Chapter 532: Visit in Prison (2) — Charles's Demand

Sarah was exhausted. Charles held her and coaxed her to sleep. Her breathing soon became steady.

He checked on her several times before quickly rising and driving away. He first called the detention center, then Hannah: "Get ready at the door!"

"I'll wait for Charles at the door," Hannah told Theodore and Manuel.

Theodore emphasized, "Hannah, be careful!"

"I'll be fine," she reassured them, pulling on a thick coat before heading to the villa's entrance.

After ten minutes, a black car screeched to a halt. Charles's anger was palpable. Hannah opened the back door. He watched her, his face livid, but remained silent. As soon as she closed the door, he sped off.

Theodore and Manuel watched from the shadows. "If anything happens to Hannah," Theodore muttered, "we'll die to apologize to Oscar."

Manuel replied, "Nothing will happen. Hannah will be fine." He knew Hannah, a woman who had lived an extra decade, understood Charles better than anyone. She had chosen this risky path; she knew what she was doing.

The car sped through the night. Neither spoke. Charles's hatred was suffocating. Hannah, nervously preoccupied with Oscar, ignored him, battling her emotions.

They reached their destination. The detention center was unexpectedly quiet; only one staff member waited. Charles, now the Collins family's son-in-law, commanded a certain respect, though he wielded little actual power. He preferred minimal staff.

"Mr. Sawyer," the staff member said, handing him a key.

Hannah's heart pounded. This was the key to Oscar's cell. She fought to remain calm.

Charles strode ahead, Hannah following, the staff guarding them. They passed through several gates and corridors.

He stopped before a door. A month had passed since Oscar's imprisonment. Hannah's heart raced. How was he?

Before unlocking the door, Charles turned, noting Hannah's composure. He sneered. "Want to see him?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation.

His expression hardened. "Then you must pay the price."

This was expected. She had seen too much of his cruelty.

"Take your clothes off!" he snapped.

Her face fell.

"What? You don't want to see him?"

Hannah said nothing, lowering her head to unbutton her coat. Underneath was a turtleneck and jeans.

"Go on!" he ordered.

"You never quit, do you?" she asked calmly, removing her sweater. "If Sarah found you here, what would you tell her?"

He was momentarily shocked, but recovered quickly. "I'd say I was humiliating you. She'd be happy!"

"And how would you explain being threatened into bringing me here?" she retorted sarcastically. "You could show her a video and claim you were just humiliating me."

His face flushed. He had been humiliated by her repeatedly.

Gnashing his teeth, he watched her remove her sweater, revealing a sleeveless top and bra. The night was cold, the detention center unheated, and her skin goose-pimpled.

He smiled complacently. "Is it cold?"

She didn't answer. She knew she couldn't see Oscar without satisfying him.

"You're cold," he said, reaching for her.

She looked away. As he touched her, he recoiled as if electrocuted.

"I'm disgusted," he said.

"Is that enough?" she asked. "Or should I get naked?"

"No! Are you ever embarrassed?" he raged. Seeing the woman who had once loved him so deeply, now in love with another man, fueled his fury. His scarlet eyes fixed on her calm face as she began to remove her top.

He suddenly pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her neck. He had thought of Hannah while embracing Sarah earlier, her body lingering in his mind all day. He had wished it were her. He found her incredibly tempting.

Hannah winced as he bit her neck hard, venting his anger. But he dared not go further, fearing both her and finally succumbing to his feelings for her.

He released her. A deep, bleeding tooth mark remained on her neck.