar hung up abruptly.

Theodore replaced the phone, sensing something significant was imminent, a prospect that both excited and unsettled him.

Hannah finished work at 10:00 PM, her usual time. She sometimes wondered if her reluctance to go home stemmed from Oscar's absence.

Sitting in her car, she impulsively decided to call Susan.

“Hi.” Susan’s voice was sleepy.

“Are you asleep?”

“Yeah,” Susan replied.

“Then go back to sleep.” Hannah didn’t want to disturb her pregnant friend, surprised Susan was in bed so early.

“It’s okay, I’m awake. I sleep almost twenty-four hours a day, so you won’t be disturbing me.”

“Is your morning sickness any better?” Hannah asked.

“No, not at all,” Susan groaned. “I only feel better when I’m asleep. When I wake up, it’s terrible…” A retching sound interrupted her.

“Wait a minute,” Susan said, distressed. Hannah heard the sounds of prolonged vomiting.

After a while, Susan returned to the phone. “I’m okay now.”

“You feel that bad? You should go to the hospital. Could this constant vomiting affect you or the baby?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t want to go to the hospital,” Susan said firmly. “I’m terrified of injections.”

“Who said you’d need an injection? I just meant you should see a doctor and ask about extra nutritional supplements for your morning sickness.”

“I’m fine. I only throw up like this occasionally. Just seeing Justine makes me so angry I forget all about it.”

Hannah chuckled. She knew Justine had moved in and that there was conflict—a conflict Susan was clearly losing.

“Why are you laughing! You have no idea how infuriating she is!” Susan complained. “She won’t let me wear makeup, heels, or tights, and she makes me eat chicken soup every day! She’s killing me! If you don't see me one day, it’s because she’s driven me to heaven!”

“No, stop talking about heaven,” Hannah chided. “How’s Manuel? Is he alright?”

“I don’t want to talk about him! He just watched while Justine bullied me. Do you think he’d support me?” Susan’s anger flared at the mention of Manuel.

“I mean, is he still sleeping on the sofa?”

“That’s his choice.”

“His legs are still recovering; he needs good quality sleep. That brand of sofa is too soft for him.”

“Stop talking about him!” Susan snapped. “I waited for your call; can you please stop mentioning him?”

Hannah smiled faintly, understanding Susan’s avoidance tactics and underlying insecurity. She shouldn’t push her further, especially this late.

“I should go now. Take care, and call if you need anything…”

“Hannah, I told you not to mention Manuel, and now you’re hanging up. Am I even important to you?” Susan’s voice was sharp with anger.

Hannah was speechless, feeling helpless to defend herself.

“I always thought you were the most important person in my life. But you’ve changed since you married Oscar! You need to reflect on that!” Susan hung up.

Hannah offered a reluctant smile, a hint of satisfaction underlying it. Susan was finally living the life Hannah had hoped for her, free from the anguish of her past.

Hannah’s phone rang. As Susan said, she had changed since marrying Oscar; there was now one more person of paramount importance in her life.