Chapter 1157: Chapter 1157: No Need
Grace Yarn felt even more touched by Hannah’s thoughtfulness.
She even wondered if she had given birth to two children back in the day.
Just as she reached the downstairs hall, a server from the banquet found Hannah, informing her that Arnold Simmons was waiting for her in the garden.
The banquet had many guests today, and generally, after halfway through the event, the guests would prefer to go to the garden, to enjoy the cool breeze and sober up a bit.
Hannah didn’t think much of it, and after excusing herself to Grace Yarn, she walked alone toward the garden.
Outside the door, the moonlight was beautiful, and the retro-styled decorative street lamps emitted a faint glow, laying out a path.
Walking on the soft grass, one could faintly hear the sound of people talking and laughing in the distance.
Hannah carefully lifted her skirt as she walked forward.
Along the road, there were several osmanthus trees, and clusters of tiny yellow flowers surrounded them. A gentle breeze would cause a few to fall—a pleasant fragrance, carrying a tender sweetness.
Hannah stopped in her tracks, and the person who had been following her also stopped.
He was like a shadow, trailing behind Hannah, half of his figure concealed in the darkness. His voice was sticky with feigned innocence, "Sister."
Hannah turned around and saw the young man walking briskly towards her, his face beaming with joyous naivety.
She knew that Louis Snyder had been following her all along.
Louis Snyder stopped two steps away from Hannah, maintaining a perfectly measured distance.
He was smiling, but his eyes seemed to be clouded with a dark mist, "Sister, today is my birthday."
Hannah met his gaze, holding her arms, and moonlight spilled into her eyes, bringing a smile to them, "Well then... happy birthday?"
Her congratulations lacked sincerity.
They didn’t even compare to the care embedded in her casual reminders from before.
But Louis Snyder was delighted, as if the clouds on a gloomy day had parted, or like a child who had received candy, "Thank you, Sister."
He excitedly wanted to take a step forward, but Hannah retreated a step with his movement.
Louis Snyder could only stand there, looking helpless.
The clouds had parted, but it still rained. The candy was unwrapped, only to reveal nothing but bitterness inside.
He was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with desolation, and even his voice was careful, "Sister, are you afraid of me?"
His complexion was pale, but the corners of his mouth held a stubborn smile.
Hannah met Louis Snyder’s gaze, sensed the abnormality beneath his feigned cheerfulness, chuckled, and said, "It’s not fear, just unnecessary."
Louis Snyder tugged at the corner of his mouth, his smile fading, "I understand."
He lowered his head, the darkness in his eyes at odds with his dejected voice.
The night wind rustled, and the tiny yellow flowers that fell covered the ground, decorating the hem of Hannah’s black skirt.
After a pause of silence, he suddenly stepped forward, bending down to brush off the flower petals from the edge of Hannah’s skirt. But Hannah had already stepped back before he could reach.
His outstretched hand froze mid-air, and he suddenly remembered the scene he had seen upstairs today.
It turned out, what she had deemed unnecessary was only because it was him; if it had been Arnold Simmons, she would have willingly obliged.
Today was his twentieth birthday.
Twenty, no longer an age that could be referred to as youth.
The past naivety and innocence had all faded away, finally shaping him into an adult.
But for Louis Snyder, all of this was insignificant compared to having Hannah.
Even though he started much later than others, he had already begun learning how to run a company.
He would truly grow up, and then piece by piece, reclaim what was his. What he had lost in the past, he would eventually find again.
