Hannah stared at Alden in surprise. Seeing him in his wheelchair, holding a bundle of ice cream with a pleading look, made her feel pity. She nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. Alden hurried to join her.
“I got a few different flavors. Which one do you want?” Alden asked.
“Why are you acting like this toward me?”
Alden looked at Hannah. “I don’t know how to apologize to you, and I want you to forgive me.”
“So you’re bribing me with ice cream?”
“That’s all I could think of.”
Hannah felt angry, hurt, and upset, but she couldn’t help but laugh. It was truly ridiculous.
“You’re so annoying!” Hannah hissed as she took the ice cream from Alden’s lap. “You’re not allowed to have a single bite. This is all mine.”
“So you forgive me?”
“Not exactly.” Hannah shrugged.
Alden moved from his seat and half-lying on the bed.
“Please, don’t leave me,” Alden pleaded.
Hannah stayed silent.
“I’m really a jealous and annoying man. What I said to you was unforgivable, I know that,” Alden sighed, “but please give me a chance to make it right, Hannah.”
“Alden…”
“I will go see that doctor. I won’t give up or lose hope again. I’ll do whatever you think is best.”
“You’re acting like a child.”
“I’m sorry…” Alden began to hug Hannah’s waist, rubbing his face against her back. He was very clingy, making Hannah uncomfortable.
“Let me go,” Hannah said flatly.
“I won’t let you go. You’re mine.”
“The ice cream will melt if I don’t eat it soon. How many flavors did you buy? I need to put them in the freezer so they don’t melt.”
Alden quickly grabbed the ice cream bundle and threw it onto the wheelchair. He pulled Hannah’s body back, making her lie down on the bed.
“Do you think sex will fix everything?” Hannah asked.
“No, I don’t think so. I just want to make a baby with you. I don’t care about your opinion!”
*
“And we wasted eight cups of ice cream and had to go back to buy ones that hadn’t melted,” Hannah complained.
She glanced at Alden, who was enjoying his ice cream while watching the sidewalk and passing cars. Hearing Hannah’s words, Alden chuckled softly.
After that big argument, they had come together more passionately, making the ice cream Alden had bought completely melt. Feeling guilty, Alden insisted they go back to the ice cream shop, even though Hannah didn’t mind at all.
“Sorry, I’m too… forceful.” Alden laughed lightly.
“Well, what can I do? I have to go along with it, right?”
Alden looked deeply into Hannah’s eyes. “I love you.”
“Shut up.”
“I really love you. Why don’t you believe me?”
Was it so easy for a man to forget the woman who dominated his heart, especially when that woman was nowhere to be found? Alden had loved the memory of Sarah for so long, then snap… he could forget just because of Hannah? Hannah felt some doubt, even though Alden had said those words.
Didn’t Jeffrey say the same thing in the past?
“Hannah?” Alden called.
“I love you too,” Hannah replied.
Hannah tried to push aside her negative thoughts. Why fear something that hadn’t happened yet? And might never happen. She should live the present life with Alden as best as she could.
There was much they needed to do in the coming days, healing Alden’s leg, understanding each other, and, yes… as Alden said, making a baby.
Or more politely, building a family.
From the sidewalk, Hannah saw someone walking quickly toward them. She realized it was Aspen, walking alone without Jeffrey.
Aspen immediately entered the ice cream shop’s patio, where Hannah and Alden were sitting outside.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush with you,” Aspen said, looking angry.
Alden appeared very calm. “What do you want?”
“Listen, just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you can step all over my family! My mom, Jeffrey, and me!”
What nonsense is this? Hannah thought angrily.
Hannah was about to stand, but Alden held her hand.
“I don’t want to marry a cripple like you. Hannah must be really stupid to marry you!” Aspen pointed.
“She is stupid,” Alden nodded.
Hannah wanted to pinch Alden. How could he say she was stupid?
“Because Hannah should marry a man much greater than me. A billionaire would propose to her without hesitation. Foolishly, she chose me,” Alden continued.
Aspen was silent.
“I’m very grateful Hannah is as foolish as you say. Because I’m lucky to have her,” Alden smiled at Aspen, “I guess Jeffrey is foolish too, for falling in love with you, right? Because he let go of a woman as great as Hannah.”
Aspen’s face turned bright red. “You jerk!!”
“Say what you want to say. I don’t want you to ruin our ice cream afternoon.” Alden smiled cynically.
“Listen, Jeffrey will never work at Goldtime! I won’t allow it!”
“Okay, I’ll cancel the appointment. Anything else?”
Alden’s voice was cold and flat, which Hannah found very annoying for Aspen.
“Just wait and see, I’ll get back at you for everything you’ve done!” Aspen turned to Hannah. “And you! You’ll pay for your arrogant behavior!!”
Aspen hurriedly left them. Hannah’s hands were clenched, holding back her anger. She could have exploded and retaliated against Aspen’s words, but Alden seemed to forbid it.
“Don’t think about it anymore,” Alden said, seeing Hannah’s face harden.
“What have I done to her? All this time, she’s been the one cheating me.”
“Hannah, in someone else’s life, you can be the good guy or the bad guy. No matter how good you are, if you’re the bad guy to Aspen, you’ll remain that way.”
“Doesn’t she realize that she’s the one who’s hurt me all this time?”
Alden shook his head. “No, she won’t think that far.”
“Ah, never mind… I don’t care about her anymore. I didn’t want to seek revenge, but Aspen’s attitude is so annoying it rekindles my grudge.”
“Don’t, just let it go. We have other things to think about. Okay, honey?”
Alden then kissed Hannah’s lips gently.