Chapter 854: Choose Charles or Austin?
Hannah didn't say a word, just grabbed Stella and bolted.
They didn't stop until they were in the elevator, and Stella finally got a chance to speak.
"Why the heck are we running? I set it up so you two could talk later, but you just took off. How am I supposed to keep the convo going now?" Stella huffed.
Hannah was wide awake now, thanks to all the drama.
"Together? My boyfriend is Austin, and we're about to get hitched," Hannah shot back.
Stella wasn't having it. "You kissed Charles, and you're still planning to marry Austin? You don't love him at all. Marrying someone you don't love is just asking for misery."
Hannah snapped, "You're not me. How do you know I don't love him?"
"I can see it!" Stella insisted.
Hannah sighed, "I love Austin. If I didn't, I wouldn't have gotten engaged to him. If I didn't love him, I wouldn't be with him."
Her voice was so firm, she almost convinced herself.
Stella blurted out, "If you love him, why'd you kiss Charles?"
Hannah's face turned beet red.
What kiss? It was just a peck.
Stella didn't back down. "I'm telling the truth, you kissed Charles. I saw it with my own eyes."
Hannah's confident look started to waver.
"It was just a moment of weakness, the atmosphere, the whole vibe, and he's so damn handsome. Anyone would've lost control," Hannah tried to explain.
Stella rolled her eyes. "Really? What about Wyatt? If it were him, would you kiss him?"
Wyatt was the hottest guy she could think of right then. And they knew him.
Hannah stammered, "That's different."
Stella wasn't letting it go. "How is it different? They're both hot. If you didn't kiss Charles because you liked him, then any hot guy would do! Now, if you were to kiss Wyatt, could you do it?"
Hannah imagined kissing Wyatt and felt a bit queasy.
Seeing Hannah's face, Stella knew she had her answer.
Stella laughed, "I knew it! Charles means something to you! You like him! Since you like him, dump Austin and be with Charles. It's rare to find someone you truly love."
Hannah looked down, her last bit of rationality telling her she couldn't agree.
Stella, not giving up, continued, "Charles is twenty-seven and has only liked one girl. She disappeared seven years ago! Since then, he hasn't liked anyone else. You're the first girl he's liked in years. Hannah, trust me, Charles is a good guy. If you're with him, he'll treat you like a queen."
Hannah only caught one thing from all that.
"He liked a girl before?" she asked.
Stella felt a bit awkward.
Charles was twenty-seven. How could he not have had a thing with a girl by then?
Even though it was normal, it still bugged her.
Sensing Hannah's low mood, Stella felt even more triumphant. "She wasn't really a girlfriend! She was the daughter of Charles's dad's friend. Charles was seven years older and watched her grow up. When she disappeared, she was only in eighth grade! So young, she didn't know anything. Charles was waiting for her to grow up, but she vanished before she could! So I don't think she counts as an ex."
Hannah was puzzled, "Why did she disappear?"
Stella spilled the beans, "She got snatched after her evening classes in eighth grade. When they found the warehouse where she was held, both the kidnapper and she were gone! Not even a trace left! Charles has been searching for her all these years, but no luck."
She rattled off a lot but left out the part where Hannah looked like Violet. As a woman, she knew no girl wanted to be a stand-in!
If Hannah found out Charles liked her because she resembled his ex, it’d be game over!
Hannah nodded, piecing it together.
So, Violet was just a kid when she vanished? So young, she probably didn’t even know what love was. Maybe it was just a childhood crush from growing up together.
Just then, the elevator doors slid open.
Stella yanked her out.
"So! Charles really, really likes you. You’re the only girl who’s caught his eye in seven years! Hannah, Austin’s not right for you. Charles is perfect! Dump Austin and be with Charles," Stella urged.
But Hannah wasn’t budging. "No, I can’t do that!"
Austin had saved her dad’s life. Without him, her dad would’ve been long gone. Plus, Charles had never shown any feelings for her; it was all Stella’s guesswork. What if it was just wishful thinking?
"Hannah, you..." Stella started, but Hannah, scared she’d actually be swayed, covered her ears and bolted.
"I gotta get back to the office. Still got work to do. Since you’re here, you take care of Mr. Watson. I’m out," Hannah said, running off.
No matter how much Stella called after her, she couldn’t stop her.
Stella fumed, "She clearly likes Charles but won’t admit it. I’m not giving up on this matchmaking mission."
When Hannah got back to the office, it was almost quitting time.
She tried to dive into work, but her mind was a mess. Stella’s words, the kiss with Charles, and thoughts of his ex-girlfriend kept swirling around.
She didn’t know why she kept thinking about Charles’s ex.
All she knew was it made her feel uneasy.
Her thoughts were all over the place.
Just then, Austin called as the workday ended.
"Hannah, you done with work? I’m outside your office. Let’s grab dinner tonight!" Austin said, not really asking.
Thinking about the kiss with Charles, Hannah felt super guilty towards Austin and couldn’t say no, so she agreed, "Okay! I’m coming down now. Wait for me!"
After hanging up, Hannah tidied her desk and headed to the elevator.
As the doors closed, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Stella.
Stella: [Hannah, something came up, and I gotta bounce. Are you off work? Can you help me take care of my Charles?]
Hannah was confused. Take care of Charles? No way. Austin was waiting for her downstairs! How could she ditch her boyfriend to look after Charles? No chance.
As if knowing Hannah wouldn’t agree, Stella sent another message.
Stella: [Hannah, when I left, my Charles seemed to have a fever again! I felt his forehead, it might be 102 degrees! If you don’t take care of him, no one will. Poor guy.]
Hannah was torn. A fever again? 102 degrees? Wasn’t that the same as this morning? But Austin was waiting downstairs. Austin or Charles, who should she choose? Right then, all her thoughts were on Charles, completely missing the flaw in Stella’s words.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
