Chapter 15

It was thundering and raining hard when Hannah made it home.

Hannah entered their emptied bedroom and walked in the moon lit space to the far end couch hidden behind the wall. She curled her knees towards her chest, rested her forehead on her knees, and softly sobbed replaying Liam’s gentle face. She didn’t hear James approach from the attached bathroom. James heard her nose snuffling and was going to check out what it was. When he got to the lounging area, he stood at the end of the couch until his vision adjusted and realize it was Hannah crying.

“Must be so heartbreaking to see an old lover, huh?” James retorted annoyingly.

She slowly raised her head to look at him with teary eyes and snuffling. Hannah didn’t respond because she knew James just wanted to insult her.

“Am I right? Since returning home, I’ve seen you in unpleasant situations with different men endlessly.” James continued the damage confidently.

Hannah finally stood up and walked around him ignoring his remarks. He grabbed her wrist forcefully.

“Say something! Damn it. How many men have you been with already?! How many more are you going to try and have fall at your feet? You lowly woman. Don’t cry your pathetic tears in my house.”

More tears flowed down her pale cheeks upon hearing his cruel words. There was no hint of the kind and gentle boy back in Cuandixia who played with her daily. She gently uttered while his tight grip was still on her wrist. “You can say whatever you want.” The corner of her lips cured up to admit defeat to him and heavily sighed. “Liam and I broke up because of the arranged marriage. He was my best friend. Today was the first I’ve seen him since. There’s nothing between us. That’s all.”

James let go and her tears were like heavy waterworks. She walked out of the bedroom and went to hide in the sunroom crying and hurting over Liam’s face and James’ cruel words. He was indirectly calling her a slut. A whore.

“How dare he…how dare he accuse me of those things when I was forced to be a maid and he was running around across the world with another woman?” She thought to herself.

“Ma. Pa. I’m so tired.” She sobbed hard.

The heavy rain hit the glass room all night long. In it contained all the despair that had swallowed her whole continuously.

Hannah finally fell asleep exhausted. James crept in the sun room with a throw blanket and covered her weak body while feeling remorseful. “You really screwed up, James.” He thought to himself.

***

The family was well aware of Uncle Henry’s return to France. Everyone felt his choke hold on them relaxed. They could finally breathe. Sherry actually had the courage to come over to James and Hannah’s villa once already as well where as she didn’t dare come before. Martha and Sherry had been urging James to move in the guest room, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Finally, Martha dragged Hannah into the conversation.

“You shameful girl. Aren’t you ashamed telling your real husband in the future how you’ve already shared the bed with your estranged husband now? And yet, she has a girlfriend waiting faithfully for him too. Hurry up and move out. You’re torturing my son and my future daughter in law so much with your foul presence, “Martha scolded Hannah in front of James and Sherry.

Hannah had not felt better yet from James’ words last night. Her heart was still heavy so she was easily convinced to do as Martha asked. She kept her eyes down, gently nodded and went upstairs. James yelled back at his mother, “Mom, you’re really going overboard. You and Sherry leave first. Don’t meddle with Hannah anymore. She doesn’t have control of anything, really.” He stood up and hand motioned for them to get out.

Immediately, Sherry’s face darkened and she accused him, “James, you’re standing up for her. Do you like her?! Have you forgotten about your commitment to me? Aunty, say something to him. He’s acting so unreasonably.” Her whining was starting to annoy James.

Martha pointed at James and added firmly, “My only daughter in law will be Sherry. Get it through your head. Don’t disappoint me.”

There was a slight shuffling upstairs.

James finally got Martha and Sherry to leave, then went upstairs expecting Hannah to be in the bedroom. To his surprise, she wasn’t. He went into the walk-in closet and her belongings were gone. When he went out into the hallway, he noticed the light on from the guest room farthest down the hall across the study room. “She must’ve really moved rooms.”

He became angry and briskly went to the guest room.

Knock, Knock.

Silence.

Knock, Knock.

James asked, “Hannah, open up please?”

She weakly walked closely to the door with a frown but did not open. She simply responded, “Please, just leave me alone.”

“Open, Hannah. We have to talk about this. You can’t just move rooms. What about Uncle Henry’s conditions?”

“He’s already gone. He won’t know. Just leave me alone,…please.”

James handsome face looked defeated. He stepped away from the door and slowly walked back into his room. When bedtime came, the bed was awfully emptied. The atmosphere was too quiet and James couldn’t fall asleep. He had become used to having that someone on the other side of the bed. Now it was emptied. Her pillow still had the impression of her resting head. James grabbed her pillow and held it. The scent of her sweet aroma filled his nose and he felt lonely. “James…what’s going on with you lately?” He questioned himself. James held her pillow to sleep all night and thought about the small talk they used to have before bed occasionally.

President Zhiang, Sherry’s father, had already signed the project contract with James and was extremely pleased with his capabilities. This time, both Mr. Zhiang and Mrs. Zhiang were present looking over the project details. They look like kind people but their aura was very esteemed. Mrs. Zhiang was well aware of James and Sherry’s relationship and James’ arranged marriage.

Mr Zhiang said, “James, to be honest, if you were anyone else, I would not allow Sherry to pursue this relationship. But because you have shown me your capabilities, I believe you will keep your words and not mislead Sherry. I know you will be the perfect suitor for her. She is our princess after all. I do feel that yours and Hannah’s situation is unfortunate but the results would be for the best of every one, eh?”

Mrs, Zhiang nodded agreeably with a big smile. They both understood the wealth and power behind James if he succeeded as president of Chen Corp.

Although they talked thoughtfully of Sherry, James scoffed slightly in his heart because only he knew the dark side of Sherry they don’t back in the States. He couldn’t forget her cheating on him from before, but he still wanted her too. They’ve known and dated for so many years. Maybe it was easier to fix it than to start over with another.

“I’ll try my best to accompany her, sir.” James smiled warmly back.

Surely if James could be their future son-in-law, the Zhiang Corp could definitely build an even stronger reputation!