Chapter 2

2.

Hannah's face instantly drained of all color.

She took half a step back, her left thumb nervously rubbing against her index finger.

It was her subconscious tell whenever she was guilty.

Her voice trembled with barely concealed panic as her eyes darted around the room.

"What... what kind of ridiculous nonsense is that? What would that even prove?"

I let out a cold laugh, picked up a bruised petal from the floor, and held it out to her.

"Didn't you swear it's just an innocent bouquet of lilies?"

Hannah turned her head away, pressing her lips tightly together without uttering a single word.

Seeing her daughter cornered, my mother-in-law leaped out of her chair and grabbed a broom from the kitchen.

"What bad luck! You're tearing this whole household apart! Fine, I'll sweep it up so certain petty people can stop their pathetic whining!"

My mother began trembling with indignation. "Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?"

I placed a calming hand on my mother's shoulder, then barked at my mother-in-law, "Don't touch it!"

The sharpness in my voice made her flinch. I snatched the broom from her hands and tossed it aside.

Taking a step forward, I cornered Hannah against the mess on the floor.

"What's the matter? Guilty?"

"If there's nothing wrong with these flowers, what are you so terrified of?"

She shifted her gaze away, completely unable to look me in the eye.

My father-in-law set his wine glass down with a heavy thud, his face flashing between red and pale.

"Enough! All of you, stop this circus! Look at what you've turned this celebration into!" he roared, slamming the table.

"Sit down and eat. If anyone wants to keep causing a scene, get the hell out of my house!"

He shot a pointed look straight at me.

I knew those words were aimed exclusively at my head.

Right then, the front doorbell rang.

Hannah practically bolted toward the front door with frantic relief.

She ripped the door open.

Standing on the porch was none other than her sweet, innocent student, Tristan Lane.

Dressed in a crisp white dress shirt, he carried expensive vintage wine and gourmet gift baskets meant for Hannah's parents.

Seeing the broken glass and flowers scattered across the living room, his handsome face went pale, and his voice sounded on the verge of tears.

"Professor Shaw... Mr. Albright... what happened?"

"Is it... is it because of the flowers I brought? Did I make you upset?"

"I'm so sorry! I only brought lilies because I wanted to wish you and your husband a lifetime of harmony. I had no other intentions!"

"The florist told me it was their most popular arrangement! I'm so sorry for intruding. I'll leave right now."

He stepped into the foyer, gently set the gifts down, and turned to leave.

An action that should have taken three seconds took him three agonizingly theatrical minutes.

"Wait right there!" My mother-in-law rushed forward, glaring at Hannah before grabbing Tristan by the arm.

She pulled him onto the couch, then turned around to sneer at me. "Good boy, this has nothing to do with you! Some people are just too small-minded to tolerate anyone else!"

As she fussed over him, I caught the subtle smirk Tristan threw in my direction―full of smug arrogance and mockery.

I didn't react to his taunt. I simply said, "Get out."

Hannah gasped in outrage.

Veins popped on the back of her clenched fists as her patience completely snapped. "Zack! What did he do wrong?"

"He already apologized for buying lilies! He's just a twenty-year-old kid with pure intentions! The florist recommended them, so why are you taking your pathetic anger out on him?"

"I am warning you: keep your filthy, twisted thoughts away from an innocent boy!"

My mother-in-law positioned herself in front of Tristan like a human shield. "I dare anyone to try kicking him out!"

She turned all her verbal artillery directly toward me.

"Zack, you've lived under our roof for five years and haven't even given Hannah a child! And now you treat our guest like this?"

"You spend every waking hour locked in your laboratory, lacking even the basic capability of a real man. My daughter was cursed the day she married you!"

"I knew it from the start―men who can't father children are rotten to the core! You have no real talent, so you can't stand seeing anyone else succeed!"