Chapter 786: Desperate Love

Oscar's hand, frozen in mid-air, slowly descended after Hannah's clear rejection. "Hannah, please eat something," he offered.

She remained silent. Undeterred, Oscar suggested, "Perhaps some warm water? It might help your appetite." She ignored him, turning her back as if he were invisible. Max sighed heavily. Oscar's sudden arrival surprised him; the coronation had ended only hours ago. Oscar must have flown immediately to Kensbury, leaving behind pressing business and the celebratory state banquet. His return seemed inappropriate. Max abandoned any attempt at persuasion, helpless in the face of Oscar and Hannah's desperate love.

Silence filled the room until Hannah rose from the bed, pushing back the duvet. Oscar watched with concern as she stood and almost immediately stumbled, dizzy. He quickly caught her.

Resting resentfully against his chest, she felt a strange awkwardness, the familiar scent reminding her of another woman. Disgust propelled her to push him away with all her might.

Oscar looked at her sorrowful retreat as if she had deemed him the vilest creature. But the dizziness persisted, forcing her to lean against the wall for support. Weakness, perhaps from lack of food and prolonged bed rest, threatened to overwhelm her.

Oscar remained where he was, his gaze fixed on her. She had grown thinner in a single day. He found her asleep, pale-faced, tears silently tracking down her cheeks. The sight pierced him, a sharp stab to his heart that stole his breath. Yet, he remained seemingly unmoved by her suffering, unable to bear another day apart.

He reached for her again, but she stopped him icily. "Stay away from me," she whispered, her weakness masked by a strained firmness.

His hand froze, embarrassed.

Gradually regaining her composure, Hannah slowly made her way to the bathroom, her movements frail, her body threatening to collapse. She refused any assistance, determined to avoid even the slightest proximity to Oscar. She shut the door behind her.

Watching her stubborn, weary retreat, he clenched his fist in despair, his own restraint crumbling.

Three minutes passed, then five, then ten, with the bathroom door remaining closed. Oscar approached, knocking. "Hannah!" he called.

No answer.

"Hannah!" He knocked harder, his voice rising. Still, no response.

"Hannah, open this door, or I'll break it down!" he roared, his voice like a lion's.

The room remained eerily silent. Driven to the edge, Oscar raised his fist and punched the door with tremendous force.

The violent sound startled Max, who rushed forward to intervene. But Oscar's fury silenced him. The blow yielded no response from within.

The horrifying possibility of something terrible happening to Hannah and her baby overwhelmed him. With all his strength, he kicked the door open and burst in, his face contorted with fear and anxiety.

Hannah, however, was calmly washing her hands at the vanity, oblivious to his frantic arrival. The sight of her safety eased his rage.

"Don't worry," she said peacefully, carefully drying her hands, "you don't deserve my sacrifice." Her quiet words cut him deeply. The raging lion transformed into a subdued cat.

"You're right," he said softly, a silent plea in his heart for her to cease her self-destructive behavior. The suffering, he decided, should be his alone.

Hannah sneered. The thought of jumping from the window briefly crossed her mind. She put down the towel and walked past Oscar, glancing indifferently at the damaged door. She returned to the bed, closing her eyes to shut him out of her world.

She felt the head of her bed rise. Opening her eyes, she glared at Oscar, who had silently raised the bed's upper section to a seventy-five-degree angle, forcing her to sit.

"Eat something," he insisted calmly, ignoring her anger.

Hannah stared at him impassively.

Oscar retrieved the gruel Max had prepared. He spooned some out, blew on it to cool it, and offered it to her. She merely stared at him. The back of his hand, bruised from the door, went unnoticed by her.

He made a soft, coaxing sound, like one might use to encourage a baby.

Hannah turned her head away.