Chapter 673: Family Inheritance

Hannah left Wold Castle with Oscar and Manuel after dinner. During dinner, Theodore abruptly asked, "Manuel, are you and Susan okay now?"

His question elicited startled stares. Theodore felt bewildered. "What are you all looking at me like that for? Manuel was drugged that night, and I told Susan to be with him. They must have been together."

Hannah was surprised. "Are you back together with Susan? She would have told me if that were the case."

Manuel replied indifferently, "No, we're not."

Theodore frowned. "How's that possible? Wasn't she there that night? I don't have a good impression of her, but she's not that bad, is she? Did I make a mistake?"

"Don't overthink it," Manuel said impatiently.

Theodore persisted, "Could it be she slept with you and then dumped you again?"

Manuel sighed, finally admitting, "We didn't sleep together."

"What?" Theodore exclaimed.

"She came, but nothing happened," Manuel explained.

Theodore was incredulous. He'd taken the same drug himself, albeit not accidentally, and couldn't understand Manuel's restraint.

"No reason," Manuel said flatly. "I just didn't want to."

"Didn't want to? How did you manage that?" Theodore pressed.

"I just stayed normal," Manuel said, slowly sipping his soup.

Theodore's voice rose. "Just like that? Manuel, are you still a man? Who can stay 'normal' after being drugged? Are you alright?"

Manuel ignored him.

Theodore continued, his concern mounting, "If you don't have sex after taking that drug, it could affect your ability. Manuel, you can't do this, even with extraordinary willpower! You're hurting yourself! I worried you wouldn't be able to accept what happened, so I asked Susan to help, but you didn't use the opportunity!"

Annoyed, Manuel retorted, "My cousin did the same thing before."

This surprised Theodore, who looked at Oscar. Hannah followed suit. Oscar, who had been observing them with amusement, felt uncomfortable under their scrutiny. He frowned and said, "My antidote was a photograph."

Hannah's eyebrows furrowed. "What photograph?"

"What do you think?" Oscar asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Hannah's heart skipped a beat. She realized Oscar had used her photograph to relieve his desires. A blush crept onto her cheeks.

Theodore interrupted, "Enough! Get a room! Stop this in front of us!"

Hannah remained silent, but felt warmth towards Oscar's loyalty despite his playboy image.

Theodore sighed, "I really don't understand your family. What kind of people are you? You're all so different. No wonder I can't get a handle on you!"

Laird intervened, "Enough. Eat your meal."

Theodore, subdued by his father, fell silent.

After dinner, Hannah left with Oscar and Manuel. As Manuel was about to enter his car, Hannah approached him quickly.

Oscar cautioned, "Slow down."

Hannah ignored him and reached Manuel. He chuckled, "Slow down, Hannah. My cousin's eyes are about to pop out."

"Leave him alone. What's going on between you and Susan?"

"Like I said, nothing happened that night, and we have no relationship now," Manuel stated bluntly.

"You rejected her?" Hannah asked.

Hannah believed Susan would have readily agreed to help Manuel, even if she hadn't reciprocated his feelings.

Manuel nodded. "Because I can't accept her being with two people at the same time."

Hannah was speechless. Susan had previously confessed uncertainty about her feelings.

"Don't worry about Susan and me," Manuel said. "It's best we ended things. I don't have to live with the shadow of her past, and she doesn't have to bear the shame for Henry. We never should have been together."

Hannah couldn't respond. Though she hoped for their reconciliation, she couldn't force it.

"I'm fine," Manuel smiled, despite the evident hurt he had suffered.

Hannah felt sorry for him. "I just want you and Oscar to be fine. Your mood is important now that you're pregnant. Justine wants to visit, but she's been hesitant because of suspicion. She'll come once Oscar finishes what he's doing," he added.

"I don't mind," Hannah replied.

"Just take care of yourself," Manuel said before driving off.

Watching his car leave, Hannah murmured, "Manuel is too hard on himself."

"Maybe it's a family inheritance," Oscar said, hugging her as they returned to their car. Jimmy drove them away.

Oscar confessed, "If you hadn't approached me, maybe I would have only watched you and someone else..." His voice trailed off.

Hannah remained silent, remembering her previous life where he was entirely outside her world.