Chapter 982: She Isn’t Hannah

"But we all think you're so familiar," Susan said.

Besse's heart pounded. Confused, she looked at Susan.

"You and Hannah are so similar," Susan blurted out. Secrets couldn't stay hidden forever.

Besse unconsciously pursed her lips. Oscar had said the same, but after examining Hannah's photograph, she'd found no resemblance. Why did they insist she was similar?

Initially, she'd thought Oscar was flirting. But from his first approach, she'd sensed something more. That dinner confirmed it. Though she didn't understand his feelings, love at first sight seemed unlikely for someone of his power.

"I don't look like her," Besse said calmly, as Susan's emotions escalated.

"But besides your appearance, everything else is the same," Susan cried. "After dinner, seeing how different you looked from Hannah, I thought I'd mistaken you. But I can't shake this feeling of familiarity."

Besse, too, felt a strange familiarity with Susan.

"Are you... trying to escape Oscar?" Susan asked anxiously.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you want him controlling your life anymore? Did you have plastic surgery because of him?"

Tears streamed down Susan's face.

"I won't tell Oscar. Your secret is safe with me," Susan promised.

"No," Besse said, shaking her head, striving to remain calm. "I don't know you or Oscar."

"How could that be? We grew up together! You can forget Oscar, but not me?!" Susan exclaimed tearfully.

Susan refused to accept her best friend, Hannah, was dead. She was convinced Besse was Hannah.

"Susan, calm down," Besse said, taking her hand. "I may resemble your friend, but I'm not her. And I'm leaving Northfield for Jolencami tomorrow."

Susan's longing gaze suggested she believed Besse. Besse truly didn't know Hannah.

"Don't cry, you're pregnant," Besse said gently, offering a tissue. "It's not good for the baby."

"Hannah always treated me so well, like you," Susan murmured.

Besse's hand paused.

"When I was little, I always got into trouble and hid behind Hannah," Susan continued emotionally. "She always protected me. She comforted me, wiped away my tears. I even thought she might be my mother reincarnated."

Besse chuckled. The sad story, from Susan's perspective, was almost comical.

"But then, Hannah died unexpectedly," Susan said, breaking down again at the word "died."

Tears flowed uncontrollably. Besse felt a pang of unease, sensing the depth of their shared loss. This grief felt familiar, as if they were experiencing death themselves.

"I always believed she was still alive, which is why seeing you made me think you were her…" Susan sobbed, gritting her teeth.

After a long silence filled only with sniffles, Susan finally calmed down. "I know you're not lying."

Besse noticed the redness around Susan's nose and eyes. She wanted to comfort her but decided against it; they were leaving Northfield anyway.

"Maybe it's wishful thinking," Susan sighed, dismissing her initial belief. "I filmed Sal's birthday video, hoping you were Hannah…"

Susan trailed off, shaking her head. "...never mind."

Besse was curious about the video but remained silent.

"Would you like the cake? You can throw it away if you don't want it. Manuel won't let me eat too many sweets," Susan said, gesturing to the cake. She felt sorry for Salem, failing to bring his mother back.

"Okay," Besse smiled.

Susan prepared to leave. Besse walked her to the door. "Do you need me to walk you to your room?"

It was an instinctive act of kindness.

Susan looked at her. "Apart from Manuel, the only person who ever worried about me like this was Hannah."

Besse remained silent.

"If you come to Northfield again, visit me. I want to be friends."

Besse nodded. She wasn't sure she'd return, but couldn't refuse Susan's kindness.

"I'm leaving. Safe travels tomorrow."

"Thank you, Susan."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Besse watched her go, unexpected tears welling in her own eyes. Only after Susan disappeared did she close the door.

Back on the sofa, she gazed at Salem's birthday cake. She took a bite. It tasted good.

Suddenly, an image of Salem's birthday party flashed into her mind, and tears fell.