Chapter 7

Hannah arrived at her sister's home.

Her brother-in-law had gone to work while her sister was hanging clothes out to dry on

the balcony. Seeing that Hannah was home, her sister expressed her concern. "Why

are you back at this hour, Hannah ? Is the shop closed today?"

"I'll go when it's busy in the afternoon. Is Alex awake yet?"

Alexander was Hannah's nephew. The boy was currently in his Terrible Twos.

"Not yet. The house won't be this quiet if he's awake."

Hannah asked about last night as she helped with the laundry.

"Hannah, your brother-in-law isn't trying to kick you out. He's simply under a lot of stress.

It's not like I'm working."

Mary clarified for her husband.

Hannah kept to herself, knowing well that it was her brother-in-law's covert attempt to

throw her out.

Her brother-in-law earned a lot as a manager in a firm. Mary met him in college and

was working in the same firm when they later got married. After marriage, the man

lovingly said to Liberty, "I'll take care of you. Just stay at home and rest. I don't want you

to be tired when the baby comes around."

Believing she had found the right man; Mary quit her job and became a housewife.

She gave birth to a lovely son a year into the marriage and had no time to dress up

between caring for a child and managing housework. Mary paid no thought to watch

her figure, nor could she break free from her routine and return to the workplace.

Fast forward three years, Mary went from a young and beautiful woman to an

unkept housewife with no time to spare for herself.

Hannah was five years younger than her sister. Their parents passed awaiy from a car

accident when Hannah was ten. Since then, Hannah and Mary only had each other.

The compensation from their parents' accident would have been enough for the sisters

to complete their studies, but the grandparents from both sides of the family wanted a

piece of it. With what was left, the sisters had to scrimp and save to pull through college.

Since the grandparents proceeded to hog the family home, Hannah and her sister

resorted to renting. Their renting days were finally over when Mary walked down the

aisle.

Mary absolutely adored Hannah and talked to her then husband-to-be about the living

arrangement before marriage. The man was quick to say yes about taking Mary and

Hannah as a one-package deal, but his resentment was beginning to rear its ugly head.

"I'm sorry, Mary. I'm a burden to you."

"No, Hann. Don't think that way. Mom and Dad left us too soon. I'm all you got."

Hannah was deeply moved. As a child, Hannah could always count on her sister, but

now it was her turn to be Mary's rock.

After a brief silence, Hannah took out the marriage license and showed it to Mary.

She said, "I'm married, sis. I just signed the papers and came back to let you know.

I'll be packing up and moving out in a bit."

"You got married?!"

Mary's voice turned high pitch, almost to a screech.

Staring at Hannah in disbelief, Mary snatched the marriage license for a closer

inspection. There was her sister's name alongside a stranger's name on the papers.

Attached was a photo of the newlyweds.

"What's this about, Hann? I thought you didn't even have a boyfriend."

The man in the photo was good-looking, but his piercing eyes and callous lines along

his facial features were telltale signs that he would not be the easiest person to get

along with.

While on the way back, Hannah had a story all thought out. She answered, "I have

been in a relationship for quite some time. His name is Samuel.