Chapter 979 Besse, Hannah

"I want to go back to Jolencami," Doyle said suddenly, from behind Besse.

Besse turned, withdrawing her gaze from whatever she had been observing.

"I think you've become very strange here. Let's go home. I'll have my assistant book us the nearest flight."

Besse didn't object. She, too, felt strangely out of place, a disconcerting blend of familiarity and illusion that left her unsettled.

"From now on, you're not coming to Northfield again," Doyle declared, a huff escaping his lips.

Besse chuckled softly. She found his pronouncements childish, a sentiment she instantly recognized in herself. This place never felt truly hers.

When Oscar returned with Salem and Una, Manuel and Susan were already waiting. Anticipating their arrival, Oscar had Max prepare extra dinner.

"Has the earth spun off its axis? You took Sal out to play?!" Susan exclaimed, her voice sharp as they entered the hall.

Oscar ignored her, calling for a servant. "Bring me the medicine box."

"Yes, sir," the servant replied, hurrying off. Oscar gently carried Salem toward the sofa.

Susan saw Salem's injured knee and her teasing ceased. Her concern was palpable. "What happened? How did he hurt himself?"

"Daddy took us to an amusement park, but Sal fell down a staircase," Una explained, her worry evident.

"How could you let this happen?!" Susan scolded Oscar angrily.

"Daddy already got scolded by a beautiful lady," Una interjected.

"Which beautiful lady?" Susan asked incredulously.

"The beautiful lady on stage!"

"Besse?" Susan gasped.

"I don't know her name, but she mentioned you. She thought you were our mom."

Susan looked toward Oscar, who was already cleaning Salem's wound. The boy endured the pain stoically.

"You can cry if it hurts," Oscar said gently.

"I'm a man! Men don't cry," Salem declared firmly.

Oscar smiled faintly, a pang of sadness in his heart. Besse's earlier words about his failings as a father echoed in his mind. He rationalized Salem's independence as necessary for a boy, an heir, even suspecting he used this as an excuse to avoid his son. He was tired, overwhelmed.

"Sal, you're just like your dad," Susan said, her heart aching as she looked at the wound. "You know how to endure." The boy always suffered silently.

"It doesn't... hurt," Salem mumbled, his eyes red-rimmed, betraying his brave facade. Susan's own eyes welled up. She wondered if Hannah, were she alive, would be comforted or saddened by such stoicism.

She gently touched Salem's head. She longed to lavish this understanding boy with the best the world offered.

Oscar finished tending to the wound. "Let's eat," he said to Max.

"Yes," Max replied.

Everyone gathered at the table, waiting for Theodore, who arrived late.

"Why are you here?" Theodore asked Susan and Manuel.

"I never missed Sal's birthday," Susan replied, then posed a question of her own. "But someone disappeared on Sal's birthday many times." Her meaning was clear.

Oscar remained silent.

Theodore agreed wholeheartedly. "Yeah! Someone's crazy."

"You're the same!" Susan retorted. "Do you even know your son's birthday?!"

"... I think I forgot."

"No wonder Little Bunny gave up on you! Serves you right!"

"Susan! Don't bring that up."

"What? Are you angry? I thought you wouldn't care. After all, you're the one who cheated."

"Susan, are you finished with the dishes?" Theodore's frustration mounted. His day had already been soured by the lingering effects of his past with Little Bunny, exacerbated by a fruitless attempt to dig up dirt on Addison Chasey. Now, rumors about Addison and Little Bunny circulated, further fueling his annoyance, especially given the widespread public support for the pair and their silence on the matter.

Susan shifted her attention to Oscar, who frowned under her gaze.

"Did you see Besse again today?" she asked.

Oscar nodded.

"Do you think she's similar to…"

Manuel coughed, interrupting her. Susan glared. He took a sip of water. "I choked."

"I know you can act," Susan said, annoyed.

Manuel felt embarrassed, acutely aware of Susan's scrutiny.

"They are very similar," Oscar said unexpectedly, taking the initiative to engage Susan directly, to her surprise.

"That's what I thought, but Manuel claims I'm paranoid. I think she is…"

Oscar looked at her expectantly.

"Except for her face, everything's the same. We're the same height," Susan exclaimed. "But Manuel said I'm paranoid!"

"I'll stay in the capital for two days. I've booked the hotel where Besse and Doyle stayed. I have to find out. Otherwise, I'll lose my mood for kids," Susan added defiantly.

Manuel could only watch helplessly.

"I have bad news," Theodore interrupted his meal. "Besse's leaving Northfield tomorrow."