Her heart rises to her throat as she sits across from Joseph's father, feeling his cool, penetrating gaze on her. The man keeps his hands on the countertop, joined into a fist, watching the girl intently. She gets the impression that he's following her every move, so she doesn't dare even move, fearing that it will embarrass her.
Joseph, sitting next to her, squeezes her hand under the table, feeling her tremble with fear. After all, Hannah knows that his father gave her away to an orphanage and hates her with all his heart.
— Won't you say anything, Dad? It seemed to me that a moment ago you were stunned by the sight of Hannah. Is it because she has something of mom in her, or were you surprised that I've been in a relationship for more than three years, and you had no idea? — The boy twists his lips in a slight smile. — And what's much to be surprised about, since you are not interested in my private life, but only in my professional life.
The gaze he aims at his son is so stern that Hannah swallows her saliva harder out of nervousness. Joseph, however, seems indifferent to his father's feelings.
— I am disappointed that you have hidden your girlfriend from me so far. Three years is a very long time, so I feel as if you don't take me seriously. Why didn't you introduce Hannah to me earlier?
The waiter puts the dinner plates in front of them, then walks away.
— Don't pretend, dad. You don't care at all. If Hannah didn't remind you of Mom, you wouldn't be interested in her at all. You want to find out who she is. I'm not stupid. — He smiles arrogantly as he takes the cutlery in his hands.
— Are you surprised? What's interesting is why you keep referring to her resemblance to your mother?
Joseph cuts the steak and takes a small piece into his mouth, raising his eyes to his father.
— Why do I allude? Because Hannah has her eyes, nose and mouth, and you probably know how much I miss my mother. Don't let it surprise you why I'm so crazy about her. I can't see the world outside of her.
The girl glances at her boyfriend, realizing that he specifically wants to bring his father out of his thoughts. He still can't forgive him for leading his mother to her death.
— It's true. Hannah is similar to my late wife. I could say that she is her daughter. — The chewed food stands in the girl's throat. She hastily sips it with water. — I admire you, son, that you were able to fall in love with a person who reminds you of your mother. Have you already forgotten what kind of suffering she caused our family? How much she ruined your childhood?
Hannah has a bad feeling. She sees that Joseph is clutching the cutlery tightly in his hand, trying to stop himself from saying insulting words. As much as she wants to hurt her father, she would rather not cause an unnecessary spectacle in the restaurant, especially since it could weigh on their reputation.
— Mom was sick.
— Sick? So much so that she drove herself to cathexis. You should hate her, since she was selfish and didn't think about you at all. You were a child, and she was finishing you off mentally. She only thought about the twins. — The man glances fleetingly at Hannah. The girl has a strange feeling that he knows from the very beginning who she is. Doesn't he say this specifically in front of her? — Realize in the end that she is the one who ruined our lives. She loved her daughters more than she loved you. She hurt you, that's why I tried to protect you.
— Protect you? In what way? — Joseph puts the cutlery down on the table and pierces his father with his eyes.
— When she gave birth to the twins, she stopped noticing you. She acted as if you were a stranger to her.
The man's words cruelly hurt the boy's heart. Hannah completely loses her appetite, guessing that the man is trying to reason with his son that he should blame his mother and the twins born of her affair for all this pain.
He thus wants to rebel Joseph against Hannah, even though he pretends not to know who she is.
He knows perfectly well and tries to take advantage of it.
— Today's dinner is particularly unappetizing — the boy speaks, wiping his mouth with a napkin. — Let's go from here, Hannah.
He grabs the girl's hand and intends to rise from the chair, but he is stopped from doing so by his father, who does not intend to give up.
— Don't try to play games with me, Joseph. I know that until now, you didn't want me to meet Hannah because she is Scarlett's daughter. I am not an idiot.
Chills paralyze Hannah's body. She is terrified.
— And how do you feel when you look at her and remember that it was you who drove your mother to the grave?
Hannah is sure that the man would have hit his son at that moment if it weren't for the fact that they are in a restaurant. That's the only thing that stops him from raising his hand and slapping him with a sulfurous slap.
— We'll talk about this at home — he warns him, then gets up from the table. He puts the money on the table and then leaves the building.
— Are you all right? — Hannah asks, looking with concern in her eyes at her boyfriend.
— I'm fine. Let's go from here.
*
The girl is sure that Joseph can't stand it any longer and in a moment will burst into a torrent of curses at her father. The boy keeps his hands on the steering wheel, squeezing it tightly and looking at one point in front of him.
He bites his lip, tenaciously fighting the incoming anger.
Her heart breaks when she notices that he is closing his eyelids and shedding tears. This is an astonishing sight for her, since she has known him for so many years and has never yet seen him cry. Certainly, not in her presence.
— Joseph — she speaks softly, embracing his hand. — Don't think about it. Why are you bringing suffering upon yourself?
He looks at her fleetingly, rests his head on her shoulder and speaks quietly:
— I never thought the day would come when I would shed tears in your presence.
Hannah rests her head on his and smiles slightly. He rubs his face with the top of his hand.
— Only real men can cry. That speaks well of you.
— Well, I don't know... it seems to me that with you, I'm becoming weaker and weaker.
— They say that love softens a man's heart. Maybe that's the reason — she announces, watching as he strokes her hand with his long fingers. — You are strong, Joseph. You don't let your father manipulate you.
— I will never allow it. He will not tell me that my mother died of her own will. How dare he say that she destroyed my childhood? He is the one who contributed the most to it.
— I'm sure he said it on purpose because I was there. He wants you to hate me and will do everything to make it happen.
