Chapter 2 Misunderstanding

Ethan's fury ignited, his grip on Hannah's chin tightening until it hurt. His voice dropped, low and venomous. "Divorce? You think you can marry and discard me at your whim? What do you take me for?"

Cold sweat slid down Hannah's back, her body weak and bloodless, yet her gaze never wavered. "Ethan," she forced out, every word trembling with pain, "do you intend to let that child live as an illegitimate forever?"

Her pallor caught his eye, and for a fleeting moment, his hold slackened. His tone shifted, heavy with implication. "No. Grandma has always wanted a grandchild. Once the child is born, it will be acknowledged and registered into the Gill family, as your and my child."

The crack of her hand across his face shattered the silence. Hannah's voice broke, raw with anguish. "Ethan, you despicable man. How dare you disgrace me like this? Do you even know that I just-"

Before she could finish, a shrill ring cut through the air. Ethan didn't spare her a glance. He pulled out his phone and answered, his tone softening in an instant. "Yes. Wait for me. I'll be there soon."

The warmth in his voice was like a blade twisting in Hannah's chest, gentleness he had never once given her.

Her pupils trembled as she bit down on her lip until the taste of blood filled her mouth, forcing back the storm of hurt threatening to consume her.

Ethan ended the call, his cheek still stinging from her slap. His gaze bore into her, cold and unrelenting. "Hannah, divorce is not for you to decide. Don't let me hear that word again. Do you understand?"

He didn't wait for a reply. Turning on his heel, he strode away, leaving Hannah in the hollow silence he left behind.

Hannah slumped against the wall, bitter tears sliding down her cheeks.

Ethan's cruelty knew no bounds.

Her own child had been taken from her, yet he was already preparing to parade another woman's baby under her name, forcing her to accept the humiliation of raising an illegitimate child as the Gill family's heir.

How could he trample her dignity so heartlessly?

Hannah staggered into her room, heart pounding, and began hastily throwing her belongings into a suitcase. Within minutes, she was gone from Bayview Villa.

She couldn't bear to remain in the home she had once poured herself into, not for a second longer.

A cab took her downtown, where she owned a modest apartment, no more than ninety square yards. Yet every inch of it was steeped in memories... memories of her and her stepbrother.

As she stepped inside, Hannah paused by the entrance. Her fingers drifted over a photograph resting on the console, and for a moment, a wistful smile touched her lips.

The man in the photo, his gaze brimming with warmth, looked down at her with eyes so gentle that they seemed to soften the air around him.

Hannah had been just ten years old when her biological father died in a car accident.

A year later, her mother remarried, into the powerful Griffiths family, and brought Hannah with her.

The Griffiths held status in Apruburgh for generations, and to them, Hannah was just a liability left by an insignificant nouveau riche.

She had endured their disdain in silence, weathering subtle jabs and overt cruelty from the moment she arrived.

Only Rhett Griffiths, her stepbrother, had ever stood by her, driving away anyone who tried to bully her.

In the Griffiths household, Rhett was the sole figure who treated her with genuine kindness.

Three months earlier, Rhett had been diagnosed with kidney failure and required a transplant. The entire Griffiths family had undergone compatibility testing, but only Hannah was a match.

She hadn't hesitated. Without a second thought, she had agreed to donate one of her kidneys to him.

Fortunately, the surgery had gone well. Rhett was scheduled to be discharged the next day. The thought warmed her chest. A flicker of happiness stirred in her heart as she made up her mind. Tomorrow, she would go to the hospital to bring him home herself.

...

The next morning, Hannah rose and caught sight of her pale reflection in the mirror.

She reached for her makeup, carefully brushing color onto her skin to hide the exhaustion beneath. Rhett didn't need to see her like this. If he noticed, he would start asking questions. She didn't want to burden him with her troubles.

Once she was ready, Hannah made her way to the hospital.

As she neared the door to Rhett's room, the sound of voices drifted out into the hallway.

"Sylvia, you've done so much for me. I'll definitely marry you. Our engagement will be announced in a few days."

Hannah stopped in her tracks.

The door to the room was slightly ajar.

Inside, Rhett stood tall in a sharply tailored suit, every inch the refined gentleman. There was no hint of illness in his posture or his expression. He looked composed, untouched. In his arms, Sylvia Clarke beamed with effortless charm. Her laughter rang out, soft and sweet, as she leaned into him like she belonged there.

Hannah stared, frozen.

Was he still the same Rhett who had once stood up to her stepfather for her sake, vowing he would never marry and would always protect her? He had taken her kidney, yet here he was, entwined with another woman.

The joy that had flickered in Hannah's heart moments ago vanished completely.

Tears slipped silently down her cheeks. She knew she should leave to spare herself more humiliation, but her feet felt rooted to the floor.

Suddenly, the door creaked open from the inside.

Hannah quickly lowered her head and brushed away her tears, hoping to hide the storm inside.

"Why are you here?" Rhett's eyes flashed with a flicker of impatience.

"Rhett, I-" Hannah's voice trembled, but he cut her off before she could say more.

"This is Sylvia," he said, his tone firm. "When I was gravely ill, she donated her kidney to me. She's going to be part of the Griffiths family."

Pain surged through Hannah as she grasped Rhett's arm, her voice raw and desperate. "No, Rhett. It wasn't her. It was my kidney you received."