**8: cunning is my middle name.

**Ch.8: Cunning Is My Middle Name**

As soon as the car stopped, she hopped out, heading towards the pharmacy. No one knew what the uniformed girl with a cap covering her face was planning, but her mischievous smile was evident.

"Bandages, ointments, protectors... Gentian violet and..." She hesitated for a moment before asking for the harmful pink substance.

With a grin from ear to ear, the bouncing girl returned to the car. The security guards informed Morgan about the stop at the pharmacy and the route taken, while Hanna discreetly applied a white ointment to her face, creating white spots that covered something.

Excited, she sighed upon arriving at the place that reminded her of her unhappy marriage. Suddenly, Murilo came to mind. Deep down, she felt guilty for rejecting him, but she was already married, with no options. Although she considered him a good prospect for the future, it would be unfair to leave him waiting while she fulfilled the agreement.

After passing through the large gate and turning left, following a road among the trees, she was enchanted by the beauty of the place. The trees and the richness of the plants led her to a separate entrance: a large carved wooden door, apparently open, as one of the men unlocked it without a key.

Following them upstairs, she found several doors.

"Wow..." she murmured breathlessly. "He wasn't kidding when he said I'd have a big place..."

"This floor has seven bedrooms," one of the men informed. "You can choose any of them to live in. Let us know which one you choose. However, Mr. Farrugia did not provide staff for this annex. You will have to cook and clean everything. The house will always be stocked with necessities, and a staff member will be at your disposal when you need something brought in."

"I need clothes!" she announced immediately, ignoring them and walking down the hallway. She opened all the bedroom doors, leaving them open with her eyes shining at each decoration.

"Mr. Farrugia has already arranged everything," the man said precisely, avoiding Hanna's gaze. "In the late afternoon, some staff will bring boxes with everything you need, from hygiene and personal care products to clothes. The kitchen pantry is already stocked with everything you need."

"The only rule of this mansion is that you cannot leave." He paused, as if pondering his words. "There is a library, a game room, and on the side, an outdoor area with a pool. Someone will soon come to show you around."

Hanna extended her hand as a deliberate test. "Thank you!" she said with irony. "You are very kind."

The men stepped back, and Hanna advanced toward them, suppressing a laugh.

"Just choose one of the rooms or have fun with all of them, this place is empty," one of them said indifferently.

"Okay..." she sighed, entering one of the decorated rooms.

"Have you found a room you like?" the man asked when she opened the door.

“This one!” she announced with conviction as her eyes filled with fascination upon entering the room at the end of the corridor. Then they withdrew.

The room was elegant and cozy, with details that exuded good taste. Natural light poured in through the large windows, creating a golden atmosphere and highlighting the soft color palette. The walls were adorned with floral wallpaper in shades of blue and green, providing a calming sensation. The polished wooden floor reflected the light, while a king-size bed with white silk sheets and a down comforter offered comfort. An upholstered headboard in sky blue velvet matched the draped curtains. A plush rug in shades of gray and white added texture and comfort. Provincial furniture, including a vanity and a dresser with carved drawers, completed the room, with the vanity adorned with an oval mirror and fresh flowers.

“Ah... what a relief...” Hanna sighed, falling onto the bed. At the same time, she pondered how her life would be from now on, after being isolated. Even though it was a splendid place fit for a princess, it was strange to know she was being avoided for such a trivial reason. This made her even more disdainful towards the Farrugia family.

“Just thinking about my mother’s condition makes me wonder how she managed to get along with someone from that family,” she thought, increasingly disappointed. “They’re nothing but shallow people who only care about power and benefits. To think that now I’m confined just so they can protect their precious money.”

“But also, what could I expect? To live some kind of romance? Besides the fact that I called that man old, I really thought he was around fifty, but he’s not, and he’s still handsome... Wow... I’m still so pathetic. The only thing missing is me falling for him. That’ll never happen!”

Hanna continued to torment herself in that vast and unsettling silence while the security guards were now in Morgan's office, updating him on all of Hanna's movements.

“What was she buying at the pharmacy?” Morgan asked the men who stood imposingly in front of him.

“Ointments, bandages, and things for her face. At first, it didn’t seem... I don’t know how to explain since she was wearing a cap, but she didn’t seem disfigured...” the man muttered anxiously, glancing at another. “But later... it seemed like she had many spots, and suddenly she said she had wounds that could even burst.”

At that moment, Morgan sat down anxiously, running his fingers through his hair in agitation.

“Is she that horrible?” he asked suddenly, insecure. They nodded, so he signaled for them to leave. “Then it’s better for her to stay in that annex. No one can see the person who joined the Farrugia family, not even that she’s married to me. From today onwards, Hanna Ortiz will stay confined in that annex!” he asserted to himself firmly.