Chapter 20
Hannah furrowed her brows slightly, and before she could turn around, she was enveloped in a familiar embrace, the crisp scent of cedar invading her senses.
Zachary held her tightly, his body trembling.
“Hannah, Hannah, you’re finally back.”
Just as Hannah was about to push him away, someone beat her to it, yanking the man off her. In the next moment, she was wrapped in a tight hug by Doris,
“Hannah, are you okay?”
Hannah nodded. Cameron stood there, glaring coldly at Zachary,
“Zachary, what right do you have to face Hannah again!”
Whenever Cameron saw him, he couldn’t help but think of the hardships Hannah endured over those five years, fueling his anger.
Zachary opened his mouth, attempting to explain. But Hannah stepped in to stop him.
“Cameron, let’s discuss this somewhere else.”
She didn’t want her and her friends‘ hard work on the art exhibit to be ruined by this confrontation. They moved to the café upstairs.
Cameron stood protectively in front of Hannah and Doris, interrogating Zachary,
“Hannah’s divorced you. Why can’t you just leave her alone?”
Zachary looked at the girl behind Cameron, her face expressionless, and his heart twisted painfully, so much so that he could barely breathe.
Hannah had never looked at him like this before.
Seeing her again stirred countless questions in him. But only one managed to escape his lips.
“Hannah, why did you divorce me?”
Doris rolled her eyes, thinking how absurd the question was.
Hannah looked at him calmly.
“I fulfilled my obligation, so it’s time to leave.”
From the moment she signed the divorce papers, she knew her reasons would be laid bare before him.
“So all these years, you were only good to me out of obligation?” Zachary’s voice trembled as he clutched his hands tightly.
“Yes.”
Hannah remained calm, as if recalling something, she continued, “When Cecilia had me sign that agreement, it was clear our relationship was based on that alone. I reminded myself constantly, so right after, I prepared a divorce agreement.”
Zachary was her first relationship, and she had to marry him before even stepping into the real world.
Naive as she was, she feared the illusion of those five years and prepared the divorce papers early on.
Every time she felt herself getting attached, she’d look at those papers to remind herself of the reality.
Had she ever tried to love Zachary? Maybe. But whenever she started to feel something, he would abandon her for Anna time and again.
10:18
Anyone would grow weary, let alone someone like her, bound by a sense of duty. Not hating him was already quite generous of her.
Five years felt long enough to think it would last a lifetime. But short enough for her to break free in an instant and move abroad.
Her cold, emotionless words hit Zachary like a series of blows, each one draining the color from his face.
“Zachary, never in the past, now, or in the future, have I loved you, or will I ever: Between us, it was only obligation.”
Whatever his reaction, Hannah didn’t care in the slightest. She just wanted to settle this so she could return to managing the art exhibit.
Zachary tried to step forward, but Cameron blocked his way. All he could do was watch Hannah’s figure disappear through the door.
Despite this little incident, the exhibit went off without a hitch. To celebrate, Cameron and Doris booked her a table at her favorite restaurant.
But before the food arrived, a bouquet of vibrant roses was delivered.
“Is there a Ms. Clarke here? These are from Mr. Cole, congratulating Ms. Clarke on the success of her exhibit.”
Hannah didn’t even take them, instructing the waiter to take them back.
“Please tell Mr. Cole, I don’t like red roses.”
Red roses were Anna’s preference; Hannah only liked pink ones.
