Over the next few days, Hannah avoided Gloria whenever she showed up at the clinic. She did it skillfully. Almost every day before lunch, Gloria would arrive and linger, waiting like a watchdog for Ashton to finish with his patients.
Hannah felt slightly sorry for Ashton, but she knew keeping quiet and avoiding further involvement with Gloria was better.
On Sunday, Hannah spent the day resting in her room and watching television. She had prepared everything she needed for her interview the next day.
A knock on her door startled her, and a maid called politely from outside.
“Miss Hannah.”
Hannah was surprised because the maids did not usually knock unless it was time for dinner. She quickly got out of bed and opened the door.
“Miss Hannah, you have a guest,” the maid said.
“A guest?” Hannah frowned. “Are you sure it’s for me? Not Elizabeth?”
The maid chuckled. “I’
Gloria hadn't shown up at the clinic in a week, leaving Hannah relieved and suspicious. She couldn't help but worry that Gloria might suddenly show up and confront her. Hannah wanted nothing more than to avoid any trouble.To make matters worse, Ashton had been paying Hannah an unusual amount of attention. Even the other staff noticed how differently he treated her. This only made Hannah more anxious because she wanted to remain professional.But who could resist the constant attention?Every day after work, Ashton insisted on driving Hannah home, even going out of his way to return to the clinic for her when he was supposed to be at the hospital. It made Hannah uncomfortable.For example, when she was about to leave today, Ashton intercepted her."I'll drive you home," Ashton said, not caring if she agreed.Lora and Wendy, standing with Hannah, exchanged knowing smiles before leaving."See you tomorrow, Hannah," Lora said, waving goo
“Lower your voice, Gloria. There’s no need to make a scene,” Ashton said calmly.“But...” Gloria’s suspicious look turned to Hannah. “Are you trying to deceive me, hey Admin?”“Her name is Hannah,” Ashton corrected. “And no, she’s not deceiving you.”“She’s pregnant!” Gloria exclaimed, pointing to Hannah. “And married!”“Pregnant but divorced,” Ashton corrected again.Gloria stood there stunned, as did Hannah. Hannah felt as if her defenses had crumbled. The last thing she wanted was for Gloria to know the truth about her marital status. But Ashton had already revealed it. This was going to be a disaster!“Are you telling me she’s divorced and pregnant?” Gloria asked in disbelief.“Yes, I am,” Hannah spoke up this time.“We’ll talk about this later, Gloria. I’m s
Over the next few days, Hannah avoided Gloria whenever she showed up at the clinic. She did it skillfully. Almost every day before lunch, Gloria would arrive and linger, waiting like a watchdog for Ashton to finish with his patients.Hannah felt slightly sorry for Ashton, but she knew keeping quiet and avoiding further involvement with Gloria was better.On Sunday, Hannah spent the day resting in her room and watching television. She had prepared everything she needed for her interview the next day.A knock on her door startled her, and a maid called politely from outside.“Miss Hannah.”Hannah was surprised because the maids did not usually knock unless it was time for dinner. She quickly got out of bed and opened the door.“Miss Hannah, you have a guest,” the maid said.“A guest?” Hannah frowned. “Are you sure it’s for me? Not Elizabeth?”The maid chuckled. “I’
Hannah felt terrible seeing Gloria at the clinic early in the morning, just as it opened. As Hannah stepped out of the pantry on her way to her office, Gloria stood in the hallway, staring at her with a sneer.Hannah considered ignoring Gloria, but that would surely lead to trouble. Reluctantly, she offered a polite smile.“Good morning, Miss Gloria,” Hannah greeted warmly.“Where’s Ashton?” Gloria asked.She didn’t even bother to return the greeting, instead crossing her arms and eyeing Hannah from head to toe.Hannah shook her head. “I don’t know. Dr. Ashton hasn’t arrived yet. Some of his patients may already be here, though.”“I’m not asking about his patients. I’m asking about Ashton,” Gloria snapped.“Dr. Ashton’s schedule is usually handled by the front office,” Hannah replied. “My job is purely administrative.”
Hannah was at a loss for words. In her mind, she wanted to lash out at Ashton. It seemed that Ashton hadn’t called Gloria to explain everything. But even if Hannah tried to defend herself, Gloria was already on the offensive.“Hold on a sec—I have nothing to do with Ashton!” Hannah exclaimed firmly.“Every woman says the same thing!” Gloria snapped, glaring at Hannah with an accusing finger. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with!”“Are you threatening me?”Wendy grabbed Hannah’s arm as Lora stepped between them, trying to mediate. The commotion began to attract the attention of passersby.“Please, Miss Gloria, this is all just a misunderstanding,” Lora pleaded. “Nothing is going on between Hannah and Dr. Ashton. Besides, Hannah is a new employee.”“Don’t defend her, or you’ll get the same punishment! You’re conspiring t
Hannah felt full and sleepy as she returned to the clinic with Ashton. Her mood had improved slightly, though she was still uneasy, haunted by the staff's warnings. The truth was, Hannah was somewhat traumatized; she'd been through something similar before—accused of trying to steal Don.All Hannah wanted was to stay out of the drama, live in peace, and deliver her baby safely.Unconsciously, she rubbed her stomach. A pang of sadness washed over her. What would Alden do if he found out she was carrying his child?"Hey, are you okay, Hannah?" Ashton's voice interrupted her thoughts.Hannah looked at him briefly and nodded. "I'm fine.""You look sad.""I was just thinking about something, but it's nothing important," she deflected.Ashton accepted her answer and didn't press further. Instead, he cleared his throat quietly and breathed in the fresh air as they walked down a tree-lined path."By the way, there's a gala dinner