Chapter 6 : The Evil Sister

After reading the message, Hannah's brows furrowed.

"Your phone number, do many people know about it??"

Hannah asked looking up from his phone.

Steven glanced at her, placed Forbes to the side.

"What are you talking about??"

Steven's cell phone number was not known to many people and thus it was unlikely that someone who wasn't close with him would text him.

"I just did not expect Melanie to be so concerned about our relationship and to text you that's all."

Hannah smiled intentionally allowing some jealousy to be revealed in her eyes.

Steven asked...

"Weren't you the one who gave her my number!!"

Well that could have happened. Melanie often took Hannah's phone from her and played around with it. Stupidly, Hannah had not given it much thought but it now seemed obvious that Melanie had memorized Steven's number.

"But anyway even though Melanie sometimes texts me that doesn't mean I read them or respond."

Steven continued calmly.

Hearing this Hannah scrolled down discovering many unread messages. Aside from a few emails and messages from the company there were several unread messages from Melanie.

After randomly reading a few she discovered that they mostly made it sound as though she were a kind younger sister speaking up for her older sister but in fact they made Hannah sound as though she were often unreasonable and unpredictable.

As Hannah sat in silence, Steven piped up... "Being young doesn't equate to being innocent you know, family should not be blindly trusted."

Hannah suspiciously eyed Steven. He seem to have already known everything from the start.

No wonder Steven had rarely returned home when Melanie was around. He had already seen through Melanie's schemes.

Hannah could have kicked her past self for being so foolish. Why didn't she see through her sister!! How could someone be so thick!!

Hannah violently slapped her forehead and ended up hitting the wound. She recoiled in surprise while her whole face scrunched up in pain.

Steven walked over pushing her hand aside.

Seeing her sore forehead he frowned...

"Does it not hurt enough?? Do you have to make it worse!!"

Hannah raised her head. Tears flowed out of her eyes, she could not hold in her shame any longer.

"I won't let anyone walk all over me anymore." She whimpered ...

"In the past, did I cause a lot of trouble for you??"

"Anything concerning you is not any trouble.

For this sort of thing the decision lies in your hands."

Steven held her head checking her wound before calling one of the maids over.

"Get a cold pack for Hannah will you!!'

Anything concerning her was not considered trouble. Hannah's heart reppiled and she threw herself into his embrace. It was early in the morning and she had already done so twice. By now Steven was somewhat used to her sudden outburst of sweet passion. He lowered his eyes to look at her head, buried in his embrace.

"Once you've eaten, return to the room to rest. It's already winter don't catch a cold."

He said.

"I'm not five anymore I don't need to go to sleep right after eating."

Suddenly she noticed that the staff was all watching them. She quickly stood up feeling inexplicably awkward and shy. Still she noticed Steven was smiling.

"Didn't you always used to do that though in the past!!"

He asked.

"That was... in the past."

Hannah never liked having breakfast with him. She always rushed to finish and would then find a random excuse to return to her room to rest. She couldn't stand being around him but now things are different.

"Well that's because I couldn't sleep very well so I had to sleep during the day."

Hannah explained rubbing her face..

"You see... good rest will lead to beautiful skin."

Steven chuckled at her awkward explanation and refrained from poking holes in her argument. Seeing that he did not believe her she grabbed his hand and pressed it to her face.

"If you don't believe me see for yourself. Isn't it soft and smooth??"

Steven gently rubbed his thumb across Hannah's face. Hannah held onto his hands but was unable to control his movements. He pinched her chin. Her face immediately burned red.

"Indeed it is... soft and smooth."

He whispered in a slightly hoarse voice.

Though those were the same words she had initially used to describe her skin. Hearing them come from his mouth somehow made her think there was something else, something more he wanted to tell her. Her heart beat quickened in anticipation.

"Mrs Van you are seducing me."

Steven said.

"Do you not want me to go to work??"

There was only the space of a finger preventing them from kissing. Hannah's heart skipped a beat. How could he tease her like this. In her past life she must have been out of her mind to not see how wonderful he was. Hannah closed her eyes yet the kiss she expected did not happen. When her eyes at last flickered open

she saw Steven. He was always aloof and quiet. Distancing himself from others, still he was very astute, able to notice when people were not quite acting like themselves.

Though he did not ask Hannah about what had prompted these changes within her. That did not mean he did not notice them.

Hannah for her part felt that perhaps she had been too hasty and she instinctively took a step back. Just as she was about to move away from him though his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. He pulled her in for a kiss.

Earlier on the staff had already cleared the table. There was no one around and in the stillness they could hear each other's breath.

Hannah raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck tightly. Her teary eyes filled with passion. He closed his eyes. If he looked at her any longer he'd have to push the meeting back to tomorrow. Still, Hannah's perfume hung in the air seductively pulling him in.

Even if it was just a kiss it would be enough to tantalize him for the rest of the day.

Rose brought the blankets out from the guest bedroom. The moment she walked out she saw Hannah sitting on the couch. Her face bright red appearing as though her soul had been stolen.

City park's doorbell rang.

Steven, who had just received a call from his company and was about to leave went to open the door.

On the other side stood Melanie.

