Hannah escorted Alden to the hospital to meet with a doctor, and they conversed quietly. Occasionally, Hannah giggled at Alden’s jokes. Suddenly, from the opposite direction, Hannah spotted Aspen with her noticeably pregnant belly, walking arm-in-arm with Jeffrey.
Aspen appeared stunned, as did Jeffrey. Aspen observed Hannah’s current appearance, which was completely different. Hannah looked so elegant, dressed in undoubtedly expensive clothes, and appeared happy. That was what made Aspen so angry! Hannah was supposed to look miserable, especially after Jeffrey left her to get married. Hannah’s marriage was supposed to be unhappy. So why did everything turn around? Aspen was intensely jealous.
“Mr. Harrison,” Jeffrey greeted with a brief nod.
Aspen suppressed her irritation. Jeffrey shouldn’t have done that. They should have passed by Hannah and Alden as if they didn’t know each other. Aspen wanted to snap at Jeffrey right then and there.
“Oh, hello,” Alden responded politely.
“What are you doing here?” Jeffrey asked, making small talk.
“Just a checkup.” Alden glanced briefly at Aspen, then turned his attention back to Jeffrey. “You?”
“Prenatal checkup.” Jeffrey looked awkward.
Of course, the examination was courtesy of Alden’s generosity, allowing Aspen to check her pregnancy at the hospital. It seemed Jeffrey knew about it from Francesca, which made him act politely.
“Well, we’ll be on our way,” Hannah concluded.
Hannah couldn’t stand Aspen’s predatory gaze. They were living their own lives now, Hannah had let go of Jeffrey. Why did Aspen still give her that hateful look?
“Jeffrey, there’s something I need to tell you,” Alden suddenly said.
Jeffrey’s face tensed. “What is it, sir?”
“Come to Goldtime’s company the day after tomorrow, I’ll make an appointment for you at ten in the morning. I hope you don’t waste this opportunity.” Alden just nodded briefly. “Don’t disregard my trust.”
Jeffrey’s face immediately lit up with a wide smile. “Thank you, sir. I won’t disappoint you,” then he turned to Hannah, “thank you, Hannah.”
“Good luck, Jeffrey,” Hannah replied flatly.
Hannah and Alden continued on their way to the doctor’s office. Meanwhile, Aspen and Jeffrey exited the hospital.
As soon as they were outside the hospital, Aspen pulled her hand away from Jeffrey. She glared and immediately hit Jeffrey’s arm hard.
“What do you mean by acting so nice like that?!” Aspen snapped.
“What?”
Jeffrey’s attitude of feigned ignorance made Aspen sick. Jeffrey should have ignored Hannah and Alden. Instead, he acted like a sycophant, or worse… like a servant in front of the two.
“Are you stupid or what? Didn’t you see Hannah mocking us with her eyes? How could you agree to what Alden asked?” Aspen was furious.
Jeffrey took a deep breath and tried to be patient. They were in front of the hospital, and people were starting to pay attention to them.
“Aspen, I need that job,” Jeffrey said softly.
“You can work somewhere else!”
“I worked at a cafe and had to leave because of you. Everywhere, there’s no place where I can work comfortably,” Jeffrey complained, “you always accuse me of everything.”
“So you blame me?”
“Enough, Aspen. I want to go home, if you still want to stay here, suit yourself.”
Jeffrey hurriedly left Aspen, who was still stunned on the hospital terrace. Aspen’s hands clenched, determined to get back at Hannah and Alden. Even destroy them. No matter what it took.
*
Before entering the doctor’s room, Hannah paused. Something was bothering her, and she turned to Alden. Yes, it was about Jeffrey and Aspen, especially Alden’s words, which he hadn’t mentioned to Hannah.
“Why did you do that? Offering a job to Jeffrey,” Hannah asked.
“You don’t want me to? I can cancel it.”
“It’s not that,” Hannah paused, “it will make Aspen hate you and me even more.”
Alden looked puzzled. “I’m giving her husband a job opportunity, why should she hate us?”
“Pride, remember?”
Alden immediately understood what Hannah meant. Aspen would undoubtedly see it as a kind of mockery, because Jeffrey hadn’t gotten a new job yet. And it would seem like they owed Alden. Which, indeed, they would.
However, Aspen wouldn’t admit any of it. She would feel cornered, defeated, and her hatred would only intensify.
“I’m just giving Jeffrey one chance. Whether he takes it or not, it’s no problem to me,” Alden said.
“Alright.”
“Besides, he won’t be working at Texco.” Alden chuckled softly.
Hannah looked puzzled at Alden. “Then Goldtime, is it a company of one of your connections?”
Alden just smiled thinly. “It’s mine.”
Hannah stared at Alden in disbelief.
“So, if Jeffrey works there, and I want to make him suffer… it wouldn’t be hard for me,” Alden said lightly. “Do you still want to make your family suffer?”
Not really family, but getting revenge on them would be easy. However, seeing Francesca, Aspen, and even Jeffrey’s condition, Hannah couldn’t bear it. They were indeed cruel, but Hannah didn’t want to become cruel too.
Previously, Hannah wanted revenge, but now… revenge didn’t feel satisfying.
“No.” Hannah shook her head.
“Are you sure?”
Hannah looked intently at her husband. “I have you. Revenge would only taint my heart. I’d constantly think of ways to destroy them. I might not even have time to pay attention to you.”
Alden held both of Hannah’s hands, gently kissing the backs of her hands alternately.
“That’s my girl,” Alden whispered.
“It’s okay if I want to forget everything and live my days with you, right?”
“All our foolish agreements from the past, I’ve already erased. What is there to worry about, Hannah?” Alden smiled. “I respect your decision. And your decision now makes me even more sure you’re the woman destined for me.”
“Don’t flatter me like that.”
Hannah took a deep breath and exhaled with relief. Her goal now was to heal Alden, so why bother with revenge? There were more important things.
“Come on, let’s go inside. The doctor is waiting for us,” Hannah whispered.
“By the way, after seeing the doctor, can we see another doctor?”
Hannah looked puzzled. “Another doctor? What kind of doctor?”
“A gynecologist. How about we start planning to have a baby, Hannah?”
“Baby?”