Chapter 3

Sebastian stood before the couple, and Hannah lowered her gaze in despair. But she only heard Sebastian's deep voice slowly resonate, "Shawn, tell your grandfather I won’t be coming back."

Hannah fell silent.

Shawn replied with a smile, "Sure."

Sebastian gave a slight nod, his gaze resting on Hannah’s face for a moment.

She seemed… relieved?

Though a bit puzzled, he didn’t dwell on it and quickly walked away.

Hannah got into the car, and as Shawn drove, he glanced at her still slightly pale face in the rearview mirror and chuckled. "Are you a bit scared of my uncle?"

Hannah nodded.

The rumors about him… stories of a ruthless man straddling both the legal and the underworld—who wouldn't be afraid?

Especially after last night…

Shawn chuckled lightly and said, "Just be polite around him. He's trouble; it's better to keep your distance."

…

At the family estate, most of the elders barely acknowledged Hannah, and she was left with a stomach full of frustration, with no one to confide in.

This was probably the bitter fruit of a mismatched marriage.

On their way from the family estate to the company, Shawn sighed and apologized to Hannah, “My mom did go a bit too far. I’m not deliberately taking her side against you. You know my parents don’t get along, and my dad hasn’t been home in years. If my mom sees us being too affectionate, I’m afraid she’ll make things even harder for you next time.”

Hannah’s eyes reddened as she replied, "Your parents' problems aren’t my fault. She can take it out on your dad, or on you, but she has no right to take it out on me."

When she loved him, she thought it was better to avoid conflict whenever possible. Now that she no longer loved him, she realized how much she had wronged herself.

And yet…

Whenever she suffered, Shawn never once spoke up for her!

Shawn frowned and looked at Hannah in the rearview mirror. "Hannah, before we got married, you were so thoughtful, gentle, and understanding. How is it that on our first day as husband and wife, you’re already acting so combative?"

Hannah laughed in exasperation and retorted, “Shawn, you’re my husband—the only person who can mediate between your mother and me. When your mother makes things difficult for me, you say nothing and expect me to be understanding? Shawn, who’s being understanding of me?”

Shawn pulled the car over to the side of the road. “Hannah, can’t you try to see things from my perspective for once? I’m already stressed enough with work every day. Can’t you handle these trivial family matters without making a fuss?”

He was annoyed.

Hannah was home all day; couldn’t she at least try to get on his mother’s good side?

A little sweet talk worked on most women, even the older ones.

The tension in the car was thick. Shawn leaned heavily against the seat, rubbing his temples.

Just then, his phone rang.

Shawn quickly answered, “Denise, what’s wrong?”

Hannah’s eyes flickered.

Whatever Denise said made Shawn's tone soften as he reassured her, “Denise, I’ll be right there.”

After hanging up, Shawn took a deep breath, composed himself, and reached over to brush Hannah’s hair gently. His voice was calm and soothing, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Let me make it up to you—I’ll call a taxi to take you to the company, alright?”

A mocking smile spread across Hannah's beautiful face. “Shawn, on the first day of our marriage, you’re leaving your new wife on the side of the road to go find your childhood sweetheart?”

Shawn clicked his tongue, a playful tone slipping into his voice. “Hannah, I’ve always thought of Denise as just a childhood friend. Besides, if it weren't for trying to avoid any misunderstanding, she wouldn’t have rushed into that marriage just to set your mind at ease—and look where that got her, dealing with abuse.

“Now that she’s come to me for help, I can’t just ignore her. Even without our shared past, I need to consider the friendship we have.”

Hannah let out a cold laugh. “I didn’t force her to marry anyone. I bear no responsibility for her choices, and I refuse to accept any form of manipulation.”

With that, she pushed open the car door and stepped out.

The window rolled down, and Shawn looked at Hannah with a touch of frustration. “Hannah, don’t be stubborn. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done.”

With those words, his car sped off.

Hannah stood alone by the side of the road, feeling a bit dazed.

So, this was what marriage was like. On the second day of her marriage, she was already seeing everything fall apart.

If she had known it would be like this, why the hell had she even bothered to marry?

She was wearing high heels in a bodycon dress, elegant and captivating, turning heads wherever she went.

But for her, they were a form of torture; before long, her feet were blistered and bleeding.

Everything hurt—her feet, her heart, and… everywhere else. She felt utterly miserable.

In the distance, a sleek black Cullinan slowly approached.

Joe spotted Hannah standing by the roadside. “That looks like Mrs. Hannah Spencer. Didn’t she leave for the family estate with Mr. Shawn Spencer? Why is she walking alone by the road?”

The man’s voice was low and gruff. “Give her a lift.”

Joe glanced at Sebastian in the rearview mirror, surprised.

Was this man showing a rare sign of kindness?

The Cullinan slowly pulled over to the side of the road. Joe rolled down the window. "Madam, it's hard to find a taxi here. Mr. Sebastian asked me to offer you a ride."

It was Sebastian again!

Hannah wanted nothing more than to avoid him, so she quickly declined, "Thank you, but I already called for a cab; it should be here soon."

Joe paused for a moment. "…Alright."

So much for Sebastian's rare act of kindness—it barely got started before it was shot down.

From the back seat, a low, displeased voice sounded, like the strings of a cello being plucked unintentionally, rough and resonant, "What? Afraid I’ll eat you?"

Hannah froze.

The faint tone in Sebastian's voice was laced with a clear threat. She had no choice but to force a polite smile, murmur her thanks, and open the car door, slipping into the seat next to Sebastian.

His presence was overwhelming.

As soon as she got in, she was enveloped by the cool, crisp scent of peppermint—the same smell as last night.

"Where’s Shawn?" he asked.

Hannah realized that Sebastian was speaking to her and immediately replied obediently, “He had something to take care of and left first.”

Sebastian let out a faint scoff, his expression unreadable.

Joe quickly asked, "Mrs. Spencer, where would you like to go?"

Hannah immediately replied, "Just drop me off near Luminary Capital."

Joe nodded. "Got it. If I remember correctly, that's over on Riverside Street by Wallmark Avenue..."

As Joe spoke, he seemed momentarily distracted.

Suddenly, the car veered toward the central divider, and he swerved sharply. The back of the car nearly lifted off the ground, throwing Hannah forward.

Just as her forehead was about to slam into the car door, a hand gripped her arm and yanked her back forcefully.

Dazed, Hannah found herself pulled back by the sudden motion. She landed squarely on Sebastian's lap, her hand pressing against his chest.

Their position... from the perspective of a grown man and woman, was intensely intimate, like a spark ready to ignite.

Hannah was sitting tightly on his lap, her body pressed firmly against him.

And his presence was impossible to ignore.