Chapter 19
It had been ages since Hannah last heard the name Zachary, and for a moment, she felt a bit dazed. Director Zade was still talking beside her.
“Judging by the way he looked, I knew he wasn’t good to you, so I didn’t tell him anything.”
After having dinner with Director Zade, Hannah returned to the West family mansion. Since she was only back for a short visit, Cameron and Doris had brought her to stay at their place.
Seeing her return, Doris greeted her warmly, ushering her into the kitchen to enjoy a bowl of soup.
After chatting for a while about the art exhibition scheduled for the following week, Hannah finally retired to
her room to rest.
Meanwhile, over at the Cole Group building, Zachary was lost in thought as he stared at a photograph on his
desk.
Two years. For two whole years, he had mobilized all the resources of the Cole family, but still, he couldn’t find any trace of Hannah.
Looking at the young and innocent faces in the wedding photo, the only picture they had together in five years, he couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.
People always realized what they had only after they’d lost it. He understood that now.
When Hannah first left, he thought he was just missing the way she took care of him, which made her absence so unsettling.
It wasn’t until he saw the agreement she signed with Cecilia and everything that followed that he realized the habit had turned into affection long ago. But back then, Anna’s presence had overshadowed this feeling.
Now, as he finally came to terms with his feelings, she had already walked out of his world. The door of the office clicked as someone knocked, and his assistant walked in.
“Mr. Cole, there’s an art exhibition for new artists downtown tomorrow. You’ve been invited.”
It was only after the divorce that Zachary realized how little he knew about Hannah.
When she returned from her artistic field trips, he thought she had suddenly developed an interest in painting.
Later, he discovered she had been studying art since she was young. If not for the obligation to repay a debt of gratitude, she would have gone abroad to further her studies and become a rising star in the field.
Perhaps it was to understand her better, or maybe just to feel closer to her, but he attended every art exhibition held in the city.
On the other side, a classmate had sent Hannah the list of media and business figures invited to the exhibition, to help her prepare. When she saw Zachary’s name on the list, she froze for a moment.
Her classmate noticed her expression and quickly said, “If you don’t want to see him, you don’t have to come out for interviews or anything.”
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine.”
From the moment she returned home, she knew they would eventually cross paths again. There was no avoiding it forever.
Besides, there was nothing to fear. She had long since repaid anything she owed his family. Now, they were nothing more than strangers.
On the day of the exhibition, a steady stream of visitors followed the signs into the gallery. Zachary was among them.
Over the past few years, he had attended many art exhibitions and had gained some understanding of the
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Chapter 19
paintings on the walls.
Each piece was beautiful, but then he came across this one painting.
No unnecessary lines, just a landscape stretching as far as the eye could see. The plaque beside it read: FREEDOM.
Inexplicably, it reminded him of Hannah. In their five years of marriage, Hannah revolved around him, waiting for him at home every single day.
She had lost herself, had no freedom. A simple, everyday concept, yet it had become her luxury.
As he was lost in thought, a familiar female voice reached his ears. He turned towards the sound and instantly saw the person he had longed for.
In that moment, the world around him fell silent, and all he could see was the woman standing before him.
She wore a long dress, her hair elegantly pinned up, smiling as she introduced her work to the people in front of her.
“Hannah!”