Joseph lifts his face and looks into her eyes.
— I can leave home, but I will never let myself be manipulated. You are the only person close to me, so he will not succeed in rebelling me against you.
It warms her heart because these words sound more beautiful when they are spoken by him.
— Don't you think there is some kind of fatality hanging over us?
— Your sister is a native witch, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if she was the one who put a curse on us.
Hannah laughs, which automatically makes him feel better.
— You know, that's what I thought now.... I may be jumping off-topic, but I want to ask you something.
The boy sits sideways and leans with his elbow against the chair. He puts his hand to his mouth, not taking his eyes off her.
— What is it about?
— What was your first thought when you saw me? When we first met in high school.
He looks at her as if she's dropped off from another planet.
— And you are just now asking me this? A while ago, I cried in front of you, and you ask me a question about our first meeting?
— This is important to me. Just be honest, please. Even if they were negative thoughts.
She looks deeply into his eyes, and her heart beats more and more anxiously as he purposely holds her in uncertainty.
— When I first met you in the dark room, I knew it was not Irene who came, but you. I was waiting for you. I wanted to give you a nice welcome.
— What — Hannah is surprised by his words. — I don't understand.
— She was my height, so do you think I didn't realize that I was hugging a little chicken?
The girl wrinkles her eyebrows.
— But where did you see me before?
Joseph smiles mysteriously as he recalls the day Hannah first showed up at Horace Mann High School.
He was standing in the shadows, leaning with his back against a building. He kept his hands in his pants pockets, and his gaze found her immediately. She was standing in front of the school, with a pink suitcase sitting beside her. He frowned as he was taken aback by the intense color, and when she started laughing like a child, he decided she was naive and would be easy prey.
He even remembers what she was wearing at the time. She wore a blue shirt tucked into a black, flared skirt that reached her knees. The wind blew her long, dark hair, and when she lifted her face and looked at the building with joy in her eyes, he tilted his head, interested that she somehow reminded him of someone.
He already knew that this year would be more interesting than the previous ones.
Hannah pinched his thigh when he still didn't answer her.
— Was it so bad that you didn't want to tell me?
— Not everything you should know, little one — he announces, pressing his finger to her forehead. — Now go back to your car. I have to go home to take care of the documents before my father returns from the company. I have no intention of arguing with him today, so I will come to you later.
— Are you already driving me out? Great. It will be fun when I'm the one who puts you out in the corridor in the evening, and I'll be dressed in your favorite pajamas.
She gives him a kiss and hurriedly gets out of the car. Joseph doesn't take his eyes off her. He shakes his head and smiles under his breath as Hannah backs out of the car and nearly crashes a passing man.
*
The brunette leaves the car in the underground parking lot and heads for the elevator, when she is unexpectedly attacked by her sister. Danielle presses her against the wall, looking at her with frantic eyes. At this point, she looks like a psychopath about to murder her twin with her bare hands.
— What do you want from me again? — she says in a concerned voice, worried that her recalcitrant sister, will hurt her. — Remember, there are cameras here.
— I don't give a damn.
Hanna looks at her with wide-open eyes as she presses her hand harder against her neck.
— Are you angry that Joseph turned you in? You should know that he doesn't think twice about the decision he makes.
— That idiot led his mother to find me! She threatened me!
The girl wrinkles her eyebrows. She is unable to understand this. How can a mother threaten her daughter? Shouldn't she cry with happiness that Danielle is alive after all? She hasn't seen her in seven years!
— What are you talking about?
— I'm talking about the fact that you have brought me back to the hell I freed myself from seven years ago! — screams in her face, breathing hard. — She gave me two conditions. If I come home, she will help me get out of everything, and if I don't, she will strangle me with her hands.
The brunette sees that there is a bruise on her sister's cheek.
— Danielle, did she hit you?
The redhead twists her lips in an arrogant smile.
— And what did you think? That she would cry at the sight of me and throw herself into my arms? That's not the type of mother.
Hannah is shocked.
— What are you going to do?
— And what can I do! I have no choice! I have to go back to that damn bitch who destroyed my childhood enough!
Danielle moves away from her sister and puts her hands to her face, looking terrified.
— Why do you hate her so much? What is your reason? What contributed to your suffering and trying to take away the happiness of others? Danielle, get it out of your system.
The girl's face pales as her sister's words remind her of past events. Her knees buckle under her, and she falls to the ground. She stares at one point, looking as if all her life has escaped her.
— Call Jin, please — she says in a broken voice, shedding tears. — He won't let me go back there. I have to ask him for help. I have to, or else I'll die! — The gaze she transfers to Hannah is full of fear. — He will help me. I'm sure he will.
Something in the past has contributed to Danielle's heartlessness, which intends to take away the happiness of others. She doesn't do it for any reason. It seems to be related to her psyche.
The fact that she wants to destroy her sister's life is linked to her anxiety. She needs help.
The brunette pulls her phone out of her purse and hastily dials her friend's number, hoping he will show up here, even if he has to take off work.
— Come to me. Now — she says when the boy answers the call. — Something bad is happening to Danielle. She requires you.
— Is it about her mother? — Hannah wrinkles her eyebrows. — Take care of her for a while. I'll show up at your place as soon as possible.
Danielle lifts her face, looking at her sister with weeping eyes.
— I am not a monster — she whispers quietly. — It was my mother who bred it in me.
Hannah opens her eyes wider and crouches in front of her.
— What are you talking about, Danielle?
— She made me into the kind of woman she is herself, and in doing so, destroyed my life.