Chapter 1
It was six in the evening when Hannah Clarke finished preparing a feast tailored to Zachary Cole’s taste: a spread of six dishes and a hearty soup.
By seven, Hannah had drawn a bath for Zachary, arranging his favorite roses and aromatherapy candles nearby.
At eight, she placed Zachary’s slippers neatly by the entrance.
When the clock struck nine, Zachary pushed the door open. Hannah greeted him, taking his suit jacket and setting his slippers at his feet. She hung the jacket in the closet and asked if he’d prefer to bathe or eat first.
“Bath,” he replied absentmindedly, eyes glued to his phone.
Half an hour later, Zachary emerged from the bathroom in a robe, drying his hair. Hannah swiftly handed him his pajamas; while he was doing so, she returned to the kitchen to bring out the freshly reheated meal.
Zachary was accustomed to this routine. He seemed in a particularly good mood, his attention fixed on his phone, engrossed in a conversation with someone.
As she set the table and walked past him, Hannah glimpsed at his phone screen. The name “Anna Foster” stood out prominently at the top of the chat.
With a calm demeanor, she turned away, heading back to the kitchen when suddenly her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled out her phone. The screen displayed the name Cecilia Cole. As soon as she answered, Cecilia’s voice came through.
“Hannah, are you really planning to divorce Zachary?”
Hannah gazed out the window, where a moonflower bloomed silently under the glow of the wall lamp.
After a pause, she spoke softly, “Mrs. Cole, you know our marriage was just an agreement. Now that it’s ended and Anna’s back in the country after her divorce, he seems happier. He doesn’t need me anymore.”
Cecilia sighed deeply on the other end, her voice tinged with regret.
“You’ve endured so much over the years, and I know that. I thought your dedication would win his heart, but… Forget it, with Anna back, my worries for him are gone. Five years ago, you gave up studying abroad for Zachary. If you still want to pursue it, I can help make it happen.”
Hannah gazed at the moonflower now fully bloomed, drifting in a momentary trance. For five years, her life had been on hold for Zachary. It was time to move forward.
: omen ave
ingina vantt
She nodded slightly. “Thank you then. Please help me arrange it. I want to leave as soon as possible.”
After the call ended, the moonflower outside quietly wilted, mirroring the closure of her five–year marriage.
Hannah had grown up in a family with modest means. It was the Cole Group’s sponsorship that allowed her to excel academically and secure the sole study abroad scholarship from her school.
Before leaving for her studies, she visited the Cole family to express her gratitude.
Though the Cole Group sponsored many, she was the first to personally express her thanks. This gesture caught Cecilia’s attention, who had initially intended a polite dismissal. After hearing Hannah’s purpose, she paused before speaking.
“If you’re truly grateful, I have a favor to ask.”
From Cecilia, Hannah learned about Zachary and Anna’s history. Both were heirs to prominent families, childhood friends who grew up together.
