Ch. 1081..1090

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1081

At that moment, Fabian’s expression was downright evil. His dark brown eyes shone with so much hostility that it looked like he was hunting for his prey from the dark. Its razor-sharp gaze zeroed in from the sky and was targeting Xavier.

“Xavier Jackson, do not touch my woman with your filthy hands and don’t assume that I am too intimidated to go after you. If you cross the line, I won’t show you any mercy even if he begs on your behalf,” warned Fabian in his deep voice, which carried insurmountable power and aggression.

Hannah instantly turned into a lovesick puppy. She felt as if incidents like that would only happen in fairy tales, but it had actually happened to her. How could she not go starry-eyed under those circumstances?

Wow! He is so cool. What did he just say? I didn’t mishear him, did I? He called me his woman. Is that how he really sees me? Or is he just saying that to help me out of a sticky situation?

Fabian didn’t care about how Hannah would react, and he definitely wasn’t interested in learning it. As far as he was concerned, Xavier only saw Hannah as a plaything. I know exactly what kind of a man Xavier is. After saying his piece, Fabian grabbed Hannah’s wrist and left immediately for the car that was parked only a short distance away. He shoved her in it.

Vroom! The engine started soon after. Fabian and Hannah zipped down the road in the car while Xavier was left standing at the same spot.

Xavier looked terrible at that moment. Any guy would be infuriated if another man got in his way while he was flirting with a beautiful woman. For spoiled, rich men like Xavier, who had grown up with a silver spoon, it was even more difficult to endure.

Xavier narrowed his eyes and spat through gritted teeth, “You didn’t even need to throw the first punch. I would’ve already attacked you if it wasn’t for your connection to him.”

Xavier’s fury quickly turned into a cunning grin when he added, “Your woman, huh? So Hannah is yours? Looks like I will have to spend more effort on her.”

Fabian looked grouchy in the luxurious car he was in. He had the box of rose tea that Xavier had just given Hannah and was glaring intently at Hannah. He didn’t need to be angry to intimidate anyone, and his glare got Hannah to tremble internally. “Aren’t you going to explain yourself?” demanded the guy.

Explain myself? Why would I need to explain myself? All I did was head over to conduct an interview. What is there to explain? Hannah was a little upset. Fabian could be a little controlling sometimes, and she was unhappy with it. However, she didn’t dare to fight back, so she had been holding it in.

“Why did you turn quiet? I saw how the two of you were chatting happily and smiling just seconds ago. What? You can’t talk now that you’re with me? What is the meaning of this?” demanded Fabian. He no longer cared what Hannah was thinking and was interrogating her endlessly.

Hannah remained quiet. The truth was that she honestly had no idea what was there to say. Moreover, she thought that Fabian was being unreasonable.

Fabian opened the wrap containing the tea and got a beautiful wooden box out of it. A faint, refreshing scent exuded.

“A delicate rose tea for a delicate woman. How romantic. If I remember correctly, I am the one who taught you the benefit of drinking tea, am I not? Hah! This is so funny. He’s using the very thing I taught you to mock me! Don’t forget that we are legally married, Hannah Young. Do you think it’s appropriate for a married woman to accept gifts like that?”

Fabian was downright infuriated. His love and heart were slowly but surely moving toward Hannah, but her nonchalance was the thanks he received. This woman is too much!

Hannah was getting angry as well. Nothing ever happened between her and Xavier, and Fabian’s words were too insulting.

The anger that Hannah had long suppressed finally got ignited by Fabian. Like an erupting volcano, her words spewed uncontrollably.

“What gives you the right to say that, Fabian? My senior editor sent me over to interview him, and he gave me a box of tea after the interview. What is wrong with that? What was I supposed to do? Refuse to accept it? I am not you. I am not the president of Phoenix Group, and I need a job. The senior editor threatened to fire me if I mess this up. Do you even know what it means to be fired? No, of course not. How could you know? You are a spoilt brat who grew up with a silver spoon. How could you understand the frustration that we common folks have to endure?”

Hannah’s emotions were running wild, and her tears swirled around her eyes as she added, “Also, please don’t insult my value and honor. I have never done anything to hurt you after we got married. I, Hannah Young, am guilt-!”

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1082

Fabian calmed down after hearing those words. His emotions clouded his judgment earlier. If he actually thought things through, he would see that there was nothing off about how the two interacted.

“You, on the other hand, are not. Do you not know that we are married? What have you done since? Have you shown me even a shred of respect? Aren’t you crossing the line a little even though we didn’t get married out of love? You got close to Yvette right in front of me and ignored me completely. Now, I finally see that the two of you are into each other. Fine, rather than us being unhappy together, why don’t we just get a divorce? It’s what you want, isn’t it? That way, you can run off into the sunset with your precious Yvette.”

