Chapter 3

Hannah roughly wiped her narrow, pointy nose on her rolled up sleeve and quickly paced towards Henry and Esther excitedly. “Aunty…Uncle! Wow, you two look younger by the year. I didn’t know you were coming to town. Dinner is almost ready.” She slightly tilted her head genuinely, “Aunty, how long will your family be staying in Beijing?”

Esther quickly pulled filthy Hannah in for a tight hug and let out a breath of relief. “Poor girl, you’ve grown up so much. Come to the front and chat with Uncle and I.”

Hannah obediently nodded with a cheerful smile and gladness in her heart to see them.

Henry initiated with a more relaxed expression, “Hannah, how are you? Have you been treated well?” He gently squeezed Hannah’s upper arm in sympathy.

Hannah took a quick glare at Martha who shot eyes full of anger at her and mouthed for her to respond accordingly. She dropped her head down and slowly raised it up with teary eyes.

“Mother has been really good to me, Uncle. I have a shelter, food, an education. I cannot complain at all,” Hannah expressed.

Henry finally sat back in his seat showing some relief. “Are you often in the kitchen cooking alone?”

“No, I have many maids who help me. I only help cook out of gratitude towards mother.”

“Show us your room,” Henry asked intentionally. He was using this tactic secretly to see where Martha really settled the girl in their home.

“Er,..” Hannah squirmed a little where she was kneeling on the floor and looked at Martha for help.

Just then multiple footsteps approached them from the front hallway.

A pleasant, husky voice sounded first, “Mom, I’m home.”

When all the heads turned immediately, in the middle of the opened door frame was a tall, slighty-built, handsome man with strong facial features. He wasn’t alone. Beside him holding his arm was a bronzy, gorgeous model looking girl. The woman, she had a beautiful radiant smile while the man was scruffy and looked beat with dark eye bags.

Shocked and excited, Martha jumped up from her seat and ran towards the couple, “James! My son! You’re home. Why didn’t you tell mom you were coming?”

Hannah’s heart raced and her eyebrows raised. James? You look so grown and even more handsome now. Oh no! I’m such a mess right now!

After hugging James, Martha stepped aside and warmly asked, “James, who’s this lady beside you? So beautiful.”

He was still dressed in his loose shirt, joggers, with his head phones hanging around his neck and black cap still on. James set his heavy backpack on the ground beside him and said, “Mom, this is my friend, Sherry, who I met in school. She’s actually from Beijing too. Just happened to go abroad to the same school.” He smiled gently and it made Hannah’s heart fluttered a little making her overlooked the fact that he actually brought another woman home!

“Ah. Uncle, Aunt. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even see you there.”

James quickly came aside to shake Uncle Henry’s hand and passed by Hannah. He surely must’ve mistaken her as a maid for sure. It’s what she did best for the past six years anyway. It shouldn’t have come to a surprise. Although Henry tried to remain silent and be polite to not pry in James’ business yet, he couldn’t help but get some clarifications.

“James,” Uncle Henry stood up, frowned, and crossed his arms.

James smiled and unsuspectingly answered, “Yes, Uncle?”

“Where’s your wife?”

Hannah’s face flushed as she lowered her head while still kneeling in front of Esther and Henry.

James was caught off guard and looked at Martha as if she could help him. Esther shot a glance at Hannah disappointedly. He, then, looked around the living space and quickly said, “I’m sure she’s in the house somewhere, Uncle. Ha-ha.” He laughed nervously.

Henry smirked to insult James and Martha, “Is that so? Sister in law, why don’t you go fetch another maid to come show your guest her room.” He still kept his eyes on the perplexed James who was now standing before him and the others.

When the flawless Sherry was led by a maid upstairs, the room was still uneasy. Martha came to stand right beside James and tried to nod her head towards Hannah.

“When was the last time you were home, James?” Henry inquired.

James looked at Henry confused where this was going. “It’s been a while, Uncle. What’s wrong?”

“I’m going to ask you one last time. Where’s your wife?”

James yanked his hand a little from Martha secretly pinching it. “She’s probably out somewhere. Right, mom?” He turned to look at Martha for some support.

Henry irritably answered, “You’re telling me you left your wife for six years, brought home another woman, and don’t even recognize your wife still? Do you need me to help you find her?”

The room fell silent under the pressure of Henry. Hannah kept her head low and still flushed. Here and there she’d fidget with the hem of her dirty apron. James suddenly answered honestly, “Uncle, please. If you’re just giving me a hard time, please save it. You all know I didn’t agree to the arranged marriage beforehand. I just got off of a very long flight and I’m so exhausted. Can you please cut the chase? We can discuss everything else about the company starting tomorrow. I’ve finished graduate school and since I’m back, I’ve come to draft a divorce. This meaningless marriage has made my life complicated for so long.”

“Haha!” Uncle Henry let out in disgust and in disbelief. “Observe carefully, James.” Uncle Henry sarcastically shouted to trick James that Hannah must’ve been somewhere farther in the home. “Hannah!”

A low, timid voice answer from the petite woman sitting beside Esther’s feet, “Yes, Uncle.” Hannah slowly raised her head in response to Uncle henry but avoiding James’ shocked glare.

Martha and Esther could only shake their heads.

“Here, son. Your wife was kneeling right in front of you and you didn’t even recognize her.”

“I’m sorry, Uncle,” James slightly lowered his head embarrassingly.

Uncle Henry turned towards Hannah, “Stand up, dear.”

Hannah slowly stood and held her hands together uncertainly.

“Now do you recognize her?” Henry asked.

James looked at the pale, dirty woman still dressed like a busy maid. He felt half remorseful and yet, half unconcerned so as to accomplish his goal to separate. “I do, Uncle. How have you been, Hannah?” He said hesitantly trying to be polite and considerate.

Hannah looked uneasy at James who glared at her with dark, deep, cold eyes.

Esther softly took Hannah’s hand and asked kindly, “Hannah, where’s your bedroom?”

Understanding where Henry and Esther were going with this, Hannah began to tremble a bit. She didn’t want Martha to be scolded because she was truly thankful even if she was living in the small, dingy maid’s quarter.

She lowered her head again and said defeated, “…In the maid’s quarter.”

“And are you done with school?”

“Yes, my undergraduate some time ago actually.”

Uncle Henry tested it, “So you two can now work on your marriage, right?”

“No,” blurted James. All eyes shot at him shockingly. “As I’ve said, I won’t change my mind.”

Martha finally step beside Hannah and butted in, “Hannah, why don’t you be dismissed? I’ll have the maids continue with dinner. Go get changed for dinner.”

Henry interrupted, “There’s no need. I’ve already lost my appetite. Tomorrow I want you to tell me what you’re going to do about this, sister.” Henry left with a heavy presence followed by Esther who did not pay attention to Martha’s lack of discernment.

When they have finally exited the property, Martha furrowed her brows and scolded Hannah, “You poor, filthy girl. Why are you always bad luck?!” Hannah stood still afraid to move.

James signaled for his mother to leave. He stood taller now and snuck his hands in his front pockets to loosen up his posture. “Hannah, I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you. To be honest, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. I hope you’re not angry, but I am serious about what I said earlier. Get some rest. Let’s catch up tomorrow.”

She opened her mouth to reply but James was already walking away leaving her to only look at his broad back shoulders. James, you’re even more handsome than before. Is she,…your girlfriend? Her heart sank.