Chapter 27
A rush of panic surged through him, and for a fleeting moment, he felt the urge to dive into the sea after her. But in the next second, she emerged from the water, clutching that ring tightly in her hand. As he wrapped her in a tight embrace, he was overwhelmed with fear and an unexplainable emotion. He was terrified she might disappear into that vast ocean. Only now did he realize that emotion was affection–love, even. It turned out he had already fallen for Hannah back when she jumped into the sea to retrieve the ring. A wave of regret washed over him, and he covered his face, weeping bitterly.
The butler returned to the West family estate late at night, bringing with him a truckload of gifts. Hannah looked puzzled at the sight of all those presents, and the butler quickly explained. Zachary, after seeing the wedding ring, had cried for quite a while and eventually called someone to prepare a truckload of gifts as a form of compensation for her. Hannah stared at the pile of gifts for a long time before deciding to open them
one by one.
It was then she discovered that Zachary’s compensatory gifts covered every birthday from her first to her eighteenth and included presents for each anniversary of their five–year marriage, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and other special occasions. Every single item was something she loved. A simple phone call could have arranged all this, but he had delayed it for seven whole years. After unpacking the last gift, she turned to the butler and said, “Sell them all and donate the proceeds to charity.”
The day of departure was drawing near. Not knowing when they might meet again, Cameron and Doris cleared their schedules to spend time exploring the city with her. From watching the sunset by the beach to reaching the top of the Ferris wheel, from snacking on street–side candied apples to enjoying desserts at fancy restaurants–this was the happiest time Hannah had experienced in her twenty–some years. As Doris piled more food onto her plate, she urged, “Eat up. Once you’re overseas, it’ll be hard to find this taste again.” Even though they’d arranged for a chef and a housekeeper to accompany Hannah abroad, replicating the exact flavors in a foreign land would be impossible. Hannah nodded obediently, taking bite after bite of the food Doris served her.
On the day she was set to fly out, Hannah encountered Zachary at the airport, someone she hadn’t seen in ages. Cameron and Doris stood protectively in front of her, unsure of Zachary’s intentions. Seeing him in a wheelchair, she felt a fleeting sense of pity. But he simply smiled, as if nothing was amiss, and said, “Goodbye, Hannah.”
Back in Zion, Hannah chose not to return to her old apartment but moved into the villa Cameron and Doris had prepared for her. The two staff she brought with her quickly set to cleaning the house, and the chef started cooking meals. The following week was filled with catching up with old friends and scouting locations for her art exhibition. Though busy, she was happy.
Until one night, she received a phone call. It wasn’t from Cameron or Doris, but from Mama Zade. Mama Zade informed her that Cecilia had passed away. Director Zade wasn’t aware of the complicated history between her and the Cole family, only that Cecilia had been a benefactor to Hannah, suggesting she might want to pay her respects. In the end, she did return for a brief visit, her heart heavy at the sight of the Cole family’s home adorned in mourning cloth. After all, Cecilia had been a patron of hers, so perhaps it was right to pay her
respects.
Entering the funeral hall, Hannah saw many others who had been supported by the Cole family. They exchanged nods but little else. Over the phone, Director Zade had given her a brief account of Cecilia’s death. Cecilia, always of frail health, had grown weaker after being sent to a retreat by Cedric. The truth about Yolanda’s imprisonment and Zachary’s disability had been kept from her. One day, on a whim, Cecilia attempted to call Yolanda for a chat, still believing she’s just out of the country. But when no one picked up the phone after several tries, she panicked and asked the housekeeper. Hesitantly, the housekeeper revealed the truth. Someone in prison couldn’t possibly take her call. Overcome with shock and anger, Cecilia suffered a heart attack and passed away on the spot.