Hannah’s voice turned thick with tears toward the end of her sentence. Burning tears rolled down her cheeks slowly until they reached the side of her lips and slipped into her mouth. My tears are as bitter as my life…

Turned out, she still cared. Fabian deliberately flirted with Yvette to see if Hannah would get jealous. He wanted to see if Hannah still cared about him, but she suppressed her emotions and never spoke to him about it. That got Fabian to misread the situation and assumed that Hannah didn’t care about him at all. That, in turn, prompted Fabian to pay less attention to Hannah because he didn’t want to embarrass himself.

Hearing all those words and learning that Hannah’s distant behavior was just an act… Fabian couldn’t help feeling rather pleased. Like Xavier, Fabian had countless women throwing themselves at him, but he admired Hannah’s honest and straightforward style. She was youthful and smart, but she was not calculating.

Hannah was crying so much that it was as if she was made of tears. Regret and guilt rose within Fabian, but he didn’t know how to comfort her at that moment. Hence, he had no choice but to tilt toward Hannah and open his arms to pull her into a warm hug.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for breaking your heart,” said Fabian. Hannah was resisting and pushing him away, but he whispered those words into her ears, anyway.

Hannah felt even worse after hearing what he said, but she held him in her arms and bawled her eyes out.

“Fabian Norton, you are a blo*dy jerk! You’re so mean. Can’t you just be a little nicer to me? I am a woman, after all. How can you bully me like that?” complained Hannah between sobs.

Fabian gently stroked her and said, “I was wrong, but I promise that you are the only one in my heart now.”

He was being honest. After an entire year of hanging out together, Fabian had developed inexplicable feelings for Hannah. He didn’t know when he started feeling that way, but the emotions he felt were overwhelming and passionate.

Hannah lay in Fabian’s arms and cried endlessly. It took her a while before she slowly calmed down.

Soon after, the car reached the entrance of their home. Fabian softly tapped Hannah’s cheeks, which were full of tears, and tried to dry them for her. “Hey, we’re home now,” said Fabian.

He had Hannah’s soft hand in his muscular hand, so she could feel just how warm his hand was.

At that moment, Hannah’s heart was brimming with conflicting emotions. She didn’t know if she was happy or sad. Why must Fabian turn over a new leaf and nurture this love just when I am about to give up all hope? Can’t he just let that hope dissipate entirely? At least then I won’t be heartbroken over this again.

Hannah never said a word. Her expression was blank, and she suspected the validity of Fabian’s earlier words. She walked stiffly like a robot and followed Fabian into the house.

Fabian stopped short the second he opened the door. He didn’t utter a word when he looked ahead in surprise. His voice carried a hint of disbelief when he called out, “Mom?”

The woman standing in the house turned around and saw the two adults. She replied calmly, “You’re both home.”

Hannah tilted her head up suddenly. She was at a loss for words, and her eyes bulged in disbelief as she looked at that woman.

Fabian’s mom? What is she doing here? Why didn’t Fabian tell me beforehand? Or did she spring her visit on him as well?

Fabian was stunned. He sounded stiff when he asked, “Mom, what brought you here?”

“What? Am I not allowed to visit my son’s place?”

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1083

Fabian’s mom, Heather, had always been upset about how Fabian married Hannah. She thought that Hannah was not worthy of her incredible son, who was in a noble family. She wasn’t actually a mean person, but her way of thinking was more traditional, so she believed that only people of the same social status should get married. To her, Hannah was nothing but a lowly journalist.

Hannah was aware of all that as well. She knew that Fabian was out of her league, but she was forced to marry him, too. That got her to sigh internally. The never-ending soap opera of a rich family.

“Um, of course not. Sit, please,” said Fabian as he forced a smile onto his face. He was secretly displeased with his mom’s attitude, but what could he do? The person standing in front of him wasn’t some business tycoon or political leader. That was his mom!

Heather walked to the sofa and sat down, but her expression remained hostile and brimming with discrimination.

Hannah looked a little off as well. She knew that Heather’s grouchy expression and hostility were directed at her, but she refused to butter Heather up. She felt like doing all that would just make herself seem even smaller.

Fabian nudged Hannah and signaled her with his eyes.

Hannah read the social cue and took a deep breath before she spoke politely and sweetly, “Mom, you’re here.”

Heather rolled her eyes at Hannah. She didn’t like her, but the social rules dictated that she needed to be polite. Hence, she responded with a half-hearted “Hmm.”

Hannah didn’t really know what to do after greeting Heather, so the situation turned awkward. Fabian tried to keep both sides happy.

“Mom, this is Hannah. I told you earlier about her. Sorry, I’ve been busy at work lately, so I didn’t go and visit you.”

They were forced to get married, so Hannah and Fabian simply signed their names on the paper without having a reception. Fabian didn’t want his mother to butt into his love life. Hence, he had been dragging his feet, and that was actually the first time Hannah and Heather met.

