7. A Little Accident

"Oh, geez!" Aspen exclaimed, slamming her cup down on the table. Aspen's eyes glared at Hannah. "Only one day into being the crippled man's wife, and your attitude is incredibly arrogant, isn't it?"

Hannah tensed her fingers, trying not to be provoked by Aspen's words, but her step-sister's comments were deeply hurtful. However, Hannah was finding it difficult to control her emotions. She felt so heartbroken.

"You should be in my shoes," Hannah retorted.

Aspen laughed mockingly. "Oh dear, can't you accept reality yet? Jeffrey chose me, not you!"

"You seduced him!"

"If he really loved you, you would be carrying his child, wouldn't you?" Aspen glared at Hannah. "He chose me. Not you. Maybe you don't see clearly."

No argument came from Hannah's lips; her throat felt choked. The woman with the light brown hair could only clutch at her skirt.

"Wake up!" Aspen continued.

A splash of hot water hit Hannah's face, soaking her instantly. Flustered, Hannah looked at Aspen's satisfied face after she poured the tea from her cup.

"How dare you!" Hannah exclaimed angrily.

Without thinking, Hannah stood up and impulsively slapped Aspen's left cheek with her right hand. The slap was so loud that Hannah didn't realize Jeffrey had entered the visitors' room.

"Hannah! What are you doing?" Jeffrey snapped.

Aspen immediately got up and ran to Jeffrey, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Jeffrey!" Aspen whispered as she stepped into her husband's embrace.

"She..." Hannah didn't know what to say.

When Hannah's eyes met Jeffrey's, she couldn't stand it. Jeffrey's gaze was full of emotion, so sharp it pierced Hannah's broken heart like a trampled piece of dust.

"I accidentally spilled water from the cup, and then Hannah slapped me," Aspen sobbed falsely.

"Hannah, that is no way to deal with anger!" Jeffrey said firmly.

Another person entered the room before Hannah could say anything to defend herself. A woman with glasses, her black hair in a bun, looked confused as she looked between Hannah, Aspen, and Jeffrey.

"What's going on?" the woman asked calmly.

"Just a little accident," Jeffrey replied awkwardly.

Jeffrey and Hannah's eyes met again.

"Are you Mrs. Hannah Sears?" The woman ignored the ongoing incident and was surprised to see Hannah's soaked clothes.

Hannah quickly grabbed her folder and bag from the sofa and nodded quickly. "This is me."

"But your clothes..."

"Don't bother," Hannah interrupted lightly, glaring at Jeffrey and Aspen. "Like he said, it was just a little accident."

Somehow, Aspen suddenly grabbed Hannah's hair from behind. Hannah staggered and nearly fell, screaming in pain.

"Aspen!" Jeffrey warned.

"Stay out of my marriage, you slut!" Aspen hissed angrily.

Hannah gritted her teeth but couldn't wrestle and fight with Aspen.

"If she applies for a job here, consider rejecting her," Aspen raised her chin arrogantly. "She's still hoping for my husband. Even though they no longer have a relationship."

Hannah wanted to scream that Aspen had been delusional from the start. A mentally ill woman ambitious enough to steal Hannah's happiness. Even after possessing Jeffrey, Aspen did not seem content to let Hannah live in peace.

Hannah walked out of the visitor's room and could hear Aspen yelling, "Go to hell with your handicapped husband!"

It hurt so much; that's what Hannah felt. Her heart was torn, even though her wounds had not yet healed. Even as she walked down the hall, Hannah thought she had no strength.

"I'm Susan, Mr. Gulfman's secretary." The woman introduced herself after pressing the up button on the elevator.

"Nice to meet you."

"It sounds like you've had a pretty rough day. There's never been an incident in our office."

Hannah wasn't sure whether to take that as sympathy or sarcasm. Susan's tone was flat as if there were no emotions. All Hannah could do was nod.

They both entered the elevator and headed for the fifth floor. Hannah followed behind Susan, and when they arrived, she walked to two large doors across from the elevator.

It was definitely Bernard Goldman's office.

Susan opened the door and quickly approached a man sitting behind a desk. Embarrassed, Hannah entered the very exclusive room.

"Mrs. Sears is here, sir," Susan said.

"It should be Mrs. Harrison," Bernard corrected, and the man stood up.

Bernard Gulfman had a friendly face, although his appearance was expensive. His clean, fresh-looking face did not betray a man well into his forties. Bernard's steps were hurried as he circled the chair and rushed to greet Hannah.

"Mrs. Harrison, it's a pleasure to..." Bernard looked at Hannah's disheveled appearance, "...oh my, you're all wet!" he exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, it's just a little accident," Hannah replied, repeating the same pattern.

"You could get sick." Bernard looked sympathetically at Hannah. Then he turned to Susan. "Get any spare clothes Mrs. Harrison can wear from my closet," Bernard instructed.

"But, sir," Hannah began to feel confused.

"Please go with Susan. Take your time, and we'll discuss business after you've changed," Bernard said.

"Alright," Hannah nodded quickly. "Thank you."

Hannah quickly followed Susan to another door that led to Bernard's private dressing room. As soon as the door closed, the sound of a vibrating phone could be heard from the desk. Bernard casually glided over, then picked up the phone and looked at the screen.

Bernard's finger slid to the side of the screen, and his smile broadened. "Hello, Mr. Harrison."

"Is Hannah in the office, Mr. Gulfman?" Alden's heavy voice came from the other end.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, she's in my office now. But she was changing."

"Why is she changing?"

Bernard's lips curled down, and his shoulders rose reflexively. "I don't know. She came into my office soaking wet."

"Oh dear," Alden sighed, half annoyed.

"Don't worry, everything will be all right, Mr. Harrison."

"Did her bag and documents get wet?"

Bernard glanced at the bag and folder on the sofa. "No, it seems safe."

"If you don't mind, Mr. Gulfman... could you find out what happened to Hannah with her wet clothes incident?"

"Sure, no problem. I'll have Susan check the security cameras."

"Thank you."