Hannah’s heart felt shattered as Alden returned Sarah’s embrace, and they appeared so affectionate towards each other. Hannah felt like an obstacle between them. Instinctively, she stepped back and hurried outside to get some fresh air.
Over and over, Hannah reminded herself that Sarah was sick. Whatever was happening with Sarah now was because she couldn’t control herself or there was some underlying issue, so Hannah couldn’t protest. She had to be understanding.
Hannah walked to the hospital garden and sat on a bench under a lamp. She sat there, lost in thought, wondering what to do next about someone disrupting her marriage. If it were a sane person, Hannah might fight back. But this was a mentally ill person, and she didn’t know how to handle it.
Hannah sat there for over 20 minutes, not even counting how much time had passed alone. Then she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. She glanced sideways and saw it was Alden.
“There you are,” Alden said, slightly out of breath. “Why are you out here?”
“Getting some fresh air.”
“It’s cold out here, Hannah.”
“Where else should I go? Stay inside and watch you hug that woman?”
Hannah was jealous. Really jealous!
But she felt hopeless because Sarah remained a part of Alden’s past that couldn’t be erased.
Alden sat beside Hannah, staring ahead, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
“Sarah is sick,” Alden said quietly.
“I can see that. She can’t let go of you,” Hannah muttered.
“That’s the reality.”
“So you’re going to accept that? Let her disrupt our marriage?”
“Hannah, listen…”
“I don’t want to hear any more nonsense!”
“She’s like this because of me! Do you understand?”
Hannah was startled because Alden shouted at her. For months, Alden had been sweet and pleasant. Now, suddenly, after Sarah came back, Alden changed? Hannah couldn’t accept it.
“Fine.” Hannah stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Hannah, I’m sorry.” Alden looked confused. “I just…”
Hannah didn’t care. Even when Alden tried to hold her arm, she pushed him away. She hurriedly ran away from Alden, not caring if he followed or not.
“Hannah, please! Wait!” Alden called out in the hospital corridor.
But Hannah quickened her pace and reached the hospital entrance. A taxi was about to leave, and she quickly got in.
“Please go quickly, sir,” Hannah requested.
Alden tried to chase after her, but the taxi sped away from the hospital.
“Damn it,” Alden muttered angrily.
He went back into the hospital and returned to Sarah’s room. Kenneth was standing outside, playing with his phone.
“Sarah is asleep,” Kenneth said coldly.
“Keep me updated on her condition.”
“Sure.” Kenneth nodded.
“I’m going home now.”
Kenneth didn’t reply. He just sighed and put his phone back in his jacket pocket.
“Don’t tell anyone about Sarah’s condition,” Kenneth requested.
“I won’t.”
“She needs you, Alden. This is just temporary until she can fully recover.”
Alden licked his dry lips. “Kenneth, I have Hannah. I have a wife. How can my wife accept another woman interfering in our marriage?”
“What happened to Sarah is something you should also take responsibility for.”
Alden clenched his fists. “I will pay all of Sarah’s treatment costs until she recovers. But no, she cannot interfere in my future!”
Without saying goodbye, Alden turned and left Kenneth. Alden also suffered after the accident. He grieved the loss of Sarah and was unable to walk. Why should all the burden be placed on him? It felt unfair.
And it was especially unfair to Hannah, who didn’t know anything, yet had to bear the consequences as well.
Alden drove home, trying to call Hannah, but her phone was off. Alden was frantic because Hannah was angry.
When he got home, he rushed to Hannah’s room and was shocked to find she hadn’t come home.
“Where is she?” Alden muttered in confusion.
He tried calling Hannah again, but her phone was still off. Then Alden opened the tracking app, which he hadn’t used in a long time.
He felt guilty, but he needed to find Hannah.
The last known location of her phone was near her old house, and Alden was sure she had gone there.
It was past midnight, but Alden hurriedly drove to the house, running down the corridor until he nearly bumped into Edward.
“Oh, Lord, Young Master. You startled me,” Edward said, nodding politely.
“Sorry, Edward. Why aren’t you asleep?”
“Well, it’s my habit to check the house before resting. Where are you going, sir?”
“To bring Hannah home.”
Alden didn’t prolong the conversation and went straight to the front door. Edward tilted his head slightly and sighed.
“Oh, dear… another domestic squabble,” the butler muttered with a smile. “Young hearts.”
…
Alden drove as fast as he could to Hannah’s parents’ house. In his head, he had many words ready to say to Hannah. Deep down, Alden regretted being harsh with Hannah just because he panicked.
He shouldn’t have acted that way. Hannah had made him a better person, so why was he impatient just because of Sarah’s issues?
About 40 minutes later, Alden arrived in front of John Sears’ house. He remembered coming here once or twice as a child. It was the first time he had returned in many years. The house hadn’t changed at all, exactly as he remembered it.
Alden walked to the porch and rang the bell. There was no response from inside. He knocked on the door.
“Hannah, open the door. I need to talk to you,” Alden said loudly.
Silence. No response.
“Hannah! Please open the door!”
Alden banged on the door harder.
“Do you want me to break it down, Hannah?” His patience was running thin, thinking Hannah was acting childishly.
“What do you mean by breaking down the door?” a voice asked from behind him.