Heather secretly examined her own son. Naturally, she knew all about what her son had been doing lately, but Hannah was present, so Heather didn’t feel right talking about it. She simply complained bitterly, “Yes, you have been busy. So busy that you don’t even take the time to visit your own mother.”

Fabian started sweating upon hearing those words. His mother had been spoiling him since he was a kid, and he frequently visited her even when he was busy at work. That was no longer the case after he married Hannah. He felt guilty about his marriage with Hannah and was worried about his mom interrogating him because he wouldn’t know how to answer her questions.

He could get away with dismissing her questions once or twice, but if he kept doing that, his mother would undoubtedly become suspicious. Hence, Fabian stopped going home altogether to prevent any unwanted issues from arising.

Fabian honestly didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry at his mother’s childish stance. He understood that his mom needed someone to coo her at that moment, so he cleared his throat and spoke up.

“Mom, we were just about to go visit you. See what Hannah is holding? That’s rose tea. She knows about the health benefits of tea and went out of her way to get it for you. You know that she is a journalist and that she doesn’t have much time. She had been feeling guilty about not visiting you earlier, so she asked for some time off from her senior editor just to go visit you.”

Fabian was making things up because he didn’t want Hannah to feel awkward.

Hannah couldn’t help finding everything funny. The way Fabian lowered his stance… Haha, who would’ve thought that the renowned Mr. Norton has a side this cute? He can tackle economic storms and squash competitors. Yet, he turns into a sweet house pet that butters its master up when faced with a harmless, elderly lady.

Fabian signaled to Hannah once more to get her to hand the tea over. To his surprise, Hannah stood there without responding. She had a silly grin on her, and that got Fabian irritated. Seriously, woman. You are so dumb that you should be hospitalized. Can you not get distracted at a crucial moment like this?

Hannah suddenly felt a sting on her foot. She instinctively shifted her gaze down because she felt like heavy lead had suddenly landed on her foot. It didn’t matter how hard she tried. She simply couldn’t lift it.

Soon, Hannah realized that Fabian’s foot was right on top of hers. She turned to Fabian fearfully. Turned out, she was better off not turning to him, because what she saw was his murderous gaze. Hannah had completely rendered Fabian speechless. I am trying to get you back to reality, woman. Why are you having a battle of strength against me?

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1084

Hannah instinctively shied away when she was facing that terrifying glare. Feeling guilty, she placed the tea on the coffee table in front of the sofa without saying a word.

Hannah was exasperated as well. She honestly didn’t know what to say. She was not good at buttering others up, and she would blush whenever she lied. It didn’t even matter if it was a white lie. Fabian had set everything up to make her look nicer, so she couldn’t go against that. Moreover, Fabian’s mother didn’t like Hannah in the first place and she would dislike Hannah even more if she figured out that someone else bought the tea.

Fabian sighed internally when he saw Hannah standing there stiffly. You’ve always been very smart to read a situation, so why is your acting off in front of my mom? Gah, nevermind. I’ll do it myself.

“Hannah, mom came all the way here. Why don’t you go and make some tea?”

Hearing those words seemed to have zapped Hannah’s mind. She immediately replied, “Okay, I’ll go and do that now.” After that, Hannah ran away quickly.

Fabian sat on the sofa once Hannah left the room. He asked again, “Mom, why did you come over all of a sudden?”

Heather sounded annoyed when she demanded, “Am I not allowed to visit? You’ve been married for almost a year, but I have never met my daughter-in-law before. Didn’t you say that you would take her to come to visit us?”

Heather shot a look at Hannah, who was still making tea. The former said, “Follow me into the study. I have something to talk to you about.”

She got up and headed to the study once she finished talking.

Fabian shook his head. He seemed a little irritated. He knew what his mother wanted to talk to him about, so he stood up and looked at Hannah’s back before heading into the study as well.

The second Fabian stepped into the study, Heather complained openly, “Are you sure that the two of you are right for each other? She looks somewhat beautiful, but do you really think she can become a member of the Norton family?”

Fabian grinned bitterly. Looks like it is inevitable, after all. He took a deep breath before speaking up.

“Mom, it’s the twenty-first century. Please stop binding me with those outdated values. So what if she is not from a powerful family? I can make up for it, can’t I? Phoenix Group is doing well under my management, and we don’t need a political marriage to strengthen my position in the company. Growing up, I’ve always obeyed your words. Will you go with my decision just this once?”

Fabian’s mother had always been soft-hearted. That was why Fabian stepped closer and held his mother’s hand as he spoke from his heart.

His method was extremely effective because Heather softened her stance almost immediately. Still, she pointed out, “I’m just voicing out my concern for your sake. Besides, even if I am okay with it, how will the others take it? Would the other members of the Norton family accept her as one of our own? I’m not trying to make things difficult for you, but you have to think about these things, don’t you?”

