Chapter 288 Inappropriate

Chapter 288 Inappropriate

Hannah wasn't brushing Ethan off—she really was busy.

She'd been urgently called back to Alvenia, where the board confirmed her new position as chairman.

The succession process was far more complicated than she'd expected.

Daryl was stepping down, she was taking over, and in between there were equity transfers, board reshuffles...

She not only had to attend various meetings but also needed to understand how the board currently operated.

Daryl even handed over all of the Harvey family's connections to her, making sure she could become a qualified head of the Harvey family.

The board alone had met several times.

Eugene fully supported her at the board meetings, and seeing that the situation was settled, several senior members expressed their support one after another.

After the meeting adjourned, Eugene called her over.

"Hannah, the Harvey Group is in your hands now."

"Don't worry." Hannah looked at him seriously. "I'll definitely make the Harvey Group even stronger."

In the days that followed, Hannah was busy from morning till night.

She didn't stay in Alvenia but returned to Silverlight City instead.

She had to oversee the new district project, keep track of Lumora Biotech Inc.'s new drug launch, and handle Harvey Corporation's overseas operations that needed integration, plus there was a pile of documents waiting for her signature.

With all the big and small meetings every day, plus research and remote conferences, Hannah felt like a machine that never stopped running.

She shut herself in her office from dawn to dusk, not even having time to eat.

But Ethan's meals arrived on time every day.

Porridge in the morning, soup at lunch, light dishes in the evening.

Ethan had become the official heir to the Lawson Group and received some equity shares, so he could only stay in Alvenia to finish setting up the Lawson Group headquarters first.

The Lawson family had decided to focus on Havaland, so Ethan couldn't come back to Silverlight City to see Hannah. All he could do was have meals delivered to her daily.

A sticky note was attached to the insulated bag—sometimes it said "It's getting cold today, dress warmly," sometimes "Don't stay up late," and sometimes just a smiley face.

Sophia laughed every time she saw the notes.

"Mr. Lawson is treating you like a child."

Hannah said nothing and put the note in her drawer.

Sophia leaned against the desk, watching Hannah sign documents with her head down.

"Hannah, don't you think Mr. Lawson is the perfect boyfriend?"

"I heard from Cordelia that the Lawson family elders seem pretty supportive of you two."

Hannah's hand paused for a moment, but she didn't look up. "He and I aren't right for each other."

"How are you not right? The Lawson family doesn't even care that you can't have children—what's stopping you from being together?"

Hannah put down her pen and leaned back in her chair. She looked at the city outside the window and was silent for a moment.

"I'm now the chairman of the Harvey family."

She said, her voice very calm.

"The Harvey family's wealth and connections are exactly the kinds of things other people value."

Sophia frowned. "What do you mean?"

Hannah turned to look at her. "The Lawson family needs an heir. If I can't provide one, they'll find someone else who can."

"When that happens, feelings won't matter anymore."

"We'll constantly argue about children, we'll constantly compete for interests, we might even completely turn against each other. Sophia, I don't want that."

Sophia stared in shock, eyes wide. She thought of those news stories about wealthy family marriages, about families fighting to the death over inheritance rights.

She didn't want to admit Hannah was right, but she knew Hannah was stating facts.

"Ethan's not that kind of person." Sophia shook her head. "At least he doesn't seem like it now."

Hannah smiled. "He's not, but he's part of the Lawson family."

And who could say what would happen in the future?

Hannah didn't distrust Ethan—she just didn't dare believe that Ethan would stay the same for decades to come. She didn't have that confidence in him or in herself.

Sophia fell silent.

People from big families were all like this—they could sacrifice anything for family interests.

She thought again of Ethan's various scandal news from before. Cordelia had said it was all just a cover, but what if it was real?

Her phone rang.

Hannah glanced at the caller ID—it was Ruben.

"Ms. Nguyen, I'm heading back to Kyrandor tomorrow. They can't do without me there."

Ruben's voice came through the receiver, with a hint of cautious testing.

"If you're willing, you could come along to survey the market. I don't know if you have time?"

Hannah thought for a moment. Just as she was about to answer, her phone buzzed again—a message from Ethan.

Ethan: [I'm coming back to Silverlight City tomorrow. Wait for me.]

Hannah looked at those words, her finger hovering above the screen.

She didn't reply. Instead, she said into the phone, "Okay, I'll go with you."

"Then I'll book the tickets."

"Thank you."

After hanging up, Hannah placed her phone face-down on the desk.

Sophia looked at her. "You're going to Kyrandor—shouldn't you tell Ethan?"

"No need." Hannah lowered her head and continued reading documents.

"Sophia, just say you don't know where I went. I want us both to cool down a bit."

Ethan was pursuing her intensely now. Since she hadn't agreed, he'd only get more anxious.

But what about after the passion faded?

Hannah didn't dare think about what would come after. She could only calm her own feelings first. Maybe after cooling down, Ethan would realize he didn't care about her that much after all?

When Ethan returned to Silverlight City, it was three in the afternoon.

He dragged his suitcase out of arrivals. Instead of going to the company, he went straight to Lumora Biotech Inc.

He went upstairs and pushed open Hannah's office door—empty.

The desk was cleaned up neatly, documents stacked tidily to one side, computer off, even the chair pushed in, as if she'd never been there at all.

The insulated bag wasn't there, the sticky note wasn't there either.

He turned and went to the lab—no one there.

He went to find Sophia.

Sophia was in a meeting with the PR department. When she saw him come in, she froze for a moment.

"Mr. Lawson? Why are you back?"

"Where's Hannah?"

Sophia's expression looked a bit unnatural. "She's on a business trip."

"Where did she go?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

Ethan looked at her. "Sophia, look me in the eye and say that."

Sophia raised her head and looked into his eyes. "I don't know."

"Hannah has a lot going on lately and needs to go to several places. How would I know exactly where she went?"

Her voice was steady, but Ethan knew she was lying.

He didn't press further and turned to leave.

Outside Lumora Biotech Inc., he called Hannah—phone off. He called again—still off.

He stood downstairs, looking up at that dark window, feeling like something was blocking his heart.

He picked up his phone and dialed another number.

"Help me find out where Hannah is, as fast as possible."

"Check planes, trains, highways—find out if she left the country. Get me information right away!"

After hanging up, Ethan's face looked terrible.

He knew Hannah was avoiding him, but he wasn't going to give up just like that!