Chapter 645: Hannah's Promise

In the dining room, Hannah watched Oscar intently. She felt he always spoke the saddest things in the most matter-of-fact tone.

"Once, my birthday fell on a training day," Oscar said calmly. "My mother brought me a cake she'd made before leaving. She said her greatest wish was for Cian and me to live long lives."

Hannah's heart ached. While all parents wished their children well, many took it for granted. Parents rarely spoke of long life to their children; it was a wish typically reserved for the elderly. They wished for happiness, academic success, and so on.

"How desperate she must have been to make such a wish," Hannah mused.

"Her cake didn't taste good, just like yours," Oscar commented, his tone devoid of discernible emotion.

"But it was warm," Oscar smiled. "That was the first and last time I ate my mother's cake. The next time I saw her, her body was at sea. Then I understood her wish for a long life, and their abandonment and cruel training."

Hannah took his hand, squeezing it warmly. "I'll bake you a cake every year, Oscar."

A faint smile touched his lips, his eyes glistening. "Right." He hid his sadness well, never allowing himself to be outwardly downcast.

Oscar was leaving for work; Hannah had taken the day off. After dropping him off, Jimmy returned to the Cooper building for Hannah, then drove them home. She planned a surprise for Oscar.

Max was surprised to see Hannah at the villa, but quickly understood her intentions. He helped her decorate the room, showing a care and nervousness that even surpassed Oscar's. Hannah sighed at the consistent devotion within their family.

Their decorating complete, Hannah waited contentedly for her husband's return. That afternoon, she invited Manuel and Theodore to dinner. Both accepted immediately. Theodore, responsible for a confined Little Bunny, seemed particularly excited for a change of scenery. Manuel, in contrast, was calm, simply stating he would try to leave work on time.

After the calls, Manuel immersed himself in work, seeking perhaps solace or distraction.

"Mr. Johnson," Callie knocked.

"Yes?"

"The inner council meeting is in ten minutes."

"Okay," Manuel nodded.

Callie wondered if she imagined Manuel's increased devotion to work since Susan's departure. While always hardworking, his attitude now felt fanatical, almost robotic. She sighed, still puzzling over Susan's choice of Henry over him.

Ten minutes later, Manuel sat in the conference room. The weekly inner council reviewed the past week and planned the next. He delivered a thorough report on company operations, focusing on the successful maintenance contracts with large corporations. He noted, however, the precarious situation with Sway Bank, hinting at their potential withdrawal from Northfield.

It wasn't a rumor. Henry knew Sway Bank planned an exit, and he had openly antagonized them. Only his timely exposure of a Northfield representative appointed by Sway Group had prevented legal repercussions for both himself and the Sway representative; their cooperation had violated commercial law. The Sway representative, though silently accepting the setback, was now blacklisted internationally, effectively ending his career outside Phillips Bank.

Manuel's report fueled Henry's anger. He gritted his teeth, awaiting the presentation's end.

The board applauded. They'd held little hope for this business, making Manuel's success all the more impressive. Any claims of nepotism were now ludicrous.

Returning to his seat, Manuel received praise from the board members. Susan, seated in the corner, watched him shine, unexpectedly impressed by his growth since their separation. A bittersweet smile played on her lips as she listened to the accolades. Few knew the extent of his efforts.

A board member then declared, "Mr. Johnson has been a revelation. We've dealt Sway Bank a resounding blow, deterring others from targeting Northfield!"

The board echoed the sentiment, clearly flattering Manuel.

"I admire and respect you, but…"

Manuel met his gaze calmly, anticipating the comment.

"I wonder if your initial promise to the company still stands."

Despite his achievements, some still clung to that past promise.

Before Manuel could respond, Edward interjected, "Manuel has far exceeded his initial promise. Let's not dwell on the past. Markets are fluid; we need to be too!"

His defense of Manuel only deepened Henry's resentment.