Fabian was glad to see his mother softening. He knew that it wouldn’t actually be that difficult to solve the issue. All he needed was for his mom to like Hannah.

“Mom, I’m not marrying the other members of the Norton family, and it’s not like I’m going to spend the rest of my life with them. Who cares about them? I am happy with Hannah, and you’ve always wanted me to happy, right? My life with Hannah is great, and I’m sure you won’t want us to get a divorce.”

Fabian could see that his mom was swaying, so he decided to strike while the iron was hot. He added, “Mom, as you see, Hannah might not be from a rich family, but her aura is just as regal. To top it off, she is kind and innocent. That makes her much better than the rich girls who are always scheming. You don’t want your son to spend the rest of his life being on guard and fending off schemes, do you? If that is what you truly desire, though, then I have no choice.”

Heather had always been a rich socialite, but she was not an unreasonable person. She also loathed the internal drama and schemes in rich families

Fabian put on a sorrowful look and sighed. He shook his head in disappointment and acted as if he was heartbroken over something that had already been set in stone.

Heather knew that her son was just putting on an act, but he had also made his decision. As his mother, she couldn’t get too involved in the matter. All she could do was sigh internally. Every parent is a pitiful creature. No mother would ever wish unhappiness upon her own son.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1085

“I thought you were just making things up when you first told me that you’re married. I never thought that it was true. Oh well, since you’ve already signed the papers, then I can’t actually do anything or demand that you two get divorced,” said Heather in a somewhat exasperated tone.

“You are so understanding, Mom. I am the luckiest guy to be blessed with a mother like you,” said Fabian upon hearing those words. His heart finally relaxed as he secretly sighed a breath of relief. That prompted him to butter his mom up a little.

Heather rolled her eyes at Fabian before she scolded, “Also, I’ve got to talk to you about something. You’re already married, so you should behave the way all married men of the Norton family do. Be nice to your wife and stop hanging out in places like pubs and clubs. Seriously, you hit the headlines so often. Do you think that’s appropriate?”

Fabian turned speechless immediately. What the hell? She just accepted Hannah a second ago, and now she’s siding her and going against me? Isn’t the change a little too drastic?

After that, Heather nagged Fabian a little more. She mostly reminded him to be wary of his actions and words.

“Oh, by the way, the two of you have been married for so long. Set a time to invite her parents out for a meal or something. It’s about time the in-laws from both sides meet each other,” said Heather. She had actually talked about the matter a few times, but all Fabian did was offer empty promises. He never actually made any arrangement, and that delayed the meeting endlessly.

“If you keep dragging your feet like that, I will personally extend that invitation to them. It’s been a year, but the two families had never even met. How can you not be worried about it? If this matter is exposed, everyone will see us as a joke,” complained Heather.

“Okay, I will talk to Hannah about it later. You must be hungry by now. Come, let’s eat. It’s been a while since we ate together,” said Fabian quickly to change the topic. He worried that his mom would nag endlessly until the night fell.

“No. You and Hannah eat on your own. The main reason I came here was to meet up with your aunts. They invited me over for some tea, and I happen to travel past this area. Thus, I simply thought that I’d take a short detour to meet my mysterious daughter-in-law.”

After saying her piece, Heather shook her head and glared at Fabian in distaste before scolding, “Seriously, boy. Do you take yourself as the ancient emperor who hid his lover in a house of gold?”

Naturally, Fabian knew about the story of how an emperor kept his lover in a house of gold to keep her safe. He compared himself with the emperor and found that they were nothing alike. The emperor hid the woman away out of love. Fabian, on the other hand, kept Hannah a secret out of guilt.

Hannah sat on the sofa in the living room, all on her own. Her heart was beating nervously as she stared at the study. They’ve been inside for some time now. I wonder what they’re talking about.

Heather must think that I am not good enough for Fabian. Hannah kept massaging her own hand nervously and was gradually increasing her strength without noticing it. Will she demand that Fabian and I get a divorce so he can marry someone of the same social status?

I wonder how Fabian would react. Given his usual style, will he spring up and protest against his mom? Maybe he’ll scream, “No, I want to spend the rest of my life with Hannah, and no one, not even you, can stop me!”

Thinking about that got Hannah to grin happily. Unfortunately, that happiness quickly dissipated. Her beautiful image was shattered because she recalled how Fabian acted earlier when he was standing in front of Heather. He was nothing like the powerful tycoon he was. Instead, he was as tame as a fluffy sheep.

Hannah had her head down. Her gaze turned blank, and her lips slowly curved downward. Given his earlier behavior, it’s likely that he would just say, “Sure thing, Mom. I’ll divorce her. Whatever you say goes.”

