6. To Texco Company

Hannah sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the door. It was already morning and she had not been able to close her eyes all night. She didn't know what to do now.

One option was to leave the room and act as if nothing had happened. Another was to stay in the room and wait for Edward or another servant to arrive. The last choice was to leave Alden's mansion quietly.

Hannah's thoughts were interrupted when the door to her room opened. She turned her eyes to the doorway and was startled to see Alden standing there in his wheelchair. His cold gaze pierced through her, intimidating her. Hannah lowered her head immediately.

The sound of the wheels coming closer to Hannah was like a horror in her ears.

"It's past eight, and you're not in the dining room," Alden said flatly.

"I'm not hungry," Hannah replied.

The wheelchair stopped in front of Hannah, their knees almost touching. Without hesitation, Alden reached for Hannah's chin, his grip slightly firm as he forced her to face him.

"I don't care if you're hungry or not, but you have to be in the dining room on time," he said coldly.

Hannah swallowed nervously. "I'm sorry."

Alden's eyes narrowed slightly, and then his fingers moved to touch the area under Hannah's left eye. "What's this scratch?"

"I don't know, I don't remember."

Alden was momentarily taken aback as he faintly recalled the events of last night. However, he did remember throwing a bottle of drink at the door. There was a worry in Alden's mind that Hannah might have been injured by broken glass.

Alden's hand moved to his lap. "I will have a servant attend to your wound after breakfast," he said.

Hannah nodded weakly. "Thank you."

Alden turned the wheelchair and left the room, Hannah following him. Hannah's feelings were all over the place. She hadn't expected Alden to come to her room himself. Though Alden's behavior was still a bit harsh.

At least Alden didn't insult her or continue his anger from last night. Hannah didn't need Alden to apologize for his actions. It was better for both of them to forget about it. Rather than start a fight.

They entered the dining room and ate breakfast without much conversation. In fact, there was no conversation at all. It was better to be a puppet, at least to be talked to. Hannah's presence was like a painting or a vase placed in the middle of the dining room table.

She was there only as decoration.

Alden wiped his mouth with a napkin that he threw on the plate without any courtesy. Without another word, he left the dining room. He left Hannah alone, confused.

"What am I going to do now?" Hannah muttered quietly.

As she pushed back her chair to return to her room, Edward entered the dining room. He nodded politely to Hannah.

"Good morning, how was your breakfast Mrs. Hannah?" Edward greeted.

"It was delicious, thank you."

"Mr. Alden would like you to go to Texco Company, Mrs. Hannah. Can you get ready? You leave at nine."

Hannah was stunned. Texco was the company that Jeffrey worked for. The company that had started in Summerhill about two years ago. Why was Hannah going there? What did Alden mean? Hannah felt anxious.

"What business do I have to go there for? Why doesn't Mr. Alden go himself?" Hannah asked.

"To meet the owner, Mr. Bernard Gulfman."

Hannah cleared her throat. "I mean, what's the purpose of me going there? Why doesn't Mr. Alden go himself?"

Edward paused for a few seconds, then said briefly, "Because you're his wife."

His wife.

That statement left Hannah motionless, nodding reluctantly to follow Alden's command.

*

Hannah sighed as she entered the large and modern lobby of the Texco building. The five-story building had high ceilings, perhaps designed for seven or eight stories. The lobby was spacious, dominated by clean white paint and futuristic minimalist furniture.

Awkwardly, Hannah approached the reception desk. Her body was shaking, not because of the air conditioning, but because she had come to the company without knowing what to do.

Edward had just handed her a file to deliver, and then all she had to do was introduce herself as Alden Harrison's wife. Truly strange.

"Hello, good morning. Welcome to Texco. How can I help you, ma'am?" the receptionist greeted her.

"I'm here to see Mr. Bernard Gulfman," Hannah replied.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"I... I'm Hannah Sears, and I was asked to meet him by Mr. Alden Harrison. Perhaps he has an appointment for me?"

The receptionist nodded, then looked at the screen as she clicked the mouse.

"Yes, at ten o'clock. You can meet Mr. Gulfman in ten minutes," the receptionist said. She then handed Hannah a 'visitor' badge. "Please wait in the visitors' room, turn right from here, and the room is in the corner."

"Ah, okay." Hannah nodded.

"Someone will pick you up to meet Mr. Gulfman at ten."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, ma'am."

Hannah walked quickly to the visitors' room. The corridor leading there seemed deserted, the sound of Hannah's heels echoing. Hannah's hand pushed the glass door as she entered.

The Visitor Room was quite impressive, with couches, booths, a table for snacks and drinks, not unlike a workspace. However, there was one person Hannah hadn't expected to see there: Aspen.

Hannah's stepsister casually dipped tea into a cup and immediately turned to look at the door.

There was no turning back for Hannah, and she decided not to wait in the lobby since they had already made eye contact. Aspen just raised her cup with a grin, seemingly mocking Hannah.

Hannah entered and sat down on the sofa, her hand reaching for her phone from her purse. Hannah tried to ignore Aspen as much as possible. Aspen's footsteps sounded closer, and then she sat down across from Hannah.

"What a surprise," Aspen said, taking a sip of her tea.

"Yes, I didn't expect to see you here."

"I thought you were honeymooning. Didn't you just get married yesterday?" Aspen chuckled softly. "I saw the news on the Internet, buried under the main headlines."

"Actually, the wedding was not meant for public consumption," Hannah replied quietly. "My invitation was for family only."

"Well... we were too busy taking care of Dad. So we couldn't come."

"That's okay, actually. It's better that you and Mom take care of Dad." Hannah's eyes shifted to Aspen. "Since I'm the one paying for Dad's treatment. I think that's fair, don't you think?" she continued.