Chapter 531: Visit in Prison (1) Pushing Charles

Hannah scrutinized Theodore.

He said slowly, "Oscar dined with City Hall officials that night. He overindulged in the second round. He wasn't drunk, but he appeared so to others. Afterward, Mary waited for him. Seeing him, she rushed to assist. Honestly, if I hadn't seen clearly, I'd have thought it was you."

Hannah frowned.

Theodore explained, "Mary deliberately exploited his condition. Oscar, agreeing to her plan, left with her. We went to a hotel. There, Oscar slipped away under my guise. You likely recall me returning him that night."

"Yes," Hannah nodded, remembering Oscar's erratic behavior. She wondered if Mary was responsible but decided against dwelling on it.

Then Theodore said, "Only on the way back did I discover Oscar had been drugged."

"What?" Hannah stared.

This recalled Susan's drugged state, contrasting with Oscar's relative composure.

Theodore, knowing her thoughts, stated bluntly, "His self-discipline is beyond your imagination."

Hannah nodded. The more she knew Oscar, the more astonishing he seemed. She realized his erratic behavior wasn't due to Mary, feeling relieved and content. Love, she acknowledged, made her possessive.

"After returning Oscar, I received a call: Mary had vanished." Theodore continued, "My only current evidence proves Oscar's innocence, but I don't know how Mary died."

"We can prove Oscar's innocence, but not prosecute the true murderer," Hannah said, her face darkening. Proving Oscar's innocence wasn't enough; she wanted the culprit punished.

"We can prove Oscar's innocence now. We can gather evidence against the murderer gradually," Theodore suggested.

Hannah nodded. Her phone rang. "It's Charles," she announced to Theodore and Manuel.

"Answer it," Theodore urged.

Hannah answered. "Hey," she said.

"What the hell do you want?" Charles's voice, tight with suppressed fury, crackled through the phone.

Hannah chuckled. "Am I interrupting your wedding night?"

"Hannah, what do you want?" Charles's fury intensified.

He had just returned to his new bedroom with Sarah, preparing for intimacy. Sarah's pregnancy precluded intercourse for three months, but he had planned a romantic ritual to deepen her devotion. However, the butler interrupted with a red envelope addressed to Hannah, containing a note: "Call me tonight or you will have to pay."

He’d been hesitant, but the memory of Hannah's seduction attempt at the banquet terrified him. He'd called under the pretext of work.

"I want to see Oscar."

"Are you crazy?" Charles exploded. "Who do you think you are? You're nothing to me! Don't mistake my momentary lapse of control for power over me. I have no feelings for you; I merely sought to humiliate you. Even naked in my bed, you'd disgust me…"

"I sent you something," Hannah said, ignoring his rant. She chose not to confront his duplicity; although disinterested in her in her past life, his reaction today revealed his desire.

She added, "A tip: mute your phone and take a peek, or face the consequences."

Hannah hung up, telling Theodore and Manuel, "I'll see Oscar later; you don't need to come."

"Alone?" Theodore was clearly worried, as was Manuel.

"Yes," Hannah said firmly. "Charles is cautious; I can't bring you. He won't risk harming me; he's too wary after being set up so many times."

They remained unconvinced but said nothing; it was their only option.

Five minutes later, Charles called back, his voice strained with barely controlled rage. "Hannah, you've plotted against me again!"

Hannah smiled. "Knowing that, why did you fall for it? Irresistible, or just stupid?"

"Hannah!" Charles roared.

"Tonight," Hannah said, cutting him off, "I'll wait for you to pick me up."

She hung up, giving him time to arrange things. Requesting a meeting with Oscar was easy for Charles, leveraging his position. The problem was Sarah.

Charles calmed his anger before returning to the bedroom. Sarah lay dazed from the wedding's fatigue.

He kissed her. "Sleepy, babe?"

"Mm-mm."

"I had a surprise," he said, feigning regret, "but you're more important. And you're pregnant. Good night."

"What surprise?" Sarah asked.

"What do you think?" Charles smirked.

"The doctor said no sex for three months."

"But he didn't say I couldn't…" Charles nuzzled her neck.

Sarah giggled, "Hey, stop it."

He persisted, teasing her deliberately. Fearing he'd lose control, she pushed him away. "I'm sleepy."

Desire was etched on Charles's face, but it was all part of his plan. He wanted her rejection as an excuse to leave.