Chapter 5
Seeing the message, Theobald finally remembered why he had come to the mall in the first place.
The sudden reappearance of his sister, dead for eleven years, had completely scrambled his brain.
He’d forgotten all about Hannah.
He frowned, his left fingertips instinctively fiddling with the black rosary beads on his right wrist.
Anna knew him well. That frown, combined with the fidgeting, meant he was thinking. She had heard the notification sound too. Theobald had a custom alert for Hannah. Since they were sitting side-by-side, a slight turn of her head was all it took to see the message.
Was the CEO trying to figure out how to tell Marguerite he had to leave?
Even if the mall wasn’t cleared, they could go somewhere else. As far as she knew, this was the first time Hannah had ever suggested going shopping with him. It was a golden opportunity.
Marguerite, the glutton, was busy ordering and didn’t notice the subtle exchange.
After placing her order, she asked, “Theobald, what do you want to eat p>
Theobald looked up but before he could speak, Anna cut in. “I’ll order. The CEO is busy p>
“Busy with what?” Marguerite asked.
Theobald shook his head, his fingers tapping out a reply on his phone:
[They didn’t clear the mall today. I have something to take care of, so I can’t go shopping with you. Next time p>
Marguerite had just returned. He could tell her about Hannah later, when the time was right. Hannah was so charming; Marguerite was sure to like her.
Anna’s eyes widened in shock.
This was the first time her boss hadn’t dropped everything for Hannah.
Excellent! He’s a sister-complex! There’s hope for him yet!
In her luxury van, Hannah was equally stunned.
Just a short while ago, Theobald had been messaging her repeatedly, asking if she had arrived. Why the sudden change of heart?
She had already arranged for paparazzi to secretly photograph them. When Joshua saw the news that Theobald had booked an entire mall just to shop with her, he would be furious. He was already full of regret and begging for her back, but she wasn’t that easy to win over.
She wanted to teach him a lesson he wouldn’t forget.
After a moment’s thought, she replied to Theobald.
[Theo, are you mad at me? I fell asleep in the car and didn’t see your messages. I wasn’t ignoring you on purpose p>
The custom alert tone was long, and it rang twice in quick succession. Content orıginally comes from.net
This time, Marguerite heard it. She asked directly, “Who’s texting you p>
The dishes were arriving quickly. Theobald was busy cooking Marguerite’s favorite tripe and didn’t even have time to look at his phone. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it,” he sard distractedly Try this tripe. crispy enough p>
Anna’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
She had never seen her boss cook for anyone, let alone ignore a message from Hannah.
“What are you looking at me for? Is there food on my face?” Theobald asked, glancing at Anna. “If you want something, cook it yourself p>
Anna’s mouth twitched. “Of course, Mr. Scott p>
This was also her first time having hot pot with the CEO. For years, he had been consumed by work, eating only as a necessity at business dinners or grabbing something quick.
The steam swirled around the black rosary beads on his wrist, giving him a touch of ordinary, human warmth.
Anna had watched Starlight Group
evolve from a failing real estate company into the massive conglomerate it was today. It had taken only four years. The company had been in the hands of his uncle Fitch, but Theobald had ruthlessly sent him to prison without a shred of mercy.
world called him a
The business world
grim-faced specter. Anna had
always thought so too; he was
constantly shrouded in a gloommet
lifeless aura. With the woman he
liked, he swung to the other extreme: manic excitement.
Only now, in this moment, did she see a tender side to him.
After waiting for over ten minutes without a reply, Hannah’s expression grew increasingly sour.
The paparazzi were already calling her assistant, getting impatient. Theobald was just a pathetic simp. Who did he think he was, playing hard to get?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, her chest heaving. She snapped
at her assistant, “Let’s go! Tell the paparazzi to leave too! The nerve of him, standing me up p>
But she still sent one more message to Theobald.
[I’m leaving, Theo. You go ahead and take care of your business. I won’t bother
you p>
This time, he replied almost instantly.
[I’m not angry, I just have something to deal with p>
[Bank Transfer: $100,000]
[I’m sorry, Hannah. I’ll make it up to you next time p>
Seeing the three messages, Hannah scoffed and ignored them.
A hundred thousand dollars? Was he trying to pay off a beggar? She wasn’t
accepting it.
As long as she didn’t accept, Theobald would send more. It was his usual tactic.
She would decide whether to acknowledge him based on the sincerity of his apology -in cash.
Meanwhile, Marguerite saw Theobald casually transfer a hundred thousand dollars and nearly fainted.