Chapter 1057

"Really?" Heather asked suspiciously, noting the sudden shift in Hannah's demeanor.

Hannah stood before her, slightly bent, taking a deep breath. Lowering her head, she appeared shorter than Heather. "At first, I thought I was confused," she confessed, "but in reality, I was greedy. I wanted love, marriage—I forgot you gave me all this. Without you, I wouldn't have lasted long. I overthink everything," she added, slapping herself hard. "I'm sorry, Heather. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way, made you angry."

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Heather pitifully. "It's my fault. I'll never see Ralph again, never ignore your words again. I want to live. It's my honor to help you. Please forgive me?" Her terror was evident in her anxious eyes.

Touched by Hannah's remorse and the evident depth of her contrition, Heather believed her. She understood Hannah had given this considerable thought. Initially, Hannah's hopes had been extravagant, fixated on marriage and love, a freedom she'd perhaps overanalyzed.

"It's good you figured it out!" Heather said, patting her shoulder gently. "Your life will be better! As for Ralph, forget him. He's not worth your time. I'll break the engagement. You stay home, reflect, and don't go anywhere!"

"Yes!" Hannah replied meekly. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble, Heather."

Heather frowned, glancing at Hannah's swollen face. "Good you know! Don't cause more trouble! Go get someone to put medicine on that. Don't leave it; a scar would be troublesome."

"Thank you for your concern," Hannah murmured.

Now docile and well-behaved, Hannah’s subdued demeanor satisfied Heather. "Go back to your room!"

Hannah retreated, a flicker of coldness in her eyes as she turned toward her small basement.

She had an extravagant hope for life, a fragile grasp on a future she couldn’t yet define. She even considered negotiating with Heather, but how? Heather always held the upper hand; obedience was expected. How could anyone dare beg for her mercy? Hannah felt utterly alone, her salvation resting solely on herself.

Meanwhile, at the Russell Estate, Margaret basked in the sun, her mood soured by her issues with Alexander. Ralph's upcoming wedding offered a small solace; once it was over, she could focus on supporting him. Hugo's blatant favoritism toward Alexander, leaving Ralph with virtually nothing, deeply troubled her. His decision to bypass Ralph and bequeath the family business to Alexander was infuriating.