“You’re just like any other woman!” Alden concluded.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and threw it on the plate. Alden’s face looked angry as he quickly wheeled his chair out of the dining room. This obviously left Hannah stunned.
“Sir, wait,” Hannah pleaded.
Alden’s wheelchair stopped and he turned to Hannah with anger in his eyes.
“Why would you say that?” Hannah asked, confused.
“I see through your patterns. Women. Even your sister must be the same.”
“Are you upset because Aspen put you down?”
Alden shook his head. “I told you, I don’t care about her. It’s just that I know she must have narrow-minded thoughts like that, too. Who would marry a man in a wheelchair?”
“Well, I married you, didn’t I?”
“We married for business.”
Hannah took a deep breath. Even if Aspen married Alden, wouldn’t that be business? Maybe Aspen would take even more advantage of Alden, because Hannah knew exactly what her stepsister was like.
“Regardless, I never thought your current condition would affect the company,” Hannah said firmly.
Alden didn’t respond.
“What worries me is that I’m becoming a burden. What if I damage the company’s reputation? What if I’m incompetent?” Hannah expressed as she stared directly at Alden. “You may think that your current condition is a weakness. But, sir, I’m actually the weakest one here.”
Hearing Hannah’s words, Alden was truly surprised. Behind his surprise, Alden was good at hiding his emotions, and he just nodded quickly. Somehow, Alden felt that what Hannah said actually touched his heart.
Without needing Alden to speculate if Hannah was just acting, she seemed genuinely sincere with her words.
“Rest, Hannah,” Alden instructed.
“I’m sorry if what I said before offended you, sir.”
Alden shook his head. “No. Perhaps I made too many assumptions. We’ll discuss this later, you’ve been through a lot.”
Hannah gave only a brief nod.
“I apologize. It must be very difficult to be in your shoes, but I was less empathetic towards you. Good night, Hannah,” Alden said.
Although Alden’s voice was soft, Hannah could hear it very clearly. Alden’s words made Hannah’s heart feel so warm that she felt like crying uncontrollably. Dealing with Alden really took a lot of energy, especially dealing with his fluctuating emotions.
However, Alden was actually sincere.
“Hannah? Are you okay?” Alden asked suddenly.
Unconsciously, tears streamed down Hannah’s cheeks. They weren’t Hannah’s attempt to melt Alden’s heart, but they just came out anyway. Hannah immediately knelt down and covered her face because the tears were getting worse.
Alden was startled and quickly approached Hannah. Alden seemed uncomfortable, so he just gently stroked Hannah’s head.
“Why are you crying? I’m sorry,” Alden whispered.
Hannah shook her head. “It’s not you, sir.”
“Because of your family?”
Though Hannah didn’t answer, Alden could tell by the look in her eyes. Because of Francesca and Aspen, Hannah had suffered terrible things.
Being abused by her stepmother, having to replace her sister in order to marry Alden. Then Hannah’s lover was taken by Aspen and stabbed in the back on their wedding day.
Hannah’s father also died because of Francesca’s negligence. Hannah was able to endure and even sacrifice herself.
Fortunately, Hannah didn’t go insane.
“You can cry until your tears run dry, but after that, I need you to stand up. Do you understand?” Alden said in a clear voice.
“I don’t know if I can take it all, sir.”
“Yes, you can. Don’t be weak in the face of this cruel life, Hannah. Although Mr. Sears is no longer here, you must continue to live for yourself.”
It was easy for Alden to say that, he still had everything, even if he was only called “a former billionaire’s son”.
What about Hannah?
She was just a woman from a middle-class family who was in debt for her late father’s medical expenses. What kind of life could Hannah go on with when all of Hannah’s heart felt empty?
“I don’t know what to do anymore, sir,” Hannah sobbed.
“Be the owner of Texco.”
Hannah was surprised, she raised her head and looked at Alden in disbelief.
“No,” Hannah whispered, her voice shaking.
“Listen, I will avenge all your grievances, in return you must become the owner of Texco.”
Hannah became even more confused. “Why? You won’t make any profit from me.”
“Oh, of course, this is a win-win solution for both of us, Hannah.”
“I don’t understand, sir.”
Alden seemed to grin, and it made Hannah’s hair stand on end. Somehow, seeing Alden’s wild eyes and smile made Hannah feel scared. What could Alden do to change someone’s fate, and he could do anything.
“I don’t need you to understand, I need you to accomplish the goal,” Alden corrected.
Doubt appeared on Hannah’s face. “I don’t know if I can.”
“Of course you can, because I will always be behind you.”
To avenge Aspen and Francesca? Was this what Hannah had wanted all along? Hannah’s heart felt truly conflicted. Wouldn’t living peacefully and forgetting everything be the best answer?
But letting Francesca and Aspen live happily ever after was something Hannah felt unwilling to do. Especially since Francesca had already wasted John’s life.
“Get rid of all your doubts if you’re willing to accept my offer, Hannah,” Alden said.
“To avenge Aspen and Francesca,” Hannah murmured, as if to convince herself.
“Yes, and you will have everything. Do you agree?”
Alden’s offer was like a tempting but dangerous demon luring people. Wouldn’t that be a problem in the future? But Hannah had never tried it before, had she?
Hannah’s hand reached out to Alden, and she looked at him earnestly.
“I beg your help, sir. I will do whatever you command if it will avenge all the pain in my heart.”
Alden’s firm grip felt warm on Hannah’s fingers a few seconds later.
“They will regret hurting you, Hannah. You will become an unbeatable woman, and I will see to it.”