Chapter 230

Chapter 230
Hannah

I arrived at Hawthorne nearly an hour early, wanting to add a few final touches to my sketches before class. The hallways were still quiet as I made my way to the studio space, coffee in hand, my portfolio tucked under my arm.
The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of classes, assignments, and long nights at my drafting table. With the end of the semester approaching, the pressure was mounting. Our final projects were due in less than three weeks, and mine still needed refining.
I spread my work across the large table in the empty studio. My collection had evolved considerably since I'd first envisioned it, still focused on accessible luxury with cleaner lines and more versatile pieces that could transition from day to evening with minimal adjustments.
I pulled out my sketchbook and added details to the suit jacket I'd been struggling with. The tailoring was tricky; I wanted it structured but not severe, professional but with a feminine edge.
"That's coming along nicely."
I jumped at the voice behind me. Sarah stood there, dressed in an all-black ensemble, two coffee cups in hand.
"You scared me," I said, putting my pencil down.
"Sorry." She set one of the coffees in front of me. "Thought you might need a refill. You look like you've been here a while."
"Thanks." I took a grateful sip. "Just trying to get ahead."
Sarah pulled up a chair beside me. "How's your mom doing?"
"Much better, actually." I smiled, genuinely pleased to report good news. "She's almost back to her old self. The doctors are amazed at how quickly she's recovering."
"That's awesome. Must be a relief."
"Huge relief. She's even talking about going back to work part-time next month."
"And you?" Sarah tilted her head, studying me. "How are you doing?"
The question caught me off guard. Most people asked about my mom, about my classes, about my designs, but rarely about me.
"I'm..." I paused, unsure how to answer. Fine? Busy? Confused? Heartbroken? "I'm managing."
Sarah nodded, not pushing for more.
Other students began filing in, ending our quiet moment. The studio quickly filled with chatter and movement as everyone prepared for the day's critique session.
I put the finishing touches on my sketch just as our instructor entered, clapping her hands for attention.
"Alright, everyone. Let's see what you've been working on..."

After class, I ducked into the campus coffee shop to grab a quick lunch before my next session. As I waited for my sandwich, I scrolled through Instagram absently and froze when a familiar face appeared on my screen.
Leonardo's face stared back at me from Instagram. He stood next to a stunning woman in an elegant black dress. The caption read: "Salvatore Corporation CEO Leonardo Salvatore and Victoria Lancaster announce engagement at exclusive gala."
My sandwich arrived at that moment, but I barely noticed the server placing it in front of me. My appetite had vanished completely.
I scrolled through the post, reading the comments congratulating the "power couple." Apparently, Victoria Lancaster was the daughter of some business tycoon, beautiful and accomplished in her own right.
Had this been the real reason he ended our arrangement? Not because of danger, but because he was planning to get married?
I put my phone down and picked at my sandwich, trying to process this information. The timing was suspicious. He'd ended things so abruptly after our return from Italy, citing concerns for my safety. But maybe that had just been a convenient excuse.
I picked up my phone again, unable to resist looking at more photos. There were several from the announcement party, Leonardo in a perfectly tailored suit, Victoria looking like she'd stepped off a runway. They made a striking couple.
Another photo showed them at what appeared to be a charity gala from last week.
"Can I get you anything else?" The server appeared at my table, startling me.
"No, I'm fine, thank you," I mumbled, quickly locking my phone screen.
As the server walked away, I felt a strange mix of emotions washing over me: hurt, confusion, and, oddly, a bit of relief. This explained so much about his sudden change of heart. The danger to my life might have been real; I'd seen enough evidence of that, but it wasn't the only reason he'd ended things.
I forced myself to eat half my sandwich before packing up my things. I had another class in twenty minutes, and I couldn't afford to be late, no matter how much my mind was spinning.
As I walked across campus, I tried to organize my thoughts. Leonardo had ended our arrangement for two reasons: my safety and his engagement. But which had been the primary concern? Had he genuinely been worried about me, or had he simply needed to clean house before settling down with Victoria Lancaster?
The memory of his face when he told me it was over flashed in my mind. There had been genuine concern there, I was almost certain. But there had also been something else, a detachment, a coldness that made more sense now.
My phone buzzed with a notification. For a brief, ridiculous moment, I thought it might be him, but it was just a reminder about an assignment due next week.
I slid into my seat for Advanced Pattern Making just as the Professor began her lecture. I tried to focus, but my mind kept returning to Leonardo and Victoria. How long had they been together? Was this an arranged business match, or was there actual affection between them? Did she know about his darker business dealings? Did she know about me?
"Miss Mitchell, could you repeat what I just said?" The Professor's voice cut through my thoughts.
I blinked, suddenly aware that the entire class was looking at me. "I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't catch that."
The Professor frowned. "I was discussing the importance of precision in dart placement. Perhaps you'd like to demonstrate on the mannequin?"
I nodded and stood, grateful for the distraction. As I walked to the front of the class, I forced Leonardo Salvatore out of my mind. I couldn't let him derail my education, not when I'd worked so hard to get here.
After class, I headed straight home, turning down an invitation to coffee with classmates. I needed space to process this new information and figure out what it meant for me.
My apartment was empty when I arrived. Mom had left a note saying she'd gone to lunch with a friend and would be back by dinner. I was glad for the solitude.