Hannah was stunned. The camera wobbled on her shaky shoulder as she looked up at Fabian, who stood on the stage, waiting for his answer.
Everyone else in the audience was also taken aback by the question; gasps and countless whispers erupted from them:
“Is this true? Why didn’t I know of this?”
“Doesn’t that make her Fabian’s lover if they’re seeing each other?”
…
The sudden question had flustered Yvette. She wanted to admit their relationship, but she didn’t dare to blabber without Fabian’s consent since all of this would be published in newspapers the next day. So she narrowed her eyes at Fabian, sending him a questioning gaze.
At this, Fabian’s lips twitched into a sly smile. He stepped forward and declared to the journalists, “It’s true!”
Those words had slapped hard onto Hannah’s cheek and dulled her vision. She gripped tightly onto the camera, steadying it on her shoulder although her knees were on the brink on giving in.
You’re seeing her? Then, what does that make me? Some plaything of yours?
The journalist’s eyes widened at his answer. Uninhibited excitement flashed on his face as he eagerly followed up with another question. “Then, Mr. Norton, is your current investment because of Ms. Tanner?”
You even invested funds in her drama? I thought you attended this event simply because she invited you… Hannah brimmed with disappointment. She looked quietly at Fabian, who was still stood on the stage.
Fabian smiled at the journalist. “Both Yve and I believe that this drama will be a hit. Naturally, it’s only sensible that I invest in a valuable drama. But of course, Yve did play a part in my decision to invest.”
The journalists buzzed on the edges of their seats. They could already envision juicy titles for tomorrow’s headline: Breaking News! President of Phoenix Company Admits to Relationship With Starlett Yvette At Press Conference.
Yve? Hannah snorted at this. How sweet, you two sound like you’re so close. And here I thought that you loved me… I guess I just lived in a fantasy made-up in my head.
Hannah suppressed the grating pain in her chest. She rolled her shoulders back before approaching the stage to ask Yvette, “Ms. Tanner, do you think Mr. Norton is a perfidious person?”
The other journalists frowned in confusion, unsure of how Fabian’s perfidiousness was related to the conference.
On the stage, Fabian’s lips curled into a derisive smile. What’s this? You think I’m traitorous for divorcing you? Is this meant as a jab towards me? So you still care about me?
Similar to the journalists, Yvette couldn’t comprehend Hannah’s question and thought that she was deliberately making things difficult for her.
“He’s certainly not. I wouldn’t have gotten together with Fabian if I doubted his feelings for me,” Yvette answered in a sweet voice as she fluttered her lashes at Fabian endearingly.
“Good for you,” Hannah uttered caustically while glaring at Fabian before turning to leave.
Hannah looked around the place dejectedly. It wasn’t clear when the party would end. But given her understanding of these events, it would likely be after nightfall. She felt annoyed about this and headed off to a pizza joint in the nearby area. I may as well ditch work.
For a food-loving woman like me, there’s nothing like good pizza to solve all my problems. If that doesn’t make me feel any better, then two pizzas surely will!
There really is nothing quite as luxurious as enjoying a pizza in an air-conditioned room in such hot weather. But as she chowed down a couple of slices, bitter thoughts surfaced in her mind. Right… Fabian and I had shared a pizza the last time we were here. Just look at how he is having the time of his life with Yvette.
At this, Hannah chided herself. You’re so pathetic, Hannah! Fabian doesn’t even care about you, yet you still miss him secretly!
Ugh, forget about him! This is really stressing me out.
Loneliness overwhelmed Hannah as she finished her meal. The pizza didn’t quite improve her mood as much as she initially thought it would. Sadly, resentment still leeched onto her heart like a parasite. Since she ditched work and didn’t have to rush home, she decided to go shopping instead. After all, one mustn’t set themselves up for torment, right?
I don’t need you to love me, Fabian. I’ll love myself and that’ll be just fine.
Hannah hadn’t been out to shop ever since she and Fabian got married because he often had items delivered to their doorstep. However, the circumstances this time were different. She shopped as if she had been transported back to her high school days of scavenging through sales racks, snacking on popsicles whilst hopping from shop to shop for clothes and accessories that she liked, then heading home with arms full of bags.