Dozens of different scenarios ran past Hannah’s mind, and there were countless possibilities as far as she was concerned. Most of what she came up with was bad. A sense of uneasiness and anger swelled up within her. What gives? Why can’t people of different social statuses have love? Are we to give up our happiness because it upsets society? How ridiculous!

Click! The door to the study opened slowly. Hannah knew that meant that their discussion had come to a solution. She took a deep breath and waited quietly for the verdict.

“Hannah, come here,” requested Heather. No one could tell if Heather was happy or not, but her tone had turned much warmer.

“Mom,” greeted Hannah after deliberating the situation.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1086

Hannah walked over slowly. Everything felt a little familiar to her because she had seen it in the movies before. This is how the rich deal with things. First, they smile and ask the female lead to leave on her own accord. If the female lead refuses to do so, the story will progress with her being thrown into a series of temptations and/or threats.

Perhaps it was because Hannah watched too much tv and that got her accustomed to everything, but she felt nothing at all. She was strangely calm and even had a polite grin on her face.

Heather was very satisfied with Hannah’s performance. The former acted distantly and ignored her when they first met. However, Hannah responded with a grin, regardless of how Heather behaved. She seems genuine as well.

“Hannah, you and Fabian are married, so you are a member of the Norton family now. Build a good life with Fabian and try your best not to get into any arguments. Remember that there is nothing that a married couple can’t overcome together,” advised Heather.

She was talking as someone who had been through it all. As she spoke, she reached out slowly and held Hannah’s slender hand. Heather caressed Hannah’s hand and chuckled before complimenting, “Hmm, your hands are so soft and smooth. They much better than mine when I was younger.”

Hannah never expected any of that. She had considered the possibility that Fabian might be able to change Heather’s mind, but she assumed that Heather would still be reluctant to accept her. However, Heather showed no signs of distaste or reluctance. She definitely has no intention of demanding that Fabian and I get a divorce.

Perhaps it was because Heather had complimented her, but Hannah felt her face burning red a little. Hannah’s smile became so big that her eyes curved a little. She replied, “Mom, you have flattered me with your compliments. You’re making me blush.”

At that moment, Heather seemed sweet and kind as she smiled back. She looked at Fabian before she reverted her attention back to Hannah. She squeezed Hannah’s hand a little before letting go.

Heather took off the bracelet she had on before she reached out for Hannah again. However, she went for Hannah’s wrist instead of her hand. Heather never gave Hannah a chance to say anything before putting the bracelet on Hannah. The former looked genuinely happy, but her tone seemed a little serious.

“Hannah, you’re the daughter-in-law of the Norton family, so this should be handed to you. My mother-in-law gave it to me, and now, I am handing it to you. It’s not an expensive item, but it had been with the Norton family for generations.”

Hannah could still feel the warmth Heather left on the bracelet, and that confirmed that Hannah wasn’t dreaming. This is actually happening!

What is going on? Does this reaffirm my status as the daughter-in-law of the Norton family? Is everything really that dramatic? Shouldn’t things like these only happen in movies? Why is it happening to me?

Hannah’s jaw dropped. Tons of questions kept swirling in her mind, and she couldn’t believe anything that was happening right in front of her.

“T-this is too valuable. I can’t keep it,” replied Hannah stiffly because she didn’t have much time to consider the situation. Fabian and I only got married due to some sudden incidents. I can’t possibly accept this bracelet which carried a lot of sentimental value.

“What? Are you unwilling to be a part of the Norton family?” demanded Heather while feigning fury.

“I-I…” Hannah was at a loss for words after Heather ambushed her like that. It was as if her mind had short-circuited, and she didn’t know what to say.

Fabian signaled Hannah from the side to get her to keep the gift.

Hannah frowned deeply after receiving his signal. She sighed internally and thought, Gah, we’re already stuck in this situation. Looks like we’ll have to go with the flow.

In the end, Hannah decided to stop refusing the offer. She simply explained her previous behavior by saying, “Mom, I meant that I feel bad for keeping the bracelet because is too valuable. I didn’t mean that I don’t want to be a part of the family.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It doesn’t matter if it is expensive or not. It is fated to be yours eventually,” informed Heather with a bright smile on her face. The former was rather pleased with the latter. Fabian is right. She may not be from a rich family, but she is not scheming at all.

All Hannah could do was grin politely. Her wrist, however, felt ever so heavy. This bracelet feels heavier than a mountain. Will Heather pass out from anger if she discovers the real reason Fabian and I got married?

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1087

“Alright then, Hannah. I have some other things to tend to, so I won’t be joining you and Fabian for a meal,” informed Heather. She was truly taking a liking to Hannah, so her tone was much nicer.

“Huh? You’re leaving? I made some soup just for you.”

Looks like that pot of soup is wasted. Still, that is probably for the best. Things might get awkward if we have a meal together.

