Roger took Hannah's words to heart. Hannah had been kind and sincere for years. Had she not recently changed, Roger wouldn't have doubted her. However, some still perceived Hannah as naive; any seemingly innocent remark would be readily believed. Roger would, without question, follow Hannah's advice.
The less obvious benefit was that agreeing with Hannah held no risk for Roger. Jane's reputation was already tarnished by her liaison with Charles. Marriage would garner criticism for their perceived lack of honor, but little else. Over time, the matter would be forgotten.
Secondly, Roger had long desired a strong relationship with the Sawyer family. He'd previously attempted to arrange a match between Jane and Charles but failed. This presented a renewed opportunity.
Thirdly, a union between Jane and Charles would forge an alliance with one of Northfield's four most powerful families. His daughter would become the heir's wife, finally silencing those who dismissed him as merely a relative.
Roger couldn't refuse these advantages, yet he concealed his excitement, remaining noncommittal. Hannah needed say no more; further elaboration would suggest ulterior motives.
Indeed, Hannah had a plan. Jane's social standing was low. Charles would never marry her, much less the daughter of a relative of one of the four families. He'd prefer someone useful, like Hannah, or even Ivy—who would later become the destroyer of Hannah's marriage. Jane would never be sufficient.
If Roger let Charles take responsibility for Jane, he'd make a fool of himself and insult the Sawyers, irrevocably damaging their relationship.
In her previous life, Roger colluded with Charles, contributing to the Cooper Group's downfall. This time, Hannah aimed to prevent it.
"I haven't slept well these past two days; I'm so tired," Hannah said, seeking an excuse to leave. She leaned towards Oscar, feigning weakness. Her actions, however, were misinterpreted.
"As a Cooper girl, do you know how to behave? Such disrespect!" Lorie, disliking Hannah, made a pointed remark about Hannah's post-marriage affection for her husband.
"Mom, they're newlyweds. We should be understanding," Michelle countered.
"Are you contradicting me?" Lorie's face hardened. Michelle had never before openly disagreed with her.
Miguel tried to intervene, but Michelle stopped him, calmly stating, "It's natural for a young couple to be affectionate. They're legally married." Her words hinted at something more.
Lorie, though upset, couldn't defend Jane's disgraceful actions. Had Jane not been raised by her, she wouldn't have taken the blame.
"It's late. Let's go," Lorie said angrily, their purpose achieved. She was unhappy simply being in their presence.
"Mom, won't you stay for dinner?"
"No!" Lorie left in a huff, Roger and Mary following.
The house fell silent. Michelle breathed a sigh of relief. "They're finally gone! I feared they'd stay all day." She then remembered Oscar.
"Oscar, sorry you had to witness that on your first day home."
"It's fine, Mom," Oscar replied respectfully, sitting upright, behaving like an ideal son-in-law. His use of "Mom" was smooth and natural.
"I've heard about Uncle Roger and Grandmother. You don't need to be embarrassed; I understand," Oscar continued, offering excuses.
Oscar's attentiveness impressed Michelle, especially considering their hasty marriage and lack of prior interaction. In contrast, Charles had treated her with little respect, rarely initiating conversations or calling her "Mom." Oscar was far more agreeable.
"Aren't you two tired? Go upstairs and rest," Michelle offered warmly.
"I'm fine," Oscar smiled slyly. Hannah found his smile unsettling. "I was just making excuses to avoid Lorie and Roger."
"You're still so mischievous," Michelle smiled indulgently. A hidden meaning seemed present in her smile, but Hannah chose to ignore it; her mother wouldn't harm her. Such a smile from her grandmother would have caused more concern.
Hannah had something important to discuss. "Dad, I need to talk to you about Mary joining the company tomorrow."
"Didn't we already agree?" Miguel remained uneasy. "If Mary proves incompetent, it'll create gossip."
"Only incompetence gives us grounds to dismiss her. Otherwise, we'd be wasting our time trying to refuse Grandma," Hannah explained.
Miguel understood her actions.
"However, we shouldn't prejudge Mary's capabilities," he added.
"What do you mean?" Miguel asked, surprised.
Hannah smiled coldly. Mary, in her past life, had been a formidable opponent.