Chapter 11

"Hannah, please don't be rash. Put the knife down..."

Raymond quickly pulled a card from beside his wheelchair and held it out to her. His voice was kind. "You're a good girl. You and Luke simply weren't meant to be. Since you're divorced, let's part on decent terms. There's no need for knives. There are thirty thousand crowns on this card, enough to live on for a while. The code is Luke's birthday. Take it and go."

"Ha. Everything that belongs to the Hales..."

Hannah's face was full of scorn. She said it slowly, word by word.

"It all disgusts me. I don't want your filthy money."

She turned and walked out without hesitation, through the gates of Silverthorne Manor, and never looked back.

As she passed Lucas, he couldn't help calling after her, his voice low. "Hannah... you'll regret this!"

But her eyes were cold and certain. "I will never regret it."

Victoria started to hurry after her, but Lucas yanked her back. "Vicky, what are you doing? Didn't you see she has a knife?"

She looked worried and spoke softly. "Luke, I'm just afraid Hannah might do something foolish..."

Once Hannah was finally gone, Sabrina let out a long breath and her arrogance came flooding back. "That wretch! Do something foolish? Let her. The sooner she dies, the sooner she's free. Living is a waste of food anyway!"

Margaret chimed in. "She even threatened us with a knife! What use is a woman who can't bear a child? She might as well be dead..."

Seeing Victoria's distress, Lucas comforted her gently. "Hannah is making a scene, but it's nothing to do with us now. Vicky, you're too kind. From now on, we stay out of her business. Understand?"

Victoria bit her lip, tears shining. She nodded with difficulty, her voice thick. "Luke, I understand..."

But the instant she lowered her head, a flicker of smugness crossed her eyes. She was secretly delighted. Her plan had finally worked.

The moment Hannah stepped outside the gates, the two broad-shouldered guards hurried forward. "Miss, where are you headed?"

She looked lost, murmuring to herself. "Where... I don't know either..."

They noticed her strange manner, and that her elegant clothes had been replaced by a plain white shirt and jeans. Worry crept into their voices.

"Miss, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Hannah slowly turned her head and stared at the manor, her eyes burning with hatred. "I won't let you get away with this."

The guards were puzzled by the change in her, but dared not ask much. They only ventured, "Miss, should we inform the master and mistress?"

She shook her head firmly. "No. I'm not ready to go back to the Harrington family yet. Do you have a carriage?"

"Yes. The master has already prepared one for you, Miss. Where would you like to go?"

She thought for a moment. "I need to buy a communication crystal first."

The guards grew even more confused, and each thought privately: What happened to the young lady in a few short hours? She didn't even bring a phone. Could she have been thrown out? She's the daughter of the richest man in Eldermere! Have the Hales lost their minds, turning away the Harringtons' daughter?

They grew more uneasy, but asked nothing. They simply led her to a black, top-of-the-line luxury carriage.

As Hannah was about to climb in, Mrs. Fenwick, the Hales' next-door neighbor, happened to pass by and saw everything.

She rubbed her eyes and studied the carriage and its crest. "Isn't that the Hales' daughter-in-law? When did the Hales get so rich? Besides their family coach, I only know of their one sleek sports carriage. I've never seen this one before."

Inside the carriage, Hannah felt deeply weary.

She had started the day in good spirits, and never expected this. Now she had been cast out of the Hale house with nothing but what Edmund had given her.

If Edmund and Eleanor hadn't found her in time, how would she have reacted to catching Lucas and Victoria?

She thought it over carefully, and the answer came quickly. Knowing herself, she would still have chosen divorce.

But without the Harringtons, her life afterward would have been hard and bitter.

Even so, she could never have tolerated it. The mere thought of the husband she shared a bed with every night, tangled with another woman, made her feel sick.

Thankfully, her parents had found her in time. It gave her the confidence to face whatever came next.

All of that was in the past.

From now on there would be no more Hannah Winters. She would be Edmund and Eleanor Harrington's daughter, Hannah Harrington!