"Sounds to me like you're trying to sell me off, Sheldon," Hannah shot back sharply, her voice laced with irritation. She was no longer using his nickname, now referring to him by his full name, signaling just how upset she was.
"It's forty-four billion dollars, Hanny," Sheldon corrected, trying to lighten the mood with her nickname, but it only seemed to make things worse.
"I don't care about the money, Sheldon!" Hannah snapped, her voice rising with frustration. Her face was turning red as the anger bubbled up.
"It's not like we're starving over here. So why the heck should I go on some date with a stranger just to make more money? What's next? You're going to arrange my marriage for a business deal?" she growled, her patience completely gone.
Sheldon's face faltered, the weight of her words hitting him harder than he expected. He tried to defend himself, his voice softer now.
"Hannah, it's not like that, okay? I just need this to work. This deal would bring in billions more—"
"Right, right, billions," Hannah interrupted, shaking her head in disbelief.
"We're already making billions, Sheldon! This whole thing is insane." She crossed her arms over her chest, not understanding why he was pushing so hard for something she saw as unnecessary.
Sheldon sighed, his face softening as he gazed at her. "I know, I know it seems crazy, but it's really important. Please, just get to know him. It's my first and last request, Hanny."
Hannah's anger began to fade as she looked into her brother's pleading blue eyes. Memories of all the years they spent together, how he and Sean practically raised her and Shaine after their parents' passing, flashed in her mind.
It softened her resolve, but she still wasn't happy.
With a deep breath, she finally relented, her tone softer but still firm.
"Fine. I'll go on the date, but if I don't like him, that's the end of it. I'm not doing this for you forever, Sheldon."
Sheldon blinked, processing her words for a moment before a grin broke out on his face. "A date? Really?" he asked, making sure she meant it.
"Yes, really," Hannah replied, her eyes narrowing slightly as if daring him to push it further.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Hanny-boo!" Sheldon exclaimed, relief flooding his face as he beamed at her. "Now, let's get back to eating, shall we?"
Hannah couldn't help but let out a small sigh, the tension melting away as Sheldon dug back into his food with a wide grin, clearly relieved that his sister was going along with his plan, for now.
Hannah couldn't help but smile as she watched Sheldon, looking like a delighted little boy with his favorite toy, the joy clear on his face. It was a sight she hadn't seen in a while, and it made her heart feel a little lighter.
Just as the moment was settling, Sheldon's phone rang, abruptly interrupting their quiet meal. Seeing it was his wife calling, Sheldon answered immediately, still grinning as he held the phone to his ear. Hannah resumed eating, occasionally glancing at her brother while continuing to enjoy her food.
"Hello?... What? Who?... Calm down, calm down. I'll be there as soon as I can." His expression shifted to one of slight panic, and before Hannah could even process what was happening, Sheldon quickly ended the call, his face serious now as he looked at her with a guilty expression.
"I'm really sorry, Hanny-boo," he said, his voice filled with urgency.
"I know we haven't had time together in so long, but one of the twins was rushed to the hospital, and I need to get to Spain immediately." Without waiting for a response, he stood up, already dialing his secretary as he rushed toward the door.
"I'll make sure to reschedule as soon as I can."
Hannah watched in silence as he hurriedly left, barely having time to say goodbye before he was gone, absorbed in making urgent calls. Her meal, once so appealing, now seemed far less appetizing.
Sighing softly, she stared at the lavish dishes set before her, but the food no longer held any appeal. She felt as though the world around her had shifted, leaving her in a strange silence that felt foreign in this vast, luxurious mansion.
With a distant gaze, she turned her attention upward to the exquisite mural that adorned the ceiling, painted by a famous artist—a beautiful work of art that once brought her comfort, now a silent reminder of her isolation.
"It's fine. I'm fine," she muttered to herself, trying to push away the sudden loneliness that crept over her.
Hannah had longed for more time with her siblings—moments when they could all come together and catch up.
But the reality was, those moments had become fewer and farther between. Life had pulled them in different directions, and as the years passed, they all became increasingly wrapped up in their own responsibilities.
Sheldon, the eldest, had taken on the burden of running the family business after their parents passed away, leaving little time for family gatherings. His new role as a father added even more weight to his already busy life. Hannah understood, of course, but it didn't make it any easier.
Sean, her other brother, had his own growing business to tend to. As the CEO of a rapidly expanding pharmaceutical company, his time was always in high demand, especially now that the government had taken an interest in his work.
Shaine, her twin sister, was the one Hannah saw the most, but even Shaine, who wasn't working yet, often spent her time in her room or the mansion's library, consumed by her studies on medicine.
Thinking back to the invitation from her colleagues to go out earlier that evening, Hannah couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Maybe she should have gone with them, even if just for a little while. But now, here she was, alone in the mansion, feeling the weight of the silence in a place that was supposed to feel like home.
***🦋***
Author's Note
Gosh, what a twist! Despite her hesitation and clear annoyance, Hannah, with that big soft spot she has for her brother, reluctantly agrees to go on this blind date with the son of Sheldon's business partner. But here's the big question: who exactly is this mysterious man she's about to meet, and what kind of date awaits her? Will it be the awkward, forced situation she's imagining, or will there be unexpected sparks between them? Will Hannah find herself intrigued—or completely turned off by this stranger her brother's trying to set her up with?
If you're just as curious as she is about how this strange date will unfold, you won't want to miss what happens next. Trust me, the next chapter will answer all your burning questions, and it's full of surprises that'll have you hooked from the first word. So, ready to find out how this blind date turns out? Slide over to the next page, and let's see where this unexpected twist takes us. You're in for a treat—happy reading, cuties!