Chapter 59

Chapters of their marriage.

Painful as it was, Hannah pressed on, for her parents'sake.

Somewhere between desperation and resignation,the call finally connected.

Vincent's voice on the other end let Hannah release a shaky sigh of relief. "Vincent, when are you coming back?"

Silence lingered on the line, a drawn-out pause that made Hannah's nerves stretch thin. It sounded as though Vincent was checking his surroundings before finally responding, "Probably three days.What's the matter?"

Her lips parted and answered, "My parents-"

Suddenly, another voice floated through the phone,unmistakably Brinley's. "Vincent, give this a try."

Everything inside Hannah turned to ice. Numb realization settled over her. No business trip had taken him overseas-he was on vacation, basking in Brinley's affection.

A heavy, painful silence followed. Not even the static offered comfort.

Then, Vincent's voice came through again. "You were saying about your parents?"

An edge crept into Hannah's reply. "It's nothìng important. They just sent me some local specialties."

He offered only a vague sound of acknowledgment, his thoughts already drifting away. His voice was low."Anything else?"

She hesitated for a moment, still holding onto a shred of hope. "It's just... Would you mind talking to my parents-"

Before Hannah could finish, the call disconnected,cutting her off mid-sentence. Through the crackle of the dead line, Brinley's voice carried faintly, calling Vincent's name.

Familiar disappointment wrapped around Hannah's heart. She'd seen this pattern so many timnes, but the sting never faded. For a fleeting moment, when Vincent answered, she'd believed he might actually help her, play along for her parents' sake. Anything to keep them from worrying in their old age. Reality however, showed no mercy. Vincent was somewhere far away, wrapped up in a new romance, oblivious to the promises he'd made her long ago.

Standing in the hallway, Hannah watched her parents through the hospital door, self-blame weighing her down like a heavy blanket. Fully grown, and yet sheDetermined not to let them see her falter, she composed herself and strode back into the room,wearing a bright, practiced smile. "I told you-he's really busy. He's away on business right now."

The hope faded instantly from their faces, replaced by shadow and worry.

A deep sadness etched itself across Margaret's features.

Raymond kept his gaze locked on Hannah, silent at first. After a moment, he released a heavy sigh."I just hope you haven't lied to yourself so long that you actually believe it."

Margaret's voice trembled with sadness. "Tell me,Hannah, if this marriage is real, what kind of son-in-law avoids his in-laws for five whole years?"

No words came to Hannah. The truth was too bitter to share, and she knew that without meeting Vincent,her parents would never believe her. Explaining that her husband's heart belonged to someone else would only deepen their worry and heartbreak.

The sting of their disappointment made it hard for Hannah to even draw breath. "He'll visit once his work settles down," she replied, forcing a smile that felt brittle.

Thousands of miles away in Calveria, Brinley touched Vincent's arm gently. "Vincent, the people you're meeting have arrived."

Vincent had taken a red-eye flight on his private jet to Calveria after receiving an urgent acquisition proposal the night before.

Brinley had insisted on joining him, claiming a change of scenery would lift the weight from her mind.

Before agreeing, Vincent had checked with her doctors-travel, they assured him, could be good for her heart. Besides, it suited him to put some distance between himself and Hannah-she'd been acting up a lot lately.

What surprised him was how quickly her calls and texts started pouring in as soon as he left. A subtle smirk crossed his lips.

Brinley, noticing the faint curve of his lips, asked with curiosity, "What is it, Vincent? Did the deal meet your expectations?"

Vincent's response was smooth, but his satisfaction was clear. "Nothing." All those texts. All those calls.Hannah was clearly rattled. He knew it-she cared about him deeply.

Fastening his cufflinks, Vincent stepped into the meeting room with unshakeable confidence. Minutes later, he'd dissected the acquisition proposal,exposed glaring issues, and secured an extra three percent profit for the company with sharp, decisive tactics.

Plans shifted quickly after the meeting. Brinley,watching the pace pick up, wondered if Vincent was just eager to have more free time with her. She asked softly, "I thought we'd stay for three days?"

Sunlight poured in through the towering windows as Vincent considered her words. A faint, mysterious smile played on his lips. "I want to head back sooner," he answered.