Melanie wore a lilac dress. Her makeup scheme accentuated her youth as well as her adherence to all the latest cosmetic trends.

The moment she saw that it was Steven who had opened the door, her eyes lit up.

"Steven shouldn't you be at the office?? Why haven't you left!!"

Melanie's tone was filled with poorly disguised joy.

Previously Melanie had wanted to use the excuse of comforting Steven to go look for him but he was always at the office.

Steven's office was so strictly managed that there was no way she could enter.

The previous night she had only managed to catch a glimpse of him at city park before he had pulled Hannah to his room.

It had been a long time since she stood so close to him.

Steven however stood stalwartly at the door with no intention of letting her in.

Melanie glanced inside. From this angle she could not see Hannah so she spoke softly...

"Is my sister still sleeping?? Locking herself in the room for the whole day without seeing any one. It's no wonder she's acting stranger and stranger by the day. I'll talk to her."

Melanie knew that Hannah and Steven had always been at odds. Though he'd return to city park she knew it wasn't because they wanted to be with each other no doubt they'd been quarreling ever since his return unable to breathe the same air in peace.

"Why are you here Melanie??"

Steven's voice was calm but held no warmth whatsoever.

Melanie was already used to his coldness and felt that it stemmed from his unhappiness with her sister.

She smiled...

"I'm worried that because my sister isn't feeling too happy these days she might cause trouble again. So I thought I'd come and spend time with her."

"What sort of trouble have I caused??"

Hannah's voice suddenly came from behind Steven.

Melanie's expression instantly frozed. Hannah walked over to Steven's side. Her hand grazing his elbow, she beamed smugly at Melanie.

"Well Melanie, what trouble are you talking about?"

Melanie stared at Hannah unable to hide her shock. She then watched as Hannah linked her arm with Steven's to rub more salt in the wound.

After the incident with the drugged wine, Steven should have been through with Hannah. How could this be happening!!

"You and... Steven"

Melanie started hesitantly.

Hannah cut her off.

"Melanie we've been married for half a year. Why are you surprised to see us together!!

Shouldn't we be together??"

Melanie's expression fell as she took in the scene before her. Steven and Hannah in a marital bliss.

She blurted...

"Steven did you do something to my sister?? She used to hate the mere sight of you. Anytime she'd get near you she'd run away. She hated you touching her. Why is she suddenly so close to you?"

Hannah leaned against Steven with an amused expression on her face...

"Stop lying Mel!!"

Steven turned to Hannah. He moved his hand to Hannah's wrist, quietly whispering in her ear so that only she could hear the words. Hannah had never expected that someone like Steven who seem so reserved on the outside would have the potential to be such a playful flirtatious tease.

Unable to stomach what she was seeing, Melanie's voice became somewhat sharp.

"What are you guys doing!!! I'm standing right here!!"

"What do you mean? We can't just stand next to each other? We need your permission for that?"

Hannah rested her head on Steven's shoulder looking up with a smile at his handsome face.

"Honey it's already past eight. If you don't get to work, won't you miss your meeting?"

Melanie's eyes almost fell out of her head. Honey!!! Did she call him honey!!

Hannah had always tried her best to make sure no one knew she was married. Nobody was allowed to call her Mrs Van and she hated being associated with Steven but now she called him honey.

What did this mean!!

Melanie was baffled. If things between Hannah and Steven continued to improve like this how would she have an opportunity to snatch him away.

Steven looked at his watch. He did indeed have an important meeting but hearing Hannah call him honey made him want to skip out on the meeting and stay home for the day with her.

He smiled at Hannah and only Hannah and gently patted her head.

"You guys talk I'll head to work."

It took everything inside Melanie to not explode. With great effort she managed to smile.

"Steven I just got here."

She said...pouting...

"You're leaving already??"

"Your brother in law has things to do at the office."

Hannah informed her.

"You can't possibly expect him to push aside his meeting to sit here and play with you."

"That's not what I meant. I....."

Melanie was rarely ever left speechless especially in Hannah's company.

In the past no matter what Hannah had always given into her. She never argued but today was different. Why was Hannah all of a sudden so comfortable standing her ground, pushing back.

The butler handed Steven his suit jacket and without looking at Melanie's direction Steven slipped into it.

"You're wearing so little."

He said to Hannah.

"Don't stand at the door for too long okay.

You don't want to catch a cold."

Melanie watched him leave. A part of her aching to follow him out into the bright sunny day. She suspected that Hannah must have said something to him. In the past although Steven did not pay much attention to her. For the sake of his and Hannah's relationship, he would at least acknowledge her presence but today was different. Today it was like he couldn't stand being around her. Before Melanie could follow Steven however Hannah grabbed her by the wrist.

"Melanie we need to talk."

When Melanie turned to look at Hannah she saw that her expression was unusually calm and cold.

Melanie cleared her throat.

"Steven seems to be in a good mood today. Why don't you take this opportunity to make things clear with him. If you tell him you don't wanna be with him anymore maybe he'll give you the divorce you've been wanting."

"You seem to be more invested in that idea than I am."

Though Hannah was brimming with anger and hatred she kept calm. She wouldn't let Melanie get to her... not now. She'd hold it together.

But for how long could she hold it in??

That was the question.