Chapter 985: Say Goodbye
As they flirted, Manuel's phone rang. He answered, "Theodore."
"Besse and Doyle have gone to the airport."
So Besse had left.
"I see," Manuel replied.
"Are you in a trance?" Theodore asked.
Manuel was the latest in a line—first Oscar, then Susan—to suspect Besse was Hannah.
"No," Manuel denied. "I have something else to do. Got to go."
"Mhm."
Manuel hung up, still pensive. Susan scrutinized him. "What did Theodore call about? Didn't he want you to cheat?"
Susan believed pregnancy was a prime opportunity for infidelity.
"I asked Theodore to keep an eye on Besse."
"Why? Weren't you dismissive of her? Didn't you say she couldn't be Hannah?" Susan was agitated.
Manuel didn't mention his morning visit to Besse.
"But it's pointless to doubt now," Susan said. "I confirmed last night they weren't the same person. You realized too late."
Manuel agreed, but his thoughts lingered on Besse's—or Hannah's—decision. He hesitated to delve further into Besse's identity.
At Capital International Airport, Besse and Doyle, hand in hand, were assisted with check-in.
Noticing Besse's distraction, Doyle asked, "Are you angry?"
Besse forced a smile. "No."
As they waited for their boarding announcement, Doyle suggested, "When we get back, let's travel again."
"What about next season's products?" Besse teased.
"We won't miss a thing," Doyle shrugged. "Inspiration takes more than a day or two."
"Can you generate an idea in a day or two? We should take a few days off when we return and focus on work then," Besse insisted.
"You love your work more than me," Doyle complained.
Besse sighed. Lately, everything felt unfamiliar, inducing a profound sense of displacement. She gravitated towards the familiar.
"I don't want to be scolded by your mother again," she said.
"She's just strict. She pushes us for new ideas, but we always deliver. She worries unnecessarily."
"If she didn't push you, maybe you would fail," Besse countered.
"Am I that unreliable?" Doyle asked angrily.
"No, of course not," Besse reassured him.
He wasn't. Doyle was dedicated and responsible, not a careless playboy.
An assistant approached respectfully. "Boss, the paperwork is complete."
Doyle nodded, took Besse's hand, and they proceeded to the first-class security check-in. Afterward, Besse paused, gazing outside. A heavy sense of oppression weighed on her.
She spotted a familiar figure in the distance—Oscar, wearing a cap and mask, holding Salem. Susan had mentioned him.
Their eyes met briefly. Her heart trembled.
She'd believed her feelings were solely for Salem, but time spent with Oscar suggested something more.
"Besse?" Doyle, noticing she'd lagged behind, called out.
Besse recovered quickly, masking any tears. "Just thinking about some new product inspiration."
"What kind?" Doyle asked, holding her hand tightly.
They moved out of Oscar's view. He hadn't said goodbye. Perhaps he hadn't dared approach her, or maybe he felt she was happier with Doyle.
"Dad?" Salem called. He didn't understand being at the airport without Una, who was at a piano lesson. He wondered if they were going on the plane.
He saw the beautiful lady. He'd noticed his father watching her, but Oscar kept his distance, as if afraid of being seen. Only after she reached security did Oscar approach, holding Salem close.
Oscar remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. Even when she saw them, he said nothing.
Now she was gone, and his father stood motionless.
Salem called out again.
"Wave, Sal," Oscar instructed. "Say goodbye to your mom."
Salem, though confused, waved.
"Dad?" Salem waved again, longer this time.
"Mhm."
They turned and left.
Besse and Doyle waited in a VIP lounge, occupied with their phones. Besse's mind was on Oscar and Salem, watching them from outside. She couldn't forget the loneliness in Oscar's eyes.
For a moment, she felt she'd abandoned him cruelly. She remembered Manuel's words: she needed to learn about her past—Hannah's past, not Besse's.
Besse looked at Doyle, wondering if he would lie to her.