The Path Forward

Elijah spoke quietly with Hannah's mother before leaving, his expression grave. "There's no love between Adrian and Hannah," he said softly, his voice laced with concern.

Hannah's mother, her resolve unwavering, met his gaze. "There's nothing wrong between them, Elijah," she replied firmly. "I'll prove it to you."

Later, Hannah's mother knocked gently on the door of Adrian and Hannah's room. As the door creaked open, she stepped inside, holding an envelope in her hand. "I've made a reservation for the two of you at a luxury resort," she announced, offering it to Adrian. "I think you both could use some time away, just the two of you."

Hannah, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, looked up in surprise, her eyes narrowing. "Mother, I don't think that's necessary—"

Before she could finish, Adrian's calm voice cut through the tension. "If this is what you want," he said, glancing briefly at Hannah, "we'll go."

Hannah blinked, caught off guard by his quick acceptance. She forced a small smile. "Only a mad person would pass up such an opportunity," she said lightly, though a hint of reluctance colored her words.

Her mother smiled warmly, her relief evident. "I'm just happy to see you both… happy. You deserve this, Hannah." Her gaze lingered on her daughter, silently pleading for things to improve.

Adrian nodded, his expression unreadable. "There couldn't be a better gift," he replied, though his voice held an edge, something unspoken hovering between them.

Once her mother left the room, Adrian exhaled deeply, tossing the envelope onto the table. "We've accepted the gift, but…" His voice trailed off as if he couldn't find the right words.

Hannah, watching him closely, stood and walked toward him. Her heart raced, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. Before Adrian could say another word, she raised her hand and gently placed a finger on his lips.

Adrian blinked, clearly startled by her unexpected gesture. "What are you doing?" he asked quietly, his voice filled with confusion.

Hannah's gaze softened, and she slowly lowered her hand. "Can't I come close to my own husband?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a tenderness she hadn't shown in a long time. "I'm trying, Adrian. I really am."

Adrian's brows furrowed as he searched her eyes. "Are you?" he asked, doubt weighing heavy in his voice. "Because it hasn't felt like that in a while."

Hannah bit her lip, looking down as she took a deep breath. "I know. I've been… distant." She hesitated, her voice thick with emotion. "But I'm happy we're going on this trip together. Maybe it's what we need. Maybe we can start over."

She moved closer, her dress brushing against the edge of the table. Suddenly, a glass of water toppled over, crashing to the floor and shattering into pieces.

Hannah gasped, her eyes widening in alarm. "Adrian, don't!" she exclaimed as he bent down to pick up the shards. "You'll hurt yourself. Let me handle it."

Adrian, surprised by her urgency, stepped back, watching as Hannah knelt to gather the broken glass with practiced care. Her concern for him was palpable, her movements precise as she avoided the sharp edges.

Outside the room, Hannah's mother lingered, overhearing their exchange. A soft smile of satisfaction spread across her face. The scene, though simple, seemed to affirm her belief that things between Hannah and Adrian were improving.

She glanced at him through the mirror, her eyes reflecting frustration and determination. Then, with a sudden motion, she threw another glass onto the floor, shattering it deliberately. "Call a servant," she ordered, her tone sharp and demanding.

Adrian looked at her, bewildered. "What was that all about?"

Hannah's eyes met his in the mirror's reflection. "Mother was just here. She said this to make her think we're in love." Her voice softened but remained edged with frustration. "She'll believe it if we pretend."

As Hannah's mother stepped outside, she spotted Elijah waiting nearby. She approached him with purpose and handed him a voucher for a resort holiday. "You were wrong again today," she said, a faint smile on her lips.

Elijah glanced at the voucher before responding, "They're just pretending to be happy. They might look content now, but they'll only find true happiness once they're away from all pretense."

"How will you know if they're genuinely happy?" Hannah's mother asked, her curiosity piqued.

Elijah's gaze was steady as he replied, "I just want our daughter."

Hannah's mother corrected him gently, "My daughter."

Elijah nodded, acknowledging the correction. "I only want to understand Hannah's problem so that you can resolve it."

Hannah's mother returned home with a beaming smile, clearly pleased with her decision. She approached Emily in the living room, her excitement bubbling over. "I just gifted a luxury resort to Hannah and Adrian!" she announced, her voice filled with pride.

Emily's expression shifted from confusion to frustration. She smiled at her mother, but her thoughts were elsewhere. "While I'm struggling to find a job, Hannah is living in luxury? This isn't right," she muttered to herself, her smile not reaching her eyes. "I'm going to make sure she doesn't enjoy her life so easily. Not after everything."

Hannah's mother, unaware of Emily's true feelings, whispered a prayer, hoping that the trip would bring about a positive change and prove her fears and Elijah's doubts wrong.