Chapter 4 Maybe; my chance.
~Hazel.
They say karma catches up with people who do evil.
Well, not Hannah. She seems to be radiating and I don't think Karma did that.
…..
Sitting perfectly on my phone screen were pictures of Hannah and Walter.
His hands were always wrapped around her waist, and her eyes always stared perfectly into his. They smiled at intervals, whispering words that only remained between them.
The perfect couple.
And me?
I watched from a distance as what belongs to me slips away and falls perfectly into Hannah's hands.
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't cause the trouble I'd planned. I couldn't ruin the wedding like I'd pictured in my head.
The thought of Walter seeing me as a trouble maker was scary enough.
Hence, I watched from a distance. The perfect wedding, the pictures, the fame.
But maybe… just maybe, there was a chance left.
The evening was meant to be like every other one. Where I'd sleep in anger, picturing myself in “Hannah place”… imagining how “perfect” things would have been if I'd gotten married to Walter.
Until…. My phone rang.
Dad.
For some reason, my heart hit my chest.
It'd been three months since I left L.A and dad never called.
Not once.
They'd completely shut me away, avoiding every trouble I might tend to cause.
At first, I wanted to leave the phone ringing. I liked the song anyways. But my curiosity lingered.
What did the old man have to say?
I slid the green icon and pressed the phone against my ears.
I kept wondering what it was. Maybe he wanted to announce to me that Hannah was pregnant with twins.
But. …. “Haven?” He said.
“It's been three months, Mr. Sutherland. Shouldn't you at least ask how I'm doing?”
“We need you to come to Manhattan, Haven. Your sister's sick,” dad said, his voice laced with worry.
He's all she ever worries about.
“I know,” I answered. Unbothered.
I'd noticed how lean Hannah was in one of the pictures but I chose to ignore it. It didn't matter.
“Yet you ignored it? You know about your sister's illness and you couldn't make a single call, Haven!” He yelled. As usual.
“Oh, it hurts to be ignored?” A small laugh accompanied my words.
He sighed. “I'm not in the mood for your trouble, Haven. Bring yourself to Manhattan. At least be useful.”
………
Sigh.
My heart raced at an unhealthy pace as I walked through those familiar walls.
That same damp hospital smell. It never changed.
My phone was buzzing with calls from dad. He was obviously trying to keep track of me, making sure I wasn't causing any trouble.
No. I didn't come because I was worried about Hannah.
I came because I was curious.
About Walter, Hannah, and the wedding.
I wanted to see it myself. How much he'd fallen in love with her.
Whether or not their marriage was actually as perfect as it was and maybe… just maybe I still stood a chance with Walter.
Laugh. Stupid. Isn't it?
I placed a gentle knock on the door, hoping one of the maids who had come with and would be the one to get the…..
“Why on earth weren't you answering any of my calls!” Dad sneered.
Oh. Right.
“I didn't feel like it,” I answered, stepping in.
“I would have scolded you, but I really do not have time for that, I have other things to worry about,” dad spat.
I turned to look at them, smiling brightly. “Oh my god, thank you so much dad, that was such a warm welcome,” I chuckled.
“So you knew about your sister's sickness, yet you acted like you didn't?” Mom asked, sounding disappointed. Like always.
“Who wouldn't notice? Her clothes looked like they were going to fall off in the pictures. Walter was always trying to keep them in place,” I answered, my gaze fixed on my phone.
I finally raised my head when I heard the sound of someone's feet dragging weakly against the ground.
Hannah.
She could barely walk as she made her way out of the restroom. Mom rushed towards her. “You should have asked for help,” she whispered, like she didn't want me to hear.
Hannah looked so pale. Her lips were chapped and her skin looked so dry.
My hand ached.
I …..
Forget it.
“Why did you call me here? I do not want to stay here much longer,” I spoke.
Dad heaved a sigh. “We do not want you here either. So I'll just get straight to the point.”
“Hmmm.”
“Your mother and I cannot afford to leave your sister in this condition, and there are things that need to be done. We need to meet with some of the companies Hannah work with; requesting that they put all work on hold for now.
At first, we were thinking of sending someone from the company but I thought it'd be better to send someone from the family.”
“Family?” I asked, my brows creased. “You all have a distant relative?”
Dad hissed.
“It's …you.”
“Ohh, I didn't know.” I rolled my eyes.
“But first, we need you to head to Hannah's house. Pick up all the stuff you think she might need,” Dad ordered.
“She has a husband and he's not crippled. Make him bring it.”
“He's busy with work. Think. And…. If at all you meet him, tell him you about everything that has happened and hand him this letter,” dad dipped his hand into his pocket and handed a brown envelope over.
……
I'd agreed to go to Hannah's house. I know I shouldn't have.
My heart still raced at the though of Walter and I was sure. I might misbehave at the sight of him but I still wanted to know.
I wanted to see with my own eyes how much he loved Hannah. What their home looked like ……everything.
I walked into the mansion with my hands behind me. My steps were slow and heavy. I paused to look at the picture that'd caught my eye when …
“Oh, Hannah!” Walter's voice sounded from the hallway.
I turned.
I froze.
My eyes travelled from his perfect face. He had no shirts on. And with the grey sweatpants, it could tell the size of what was beneath.
I gulped.
“I missed you,” he chuckled softly as he walked towards me.
Wait …he…..
“I'm not Han……” before I could finish, Walter pulled me into his arms, his fragrance ran through my nose.
I was standing in the arms of the man I'd always wanted. But now, he's my sister's husband.
And he thinks I'm his wife.
Maybe, just maybe… this is my chance to take what's mine.