Chapter 104

Dinner that evening settled into a heavy silence.

Hannah barely touched her meal before quietly excusing herself and retreating upstairs.

Vincent watched her go and then broke the hush with a measured announcement. "Grandma, your birthday party's coming up. Hannah and I plan to invite her parents over to stay for a few days." He added, his tone pointed. "I told her it was your suggestion."

Sharon caught on instantly-this was a reminder to keep her story straight. She arched a brow at him, but let her features soften into an easy smile. "Honestly, you should've invited them long ago. Better late than never."

Brinley, having already overheard this arrangement, stabbed her steak with simmering resentment, saying nothing.

At the end of the table, Danica's expression soured. "What for?Didn't they already have lunch with us once?"

Sharon's eyes flashed with warning as she stated, "It's my birthday. I decide who's invited."

Danica knew Sharon wouldn't take kindly to opposition, but she still voiced her objection. "This is supposed to be a grand event. The guest list will be full of business leaders. If you bring in some schoolteachers from the countryside, it'll make us look ridiculous."

Danica couldn't object to Sharon's extending the invitation to her old friends, yet the idea of anyone in their circle seeing Hannah's parents at such an elite banquet made her squirm. Sharon's jaw tightened. Her cutlery crashed against her plate."They're my granddaughter-in-law's parents. You really think that's embarrassing?" she retorted sharply.

"But..." Danica tried to protest, but Vincent's icy voice sliced through the tension. "Mom, don't ever talk like that again."

Danica's face crumpled as she responded, "I do everything for this family's reputation, and somehow I'm the villain. I'm not wrong-they're just ordinary teachers from some backwater town. They can't possibly measure up to us."

Tears streaked down Danica's cheeks as she sniffled miserably.Sharon, thoroughly exasperated, snatched up her cane and stormed out.

Vincent shot Danica a look of disappointment before heading upstairs,leaving her alone with her wounded pride.

Brinley lingered at the dining table, quietly soothing Danica.

To Danica, Brinley seemed like her only true ally. Leaning in,she made a silent vow. "Don't worry, Brinley," she murmured."At the birthday banquet, I'll announce your engagement to Vincent for everyone to hear. Even if Hannah's parents show up, they'll only embarrass themselves."

A flash of malice flickered in Brinley's eyes, sharpening her features for a heartbeat. Whether Hannah's parents could really show up-that was another matter entirely.

Upstairs, in the guest room, Hannah dialed her parents. She explained that the Jones family had invited them to Sharon's birthday banquet, and her parents sounded genuinely delighted.

Raymond sought confirmation, a trace of hope in his voice."11|Vincent coming with you to pick us up?"

"He′5tied up with work," Hannah said lightly. She wanted to pick up her parents on her own. "I'll come get you myself." A beat of silence followed on the other end of the line.

Hannah caught the faint edge of disappointment in their voices and hurriedly added, "I'll see you at the train station tomorrow afternoon."

Margaret took the phone, her voice brisk and upbeat. "Alright,alright. We'll bring a few hometown treats along."

Hannah's lips curved into a soft smile. "You really don't need to go to any trouble."

"Nonsense! This is thefirst time the Jones family's invited us to something so important. Maybe they're finally starting to see your worth,Hannah."

"Maybe," Hannah said vaguely.

Margaret's tone softened, threaded with old worries. "That's all we ever hoped for. Your father and I just want to know you're happy there."

Hannah hesitated for a beat before answering, "I'm alright,Mom.Honestly, you don't have to worry about me."

They lingered in gentle conversation for a few more minutes before saying their goodbyes.

After soothing Danica's nerves, Brinley slipped away to her bedroom,the mask of gentleness slipping off the moment the door clicked shut.

Hatred and jealousy churned inside her every time she thought of Hannah. She couldn't stomach the thought of letting things lie, so she quietly put someone on Hannah's trail, determined to dig up anything dirty. There had to be a weakness-something she could exploit.

The task was taken sooner than expected. All evening, Brinley The task was taken sooner than expected. All evening, Brinley kept checking her phone, heart thudding, nerves wired tight.

It wasn't until deep into the night that her phone finally lit up with a notification. She fumbled it open at once, hands trembling with anticipation.

0

An image loaded-a scan of a hospital report. Hannah had suffered a miscarriage two years ago.

Shock hit Brinley like a jolt of electricity. She gripped her phone so hard that her knuckles turned white, mind already racing to twist this discovery into her sharpest weapon yet.