The next day, Hades was already up when Alanna woke up. He was answering a call by the window.He was clad in a suit, and his jawline was well-defined from the side.When he noticed she was awake, Hades ended the call and turned around. His gaze met hers."You really like gazing at me, huh?" he asked.Alanna averted her gaze. "Why are you still here?""I promised to pick you up from the hospital."Hades sat beside her. Noticing the blush on her cheeks, he chuckled. "Why are you blushing?"Alanna looked awkward for a second. "You're mistaken."However, Hades held her face with his large hand. "Do you think I don't know what I see?"He paused and continued, "Do you find me attractive?"Alanna's expression became tauter. She avoided eye contact as she answered, "No."Hades released her. Smiling, he said, "Go ahead and gaze all you want. I'm not against it."Alanna's lips moved as she wanted to explain. But sometimes, a situation would only become more awkward the more one trie
Besides, Hades would never go easy on those who irked him.He could let it slide the last time because Alanna had just miscarried. That wouldn't work for a second time."Chelsey, you should get back to work. I'll call you when I'm home," urged Alanna.Chelsey cast Alanna a concerned glance. Then, she snorted at Hades before turning to leave the ward.Now, only Alanna and Hades remained.Alanna was silent for a moment before saying, "Chelsey has a quick temper. She just feels sorry for me. Please don't hold it against her, Mr. Florentine."Hades narrowed his eyes and was visibly cross. "So, you think I've been nasty toward you, too? Ms. Jacinto?"Alanna's lips curved up. With a chuckle, she replied, "You've been quite nice to me. No one in your position would've personally taken care of their mistresses in the hospital."You've been great, Mr. Florentine. I can't expect you to care for me as though I'm your girlfriend or wife, can I? I know my place."Hades shot her a glance as
Hades stared at Alanna like she was a dummy."Why would I hand it to you if it wasn't for you?" Then, he touched her forehead. "Has the fever roasted your ability to think?"Alanna laughed. "I'm just surprised that you'd give me a gift."Hades retracted his hand. Nonchalantly, he replied, "It's not so much a gift than a compensation."Alanna didn't ask what he was compensating her for. She merely lowered her eyes and opened the box.As she did, she was stunned. In it was a pair of earrings with glittering, crystal-clear diamonds. It reminded Alanna of the pair of earrings in the auction. She kept glancing at it when it appeared on the screen.It somehow resembled this pair of earrings before her. So, that was what Hades meant by this being a compensation.Alanna gazed at the earrings. It truly resembled those that were on auction.Nevertheless, one pair was the real thing, while the other was counterfeit, just like Melanie and her. To Hades, she was most likely akin to a coun
"I'll get someone to bring you food every day for now.""Alright."Actually, it didn't matter to Alanna whether or not someone brought food for her. Although she was still a bit weak, it wasn't like she couldn't cook at all.However, she didn't feel like opposing his decision since he'd already said that.Right before they finished their meal, Alanna's phone abruptly rang. She pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID. It was Shane.Hades saw it, too. Almost immediately, his expression visibly darkened.Alanna was hesitating whether or not she should answer it when Hades elegantly picked up the napkin to wipe his mouth.Then, he flung it onto the table and asked, "Aren't you picking that up?"He looked gloomy and enraged.Alanna inhaled deeply and answered the call. Nothing was going on between her and Shane, anyway. She'd seem guilty if she refused to answer it.However, Hades snatched her phone from her the moment she did so. He turned on the speaker mode.Alanna's face f
After Alanna finished speaking, Hades laughed quietly with scorn and disdain. He asked, "Do you think you have the right to discuss the terms with me, Ms. Jacinto?"Alanna met his gaze. "You said we could talk about it, didn't you? I thought I did have the right."Hades' gaze fell on her fair, tender earlobes. She was just a weak, fragile woman, yet she'd go against him over such trivial matters.Anger surged within him. Grabbing her by the waist, he leaned closer and bit hard on her earlobe.Alanna felt a sudden pain in her earlobe. Hades' voice reached her from right beside her ear immediately after."Are you proposing those terms because you're still thinking of going over to help that Shane guy?" His voice was frosty.Alanna knew he was furious, but she didn't deny it. Indeed, she wanted to help Shane.It wasn't only because she had promised him and didn't want to go back on her word, but it was also because of the money and wanting to have her own career.Career aside, the
Alanna cast Hades a glance before handing him her phone. He picked it up straight away.Before he could speak, Garrett demanded, "Alanna Jacinto, are you really going to watch that old hag die?"Hades' eyes narrowed. After a while, he asked, "Garrett Jacinto, do you know who I am?"Garrett was stunned. "H-Hades Florentine?""If you dare harass Alanna again, I won't stop with just cutting off one hand!" Hades sounded brutal as he said that.Then, he hung up on Garrett.Alanna frowned. "What did you mean by cutting off his hand?"Hades merely glanced at her without explaining himself. All he asked was, "Why was your mother ever interested in Garrett?"Alanna pressed her lips into a thin line.Why was Tara interested in Garrett? She was probably tricked by his initial impression.Garrett was extremely nice to Tara at first.He wasn't wealthy then. But every day after work, he'd wait at Tara's workplace to pick her up from work. Then, he'd buy her food that she craved but was he
"Drive safely, Mr. Florentine."Hades arched an eyebrow at her.Then, he passed her his necktie. "You should do more than just sweet talk," he said.Alanna took it. After a moment of silence, she still went over and put it on for him.Then, just as she backed down, Hades abruptly grabbed her around the waist.His gaze fell on her collarbone, which was now more pronounced due to her weight loss. "You're too thin; you should eat more," he remarked.Alanna nodded casually. "Sure."However, Hades showed no signs of letting her go. She frowned and was about to ask if there was anything else he needed when he suddenly lowered his head.His warm lips pressed against hers. He broke through her defenses and deepened the kiss.It wasn't until Alanna started struggling that he released her. She gasped for breath.Hades chuckled and wiped her lips with his finger. "Call me if anything's up."Alanna dodged his finger and agreed. "Sure."When he saw her attempt at avoiding him, he pulled
Terrence was standing at the door with a smile on his face. "What a coincidence, Ms. Jacinto."Alanna didn't expect to meet him here. But now, she refused to speak to him. "I have something to attend to. I'll be taking my leave."However, Terrence promptly stood in her way.He'd been in a terrible fix trying to sort out several civil dispute cases recently. Today, he was here to talk about the case progression. He never thought he'd bump into Alanna.Since he encountered her, he decided he couldn't let her slip away."What's this, Ms. Jacinto? Trying to avoid me?" he asked.Alanna felt a surge of annoyance. She felt disgusted whenever she saw Terrence now. She couldn't understand how she'd wronged him.Was he putting her in a difficult situation just because she refused his suggestion?Or was it because she had taken Melanie's place that he was here to speak out for Melanie?Regardless, Alanna refused to say anything more to him. "Seems like you're aware of that."Then, she h