Chapter 483: True Side
Jimmy took Mary to the hospital.
Only two remained in Hannah's office. Hannah met Oscar's gaze and quickly averted her eyes. She feared his impulsiveness.
Burying her head in her work, she said, "I missed work these past few days for Sawyer Group business, so I have a lot to catch up on today. I might work late; you can go home if you're bored."
"No worries, I'll wait for you," Oscar replied calmly.
"I'll try to hurry."
"It's okay, take your time," Oscar smiled. "I don't want to rush my darling."
Hannah ignored him and focused on her work. The office was silent. Rose, absent all day since witnessing their kiss, reported her progress via the office software to avoid disturbing them.
When Hannah finished, she glanced at the clock: a little past five. She looked up to find Oscar asleep on the sofa. He hadn't lain down, but leaned back, making his slumber almost imperceptible.
Hannah hadn't noticed him doze off. She approached quietly, observing him: a slight frown etched his face, suggesting he was still thinking in his sleep; dark circles under his eyes revealed his fatigue. She felt sorry for him.
Before knowing him, Hannah had dismissed Oscar as a fop, a man whose life was all pleasure. She now recognized his ambition, diligence, and exceptional capabilities. He was far more capable than the self-aggrandizing Charles. Their contrasting natures were evident to all after their respective masks fell.
Observing Oscar, she wondered if he was a gift, a blessing in her second life. She never imagined finding such a perfect man. Previously, her perception of him had been an obstacle to Charles' progress, his abilities only inspiring scorn, even hatred.
Now, she felt compelled to eat her words. Hannah approached Oscar, yearning for closeness. As she neared, before even touching him, Oscar abruptly seized her hands, rolled onto her, and then grasped her throat. In that instant, she saw brutality, a deathly threat, in his red-rimmed eyes—a terrifying sight that silenced her.
She saw a side of him she’d never known, his true self. Her heart pounded; fear consumed her as she felt his overwhelming strength and his grip tightening.
"Oscar…" she whispered, pained.
At the sound of her frail voice, the seemingly enraged Oscar snapped back to reality. Seeing her terrified pallor, the coldness vanished from his face. He released his grip. For a moment, Hannah wondered if she'd hallucinated. Then, he abruptly bent and kissed her—a kiss devoid of sweetness, filled only with aggression. Hannah allowed him to vent, offering no response; she was unprepared for this outburst, for this unfamiliar Oscar.
After a long moment, he calmed, remaining close. He looked at her pale face, its usual rosy hue replaced by terror.
A gentle smile crept onto his face, as if nothing had transpired. He touched her swollen lips delicately, murmuring, "Does it hurt?" The answer was evident. He felt remorse for his loss of control.
Hannah met his gaze with her clear, black eyes.
"Oscar, who did you think I was?" she asked.
His Adam's apple bobbed.
"Or, did you fend off anyone who approached?" she continued. His reaction seemed reflexive, not targeted. What had shaped his vigilant nature?
Oscar lifted her from the sofa. "I have many dark sides," he said.
"For example?" Hannah looked at him, searching his soul. Despite his wealth and status as a Wells family member, he was unlike any wealthy man she'd known. Who was this Oscar?
"For example," he met her gaze, "I may kill people."
Hannah's heart pounded; fear was evident in her eyes. Oscar acknowledged her emotions without excuse or explanation. The air crackled with tension.
She looked away, asking, "Will you kill me someday?"
"Never," he replied firmly.
Despite past hurts and betrayals, Hannah chose to believe him—a choice born of a learned helplessness. If another man deceived or destroyed her, she felt she would deserve it.