Hannah could sense the immense change in Heather, but she still worried. There is no saying how Fabian and I will end up. It would be so awkward if we end up getting a divorce and I bump into Heather after that… Hence, Hannah thought that it was better if there was less interaction between the two.

Fabian and Hannah later walked Heather to the door. When they went back into the house and the door was closed, Hannah immediately took off the bracelet that Heather gave her.

Hannah put the bracelet in front of Fabian and parted her cute cherry lips to say, “Here you go.”

Fabian blurted a surprised response. A faint grin that carried a lot of meaning soon made its way to his lips. He replied, “Why are you giving it to me? My mom gave it to you. She didn’t give it to me.”

Hearing Fabian’s strange words got Hannah speechless. Your mom gave it to me, but what if we get a divorce in the future? Are you going to ask me to give it back then? Things would be so bad, and it’s better if I just give it back to you now.

“I can’t keep something like this. What if it got scratched or broken? I won’t be able to bear with the consequences,” refuted Hannah. What if your mom asks for it back after I accidentally broke it and we ended up getting a divorce? I won’t be able to get it for her. She would skin me alive then.

“I don’t care. If you insist on handing it to me, I will give it right back to my mom and tell her that you don’t want it,” replied Fabian shamelessly. A devious grin revealed itself. It’s as if he was openly taunting her. Yep, I’m being unreasonable and shameless. What are you going to do about that? Bite me?

Hannah saw right through Fabian’s expression and his words. Isn’t this a little too much?

Hannah pouted and complained, “Fabian, you shameless oaf!”

Fabian didn’t mind her diss. He simply strode to the study while commenting nonchalantly, “Didn’t you say that you have made soup? My mom left, so I’ll have some instead. I’ll head over to the study for now. Come get me once it’s ready.”

Hannah suddenly recalled that she hadn’t turned the stove off. She yelped, “Ah, the soup!” She rushed into the kitchen immediately after.

Fabian couldn’t help chuckling after hearing that. This woman is just as clueless and as silly as she has always been. That’s fine, though. It makes the place much livelier.

Fortunately, Hannah didn’t keep the fire high. If she had, the soup would’ve already been burnt.

She made a few more dishes and placed them on the table before shouting out unwillingly, “It’s ready. Come eat.”

She complained internally, Seriously, dude. You didn’t hire a maid. Instead, you married a woman. Why do I have to take care of you every day? It’s not like you’re a cripple. Why can’t you cook for yourself?

Hannah was only complaining because she was still angry with what Fabian said earlier. She wasn’t actually mad about the cooking.

Hearing Hannah’s words, Fabian got up and walked over slowly.

“Huh? Where is your bracelet?” demanded Fabian when he realized that the item that marked her as his woman was gone.

Dude, I am a journalist. Are you sure you want me to run around with that on my wrist? What if I accidentally break it? Besides, I have tons to do on a daily basis. Unlike you rich folks, I can’t just sit around in the house all day. I have to work!

“I-I took it off,” replied Hannah in a somewhat guilty tone.

Fabian looked unbothered as he ate something. He later said, “Oh, you took it off. I actually don’t mind it that much.”

Hannah couldn’t help sighing a breath of relief after hearing that. She hadn’t even finished breathing out before she heard Fabian’s voice continued speaking.

“But, as you know, I am terrible at keeping secrets, so you can’t blame me if I let slip with my mom and tell her that you haven’t been wearing it,” added Fabian calmly as he put on an innocent grin.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1088

What the f*ck? You? Terrible at keeping secrets? This is obviously a threat!

Fury burned within Hannah. Seeing Fabian’s devilish grin, she felt like he was in extreme need of a good punching. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be able to beat him.

Every time something similar happened, Hannah would comfort herself and think something along the lines of Hmph, I will let you go this one time.

Naturally, she would do the same again.

There actually was nothing she could do about Fabian’s threat. If he actually told his mom about it, and things spiraled out of control, Hannah would be the one who had to pay the price.

She was truly curious, though. What did he tell his mom to change her stance so drastically?

“What did you tell your mom? How did you get her to change so drastically?”

“What do you mean when you say ‘your mom’? Is she not your mom too?” said Fabian through gritted teeth without answering her actual question.

“Okay, fine. Our mom. Does that sound better?” asked Hannah while rolling her eyes. Are you a kid? Why are you bothered by every tiny thing?

“My mom is actually a pretty decent person. You simply don’t know her that well,” answered Fabian. He had put his cutlery down and was looking at Hannah as he spoke.

What the hell? So you’re allowed to call her your mom, but I can’t? Hannah was so angry that she wanted to refute, but when she saw how serious Fabian looked, she became at a loss for words. In the end, all she could do was reply calmly, “Okay, maybe I misunderstood her.”

