The next morning, as Hannah sat on the toilet, Susan called, brimming with excitement. "Hannah, have you seen the news?"

Hannah was about to.

"Your Charles and Oscar are all over it!"

"Who told you Charles is mine?" Hannah retorted gruffly.

"So, Oscar's yours then?" Susan teased.

"Susan!" Hannah sputtered, speechless.

Susan laughed. "Anyway, just read it. It's interesting." She hung up.

Hannah knew what the media would say without even looking. And she was right. The headlines blared:

Charity banquet receives billions; Oscar Wells shines among the wealthy

Charles Sawyer refuses to spend lavishly to marry Hannah Cooper

Oscar Wells, a spendthrift, donates a 30-million-dollar jewel

For the first time, Oscar's news wasn't merely gossip; it dominated economic and social media, drawing both praise and criticism. It was also the first time Charles faced such public derision. He looked terrible upon seeing the news. Accustomed to endless praise, he was now accused of stinginess, insufficient love for Hannah, and being less perfect than rumored. The media even questioned the Sawyer family's financial stability, claiming problems with their capital chain.

This was true; the Sawyers desperately sought a union with the Coopers for their funding. Charles never anticipated Oscar jeopardizing his crucial plan. Worse, the Sawyer Group's stock plummeted at market opening, forcing them to use substantial capital to stabilize it – adding insult to injury.

Charles trembled with rage but forced himself to calm down. Marrying Hannah was paramount. The Coopers were the second wealthiest family in Northfield, after the Wells family. Controlling the Coopers would allow him to surpass the Wells, using the combined wealth of both families to crush Oscar. He could then expand his own family's influence. An evil smile spread across his lips. He would repay this humiliation tenfold.

Meanwhile, at the Cooper Manor, Hannah read the news with growing intrigue. Susan called again. "Have you read it?"

"Yes," Hannah replied. "Why are you so excited?"

"For you!" Susan declared. "I thought you had poor judgment, but now I think you're incredibly wise, finding strength from that Oscar Wells scumbag."

Hannah wasn't sure if that was a compliment. "It's not what you think between Oscar and me."

"Oh?" Susan pressed.

"You'll find out."

"Are you keeping secrets now? You've changed!" Susan complained.

Hannah had.

"Oh yes," Susan exclaimed, remembering something. "Manuel's back."

"Really?" Hannah replied, vaguely recalling his return in the last few days, though the details eluded her.

"He came back secretly last night! I was shocked. The point is…" Susan paused, struggling to continue.

Hannah's interest piqued.

"He's up to no good! Trying to steal family property!" Susan asserted. "I won't let him."

Hannah wanted to tell her the real thief wasn't her stepbrother, but her lover. But she needed time to make Susan believe it.

"Why don't you take over the company and stop him?" Hannah suggested.

"Well…" Susan hesitated. She didn't want to work. "Don't I have Henry to support us?"

Susan was just like Hannah used to be: naive.

"Consider my suggestion. My grandma's calling." Susan hung up abruptly, adding, "There's never good news when she calls."

Hannah sighed. She had to deal with these people. She hung up and answered Lorie Cox’s call.

"Hi, Granny."

"Who were you talking to? You didn't answer! You're just like your father, an impolite brat!" Lorie's voice was sharp.

Hannah's grip on the phone tightened. Her grandmother had always favored Wayne, Roger's eldest son, and had tolerated her only because her grandfather liked Michelle. But now, Hannah wouldn't endure it.

"What do you need, Granny?" she asked.

"Get your ass to the mansion now!" Lorie hung up.

Hannah's face hardened. It was time to give her grandmother a piece of her mind, before she thought she was royalty. She cleaned up, went downstairs, and prepared to leave.

"Hannah, you haven't eaten breakfast! Where are you going?" Michelle called after her daughter.

"Granny's house."

"Why?" Michelle was clearly alarmed, sharing her mother-in-law's fear. Lorie had never shown her kindness because of her humble beginnings. Only Hannah's grandfather's approval had secured their marriage. Since then, Michelle avoided Lorie whenever possible.

"She wants to see me."

"About what?"

"She didn't say."

Michelle couldn't oppose Lorie, nor could she stop Hannah. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I'll go with you."

"Worried Granny will bully me?"

"When hasn't she?" Michelle retorted.

"You can't stop her anyway," Hannah stated, knowing her mother would ultimately obey Lorie to avoid conflict.

"At least I won't let her scold you alone," Michelle replied, offering the best protection she could.

Hannah smiled. Her mother was so kind. "Let's go," she said, secretly promising to show her mother how she would handle her wicked mother-in-law.