Hannah felt a pang of guilt when Charles called. She knew exactly what he intended to say—a gloating jab, fueled by his recent triumph over her past oppression.

She ignored the call, telling Rose, "Tell the board I'm unwell and can't attend the meeting."

Rose hesitated. The board had instructed her to ensure Hannah's presence, intending to hold her accountable for the failed bid. Hannah would face criticism if she attended; her absence would only worsen the situation, given her perceived attitude. Rose was surprised; she'd always considered Hannah responsible and dedicated.

"I'll call my father later. You can go and start your work," Hannah said.

Rose nodded. Before leaving, she remarked, "Ms. Hannah, take it easy. Failure means nothing, especially considering their suspicious success. How could they, as laymen, execute such a flawless scheme? And the bid itself—9.9 billion, so close to our 10 billion—seems too precise!"

Rose suspected foul play, but Hannah merely smiled enigmatically, offering no explanation. "Forget it. I'll handle this. You may go."

Rose said nothing further. She believed a strong woman needed minimal reassurance, lest it imply doubt in her abilities.

After Rose left, Hannah immediately called her father, Miguel.

"Hi, Dad."

Miguel's voice was low. "Where are you? We're all waiting."

"I won't be attending the meeting," Hannah replied.

Miguel frowned. He didn't believe his daughter was wayward or defeated by the failed bid. While the board would likely complain, he would support her.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'm not defeated, I'm just tired and need rest. I don't want to deceive the directors, so it's best I don't appear."

Miguel understood everything except her final statement. What did she mean about deceiving the directors? What was she planning?

"Dad, can I have a week off?" Hannah asked abruptly.

Miguel was shocked. He knew how dedicated Hannah was, often working weekends, rarely taking breaks. This request was completely unexpected.

"Hannah, you can have time off whenever you need it. But right now, I'm afraid of the gossip," Miguel cautioned. She'd likely be labeled as having given up after the failure.

"I don't mind. The outcome matters more than the process," Hannah smiled.

"I'm worried about you," Miguel said, having taken the call directly from the meeting room. His daughter was his priority, above any ten-billion-dollar project.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'm fine. Just a couple of days. I'll be back Monday."

Miguel hesitated, then agreed. "Okay, rest well. Come home; your mother will be there."

Hannah couldn't reveal the truth—her plan to avoid notice and feign frustration—until the Sawyers faced trial. She would have the last laugh; they would be caught completely off guard.

"I'll stay with Oscar," Hannah answered.

Miguel was momentarily stunned.

"I want to see how he's doing. We've been apart for over a month; I miss him."

Miguel chuckled. "You have your baby! Go ahead. Call when you arrive; let me know you're safe."

"Okay."

Hannah hung up and stretched. She truly missed Oscar, despite their daily texts. She was eager to see him, curious about his surprise. The thought brought a smile. But it was short-lived. Another call came in—from Charles.

Hannah answered hesitantly. Charles seemed surprised, then sneered. "The generous lady finally answers!"

"I don't waste time on nobodies."

"Hannah, you're terrible at attracting men, aren't you?" His voice was icy.

"I don't care about your favor; I have Oscar's."

"Oscar?" Charles scoffed. "How can a man so far away help you? You're crushed, and he probably won't even call!"

Hannah regretted answering.

"Are you spying on him?" she asked pointedly.

Charles' annoyance confirmed her suspicion.

"It's just a guess," he denied. "Men play with women like you briefly, but it gets boring."

"Did you ever genuinely care?" Hannah asked.

Charles' expression fell.

"You have no right to call me boring, you never had my heart," Hannah retorted. "Your words are just sour grapes."

"Hannah, don't take yourself so seriously!"

"Am I wrong? You can lie to anyone but yourself," Hannah stated confidently. She knew Charles couldn't bear rejection; he craved what he couldn't have. His arrogance stemmed from his inability to tolerate failure. He was a boastful, arrogant man.