Fabian nodded. He looked like he was about to deliver a speech when he said, “The truth is…”

Hannah noticed Fabian’s stance, so she quickly stood up and interrupted, “I’m done, too. Let’s put everything away and rest up. We’ll have to work later.”

It’s better if I know less about the drama behind a rich family’s closed doors.

Fabian grinned. He didn’t say much. He simply got up and exchanged some pleasantries with Hannah before he headed out to the company.

He didn’t specify anything, but Hannah had a feeling that he had to work overtime because of her.

She recalled what Fabian told her that day, and a sense of warmth engulfed her heart.

She couldn’t be sure about whether everything was real, or if she had imagined it all to comfort herself.

Hannah shook her head and picked up her notebook before heading into the study.

Fabian had banned her from working in the bedroom and told her to use his study instead. She didn’t understand why, but she obeyed his instructions, anyway.

Hannah had just placed her notebook on the table when she saw a book resting peacefully on the side.

It was obvious that Fabian had read it. No wonder he is so rich. The effort he put into his career is more than anyone can imagine.

Hannah picked up the book and flipped through it a little.

A photograph slipped out of the book and landed on the floor.

Hannah bent down to pick the photo back up. She wanted to put it back into the book directly, but she couldn’t contain her curiosity, so she snuck a peek.

All she saw was a blurry photo of a woman’s figure. There was no way of saying who that woman was, but Hannah was certain that it wasn’t her. She felt like she knew the woman in the photo, but she didn’t know why she felt that way. Perhaps it was a woman’s intuition.

Hannah tried to search through her memories, but she could not recall who it was. She later gave up and slipped the photo back into the book before she started working on her job.

It was almost time to clock in for work when she was finally done. She pursed her lips and whispered to herself, “Looks like I am not destined to have a proper afternoon break.”

She went into the washroom to get ready before she headed to the office.

A familiar figure suddenly showed up in front of her. The woman with long silky hair was walking confidently toward the sunlight. The silhouette was naturally regal and as beautiful as a blooming rose.

When that figure moved past her, Hannah became stunned in place. She forgot all about keeping her cool or putting on a poker face and stood there like a statue. When she finally came around, she chased after the woman.

Who is that woman? Why does Fabian have her photograph hidden in his book? Did he used to have a thing for her?

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1089

Hannah ran. She saw the woman slipping into the elevator. The elevator doors closed when the woman finally turned around, so Hannah couldn’t see who the mysterious woman was.

Hannah sighed. She was so close to her answer, but it was still out of her reach.

With an inexplicably heavy heart, Hannah walked into the senior editor’s office and handed the documents over. “This is the information I gathered after I interviewed Xavier Jackson,” reported Hannah, “Please take a look and inform me if there is a need to edit it.”

The senior editor nodded and murmured a reply before accepting the folder and reading carefully.

Hannah couldn’t help feeling nervous when she saw how serious her senior editor was being. That interview would determine whether or not she’d keep her job. After witnessing the incident that morning, she didn’t dare to mess the interview with Xavier up.

Hannah prayed silently. Please, let everything be fine.

Soon, the senior editor finished reading everything and shifted his gaze to Hannah. No one could read his expression, so no one could tell if he was happy or angry. He simply sat there without saying a word.

Hannah felt like she was standing at the edge of a mountain and sweat kept rolling down her forehead.

Please say something, even if you want to fire me. Why punish me with that expression and the silence? Hannah was extremely nervous at that moment.

The senior editor suddenly laughed aloud, and that surprised Hannah. He said, “You did well, Hannah. I’m very happy with your work.”

Hannah tapped her chest trying to calm herself down. She turned to her senior editor and couldn’t help but complain a little, “You had an unreadable expression on and didn’t say a word. That really frightened me.”

The senior editor’s smile only became brighter after hearing Hannah’s complaint. The former said, “I was just thinking about how you are like a lucky totem. I think I should write a report about you and send it to my boss. I’ll put in a request to make you as a role model for the company and promote you to head reporter. Naturally, your salary and bonus will increase accordingly.”

Hannah got confused upon hearing that. How did I become a lucky totem? What is going on? Even if I have done well with this interview, it is not enough for the senior editor to act this way. Did the senior editor take the wrong pill or something? Why else would I be rewarded that handsomely?

“Uh… Can I ask a strange question? What happened?” asked Hannah somewhat awkwardly.

“Here’s the thing. Mr. Jackson called this afternoon and praised you endlessly. He even said that he wants to do all future interviews with you,” said the senior editor before he paused.

He then continued, “As you know, interviewing a company’s president is never an easy feat, and that is especially true for presidents of big corporations like Norton Corporation and Jackson Group. Yet, you have accomplished both and did well. Our readers care more about these heads of corporations than they do about celebrities. Hence, you have truly boosted our team’s performance. If you’re not a lucky totem, then I don’t know what is. I also plan to send a request to the higher-ups and ask them to make you interview company presidents exclusively. You won’t have to interview celebrities anymore.”

