Just as Hannah stepped near the entrance, unfamiliar voices drifted out from within the room.
Curiosity pulled her gaze forward, and when she looked inside, she spotted her family gathered together, with Kenneth standing among them.
A heavy look settled on Brett's face as he fixed his eyes on the group. "Where's Hannah?" he asked, his tone edged with urgency.
Silence stretched between Jake and Kenneth, and neither of them spoke a word.
Without hesitation, Lainey broke down, and tears streamed down her face. "Brett, this all happened because of me. There wasn't enough space on the lifeboat. Hannah tried to shove me off, but she lost her footing and fell into the sea instead. They were trying to pull me to safety, and when they finally looked back, the waves had already taken her."
Shock took hold of Brett, and his voice came out strained. "What are you saying? Are you telling me Hannah was taken by the waves?"
With her voice trembling more convincingly, Lainey continued, "This is all because of me. I should have been the one who didn't make it, not her."
"Lainey, Hannah was the one who tried to harm you, and she ended up paying the price herself!"
Moving quickly to her side, Kenneth reached out to console her, though a quiet sense of relief passed through him.
In his mind, he found comfort in the situation. With Hannah gone, Lainey would remain the only daughter of the Oliver family, and that meant his family could no longer pressure him into marrying Hannah.
Without wasting a second, Brett shifted his attention to Jake and spoke in a firm voice. "Explain everything to me. I want the full truth."
Caught off guard by the pressure in his eldest brother's voice, Jake stiffened before answering, "Brett…"
"Someone as cruel and unfeeling as Hannah being gone wouldn't be a loss. We've done everything we could, and my family has already sent out rescue boats, so whether she makes it or not depends on fate now." Impatience showed on Kenneth's face as he cut in.
A faint, chilling smirk formed on Hannah's lips as she heard those words from outside. With a steady motion, she pushed the door open and stepped inside without hesitation.
"Rescue boats? I didn't come across even one."
Hannah's sudden appearance left everyone in the room frozen in shock.
Shock flashed across Lainey's face, and the resentment in her eyes became harder to hide.
How did Hannah manage to survive this?
Why did fate seem to favor her again?
Disbelief filled Jake as he looked at her, yet the weight on his conscience disappeared just as quickly.
Relief washed over him as he realized Hannah had returned safely.
A deep breath escaped Brett as relief finally settled over him.
Across the room, Kenneth's expression shifted, and his face grew noticeably grim.
"How did you even make it back?"
Trying to appear overjoyed, Lainey pressed her lips together before rushing toward Hannah.
"Hannah, you're back at last! I truly thought I had lost you forever."
Lainey opened her arms, ready for a hug. Instead of accepting the gesture, Hannah moved aside and raised her hand without pause, striking Lainey hard across the face.
The sound of the slap rang sharply in the air, and the room fell silent as everyone stood frozen in shock.
Under the force of the blow, Lainey's face jerked to one side, and her cheek quickly flushed red as it began to swell. "Hannah, you…" she managed to say, her voice shaking.
Fury overtook Kenneth, and he hurried forward as he shot Hannah a furious glare.
"Hannah, have you completely lost control? You need to apologize to Lainey right now!"
A chilling curve formed on Hannah's lips as she looked at Kenneth like he was already finished.
Her eyes held a dangerous edge, and the killing intent in them made his body tense with unease.
"Why would I apologize to someone who tried to take my life?"
If she had still been the same person she once was, Lainey wouldn't have survived this.
A flicker of fear passed through Lainey, yet she kept one hand on her cheek and forced an innocent expression. "Hannah, what do you mean by that? I really don't understand."
Before anyone could react, Hannah lifted her hand again and struck Lainey once more, her voice filled with contempt. "Want me to be more clear? You shoved me into the sea because you wanted me dead!"
Anger took over Jake as he rushed forward to confront her. "Hannah, stop making things up! Lainey cares about you more than anyone else. She even said she was willing to die with you."
Kenneth cut in immediately, "Lainey's gentle and kind, and she would not even hurt something as small as an ant. There's no way she would push you. Apologize to Lainey right now, or you will regret what happens next!"
A mocking laugh slipped from Hannah as she looked at him with disdain. "What makes you think you have the right to command me?"
