C4 Chapter 4

John kept his eyes fixed on Hannah. If he had to guess, her intention behind sleeping with him that night had been anything but pure. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that she left her phone behind in his room?

Yet her sharp, decisive refusal today actually made him look at her in a slightly different light. Of course, if she ended up changing her mind later, he would only despise her even more. Playing hard to get was hardly a novel trick, and trying those games in front of him would only result in self-humiliation.

"Fine. You may leave," he dismissed her coldly.

Back in her office area, Hannah realized she was not angry, just chilled to the bone.

Since she had already turned down John's demand, she forced herself to stop dwelling on it.

Right now, the most crucial thing was staying at Carter International. After all, no other company in all of New York could match their benefits.

Just as she was wrestling with her inner anxieties, a message popped up from her older brother, Kevin: [Hannah, the doctor wants you at the hospital at four this afternoon.]

Hannah felt a surge of frustration: [I'm still at work at four.]

[Then tell the doctor yourself.]

Hannah knew arguing with Kevin was useless.

It was three o'clock now. To reach the hospital by four, she had to leave by three-thirty, which meant asking the Financial Director for leave again.

The thought made her head throb.

She was genuinely talented, an outstanding student in college who had successfully implemented an innovative bookkeeping method at work, earning praise from her superiors.

However, she kept taking time off. With the internship evaluation period at its peak, frequent absences were a dangerous liability.

Sure enough, when she asked for time off, Financial Director Paul Walker replied, "Hannah, you've performed well, but with all these leaves, how am I supposed to write your evaluation report? You do want to stay at Carter International, don't you?"

"Director Walker, Carter International is a fantastic company, and of course I want to stay. But I really have an urgent matter. I'll come straight back afterward to work overtime and finish everything," Hannah pleaded humbly.

Director Walker reluctantly granted her leave. Hannah hurried out and caught a bus to NYC Hospital.

Her mother had been lying in the neurology ward for two full years.

"Hannah, it's time to settle your mother's hospital fees for this period. Did you bring the money today?" Dr. Ford was her mother's long-time doctor and knew Hannah well. He knew her older brother was completely useless and didn't care about their mother's medical bills, leaving Hannah to shoulder all the burdens herself.

"Oh, not yet. My paycheck doesn't come in for a few days," Hannah murmured, lowering her head in embarrassment.

"You need to hurry. If this continues, the hospital will be forced to take measures."

"I know, I know," Hannah replied, bowing repeatedly.

Hannah went into the ward to visit her mother, who was attached to an oxygen tank. Over the past two years, no matter how much Hannah spoke to her, there was never any response.

Her father used to be a project manager on construction sites. Their family of four had lived a warm, happy life.

Six years ago, however, her father tragically fell from a skyscraper site twenty stories up and passed away.

The accident hit her mother terribly hard, leading to severe distraction and eventually a devastating car crash.

Her father's compensation, combined with the settlement from the car accident, had sustained her mother in the hospital for over five years. But savings eventually ran dry.

Once the funds were nearly exhausted, Hannah worked odd jobs for professors at school and tutored students to cover the hospital bills.

Her brother had suggested pulling the oxygen tube long ago to save trouble, but Hannah found his lack of humanity appalling. Having a mother to call out to, even if her mother couldn't answer, was infinitely better than losing her completely.

Hannah gently held her mother's hand. "Mom, I'm preparing for the CPA exam right now. Please bless me so I pass. Once I'm certified, my salary will multiply, I could even earn a six-figure income! Paying your medical bills won't be a problem at all then."

Hannah squeezed out a smile for her mother, but received no reply.

For six long years, Hannah had held onto the hope that her mother would suddenly open her eyes and speak to her, stroking her hair like she did when Hannah was little, calling her name.

"I need to get back to work. Since I haven't passed the exam yet, the most important thing right now is securing my job at Carter International," Hannah muttered, pumping herself up.

Staying at Carter International meant a steady monthly income, at least enough to pay rent and keep her mother's medical treatments going.

Yet with all her frequent leaves, securing her spot there was becoming harder by the day.