Hearing that explanation got Hannah’s heart to beat nervously. Xavier wants me to be the only one who interviews him from now on? What the hell is going on? He and Fabian seem like they are enemies. Will Fabian get angry if I interview Xavier again?

Also, interviewing company presidents exclusively? Handling Fabian alone is giving me a headache. If I have to deal with a few more company presidents, I will die of frustration.

Even though had promised to increase Hannah’s salary, she couldn’t get herself to be happy about it. The mere thought of Fabian’s furious expression got Hannah to tremble uncontrollably.

“Can I…?”

“Nope!”

“What if…?”

“Not a chance!”

Sweat dripped down Hannah’s forehead. Can you at least let me finish my sentence before you refuse my request?

Hannah was infuriated and anxious, but there was nothing she could do or tell her boss. Fine, I’ll endure it!

“Don’t reject this offer. I am helping you realize your full potential and giving you a chance to shine within the company. This is for your own good,” informed the senior editor with a straight face on.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1090

Hah! Don’t take me as a fool. I know why you’re doing this. I can’t believe you have the audacity to say that you’re doing it for me.

The senior editor might’ve felt a little awkward after being stared at like that. He cleared her throat a little before instructing awkwardly, “Uhm, alright then. You may leave. I will assign you a new task when I hear back from the others.”

Hannah pacified herself internally. I am not defeated by evil or power but bidding my time. That’s right. I am bidding my time. I can only change the world when I am in a position of power.

Hannah went back to her office and tapped on her desk. There was no rhythm, and she was just making noise as she tapped on the desk. The voice in her heart and mind, however, her thought was in such a mess that it was a match for that noise.

Who is that mysterious woman? She works in the same building as I do, so could she be my coworker? Or my boss?

Did Fabian marry me just because the mysterious woman and I have the same job and look alike? Am I just a substitute?

What caused the conflict between Fabian and Xavier? They are both powerful figures, so it’s understandable that they’d know each other. Maybe they got into some arguments in the past, but is it really so bad that they had to get into a fight as soon as they see each other?

I have no choice and will have to interact with Xavier in the future. Will Fabian be mad about it? What do I do if he really gets upset? Do I resign from my current position?

A series of troubling questions were annoying Hannah. They were like irritating flies that buzz endlessly and refused to leave. That got Hannah utterly irritated.

The internal turmoil within Hannah prompted her to toss the documents on her desk right into the bin beside her. This is all your fault, Xavier Jackson. Nothing good ever comes when you show up.

The more Hannah thought about it, the more she saw Xavier as a harbinger of misfortune. The first time she met him, someone splashed wine all over her and got her disheveled. Their second meeting got Fabian to misread their relationship and argued with her.

Xavier was giving his assistant some instructions when he suddenly sneezed twice. He rubbed his own nose and cussed, “Huh? Who dares to complain about me behind my back?”

“No one would dare to complain about you behind your back, my dear Mr. Jackson. I bet you just spent too much effort with a random celebrity last night and that weakened your immune system,” said the assistant, who didn’t hold back when teasing him.

Xavier’s expression changed for the worse. He slapped the back of the assistant’s head before warning, “You are getting more and more annoying, you punk. Looks like I will have to reassign you to Paul and have him teach you some manners. He can also train you to be a better assistant.”

The assistant kept massaging the back of his own head after being slapped like that. He said fearfully, “I’ve learned my mistake, Mr. Jackson. Please don’t reassign me to Paul.”

The assistant had heard all about the horror stories surrounding Paul. Even if I somehow survive through his training, I would go insane.

“Put your hand down,” requested Xavier calmly.

The assistant was still a little scared after being slapped. He shook his head and asked, “Huh? Why?”

“So I can check and see if you’re fine!”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It just stings a little…”

The assistant hadn’t even finished speaking before Xavier lifted his palm and smacked the back of his assistant’s head again.

“Go do as I instructed now if you don’t want to be reassigned to Paul.”

The assistant yelped in pain. Unfortunately, he was terrified of Paul, so he quickly replied, “I will go work on it right away, Mr. Jackson.”

Xavier grinned a strange grin. No one knew what he was thinking, but his eyes glowed evilly.

Hannah was in a daze when someone knocked on the door to her office.

“Come in,” said Hannah, after she quickly got herself together.

The door was opened soon after and a colleague entered to say, “The senior editor asked you to compile all the information surrounding the interview with Jackson Group’s president. After that, he wants you to go to his office.”

“Okay, got it,” replied Hannah. She shook her head and thought to herself, Why are you overthinking everything? The most important thing right now is to get your job done.

After her colleague left, Hannah retrieved the documents from the dustbin and complained, “Xavier Jackson, you are just like a haunting nightmare!”