Chapter 5
Hannah finally told Kaden about the divorce, but he missed it completely.
Right as the words left her mouth, Phoebe called again. “I’ve got to take this,” he murmured,
answering with that voice he reserved only for his sister before hurrying out.
Hannah sighed, feeling nothing in particular. Five years had taught her the hierarchy: in Kaden’s
world, Phoebe would always come first.
Over the next few days, Kaden sent staff with meals and hired a private nurse. He never appeared in person, but the arrangements were thoughtful enough–typical Kaden, handling everything from a
distance..
The real annoyance was her constantly buzzing phone filled with Phoebe’s taunting photos:
Kaden taking her shopping at Saks. Kaden helping her try on diamonds at Tiffany’s. Kaden pulling
out her chair at Per Se.
Each picture captioned with something like: My brother knows exactly what I deserve. So lucky to be his #1 girl!
Hannah felt no jealousy–just irritation at the childishness. She forwarded them all to Kaden with a simple note: “FYI: Your sister’s been busy.”
After a noticeable delay, he responded: “Sorry about that. I’ll handle it.”
“Thanks,” she texted back, considering the matter closed.
But then another message appeared: “Have you scheduled that surgery yet to reverse the tubal ligation? You really need to do that ASAP.”
Hannah stared at her phone, completely baffled. Why was he suddenly obsessed with her reproductive choices? They were literally divorcing. She set the phone down without responding.
On discharge day, Kaden came to pick her up
himself.
When Hannah opened the car door, she found Phoebe already in the passenger seat, scrolling through her phone.
Phoebe looked up with a saccharine smile. “Oh, we’re heading to Sotheby’s after this. I get so carsick
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Chapter 5
in the back. You don’t mind, right?”
Hannah said nothing, sliding into the back seat without argument.
As she buckled up, she caught Kaden’s stern whisper: “Phoebe. We talked about this.”
Phoebe rolled her eyes dramatically, then turned around. “Fine. I’m sorry about the whole… hospital thing. That was… out of line.”
The forced apology might have been convincing if not for Phoebe’s slightly swollen lips and Kaden’s guilty expression.
So that’s the deal they struck, Hannah realized. After years of maintaining boundaries, he’d finally kissed Phoebe–just to extract this half–hearted apology..
“Water under the bridge,” Hannah replied flatly.
Kaden caught her eye in the rearview mirror. “Did you schedule that procedure?”
“I did,” Hannah lied, just to end the conversation.
Her feelings had shifted anyway. Thinking about that college student who looked like Chace–life stretched too long ahead of her. Maybe a child who resembled Chace wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Kaden visibly relaxed at her response. “Good,” he said, clearly misinterpreting. “Listen, we’re stopping at Sotheby’s. Why don’t you join us?”
Hannah almost declined but realized she’d been cooped up for weeks. “Sure, why not.”
At the auction, Kaden’s paddle barely lowered as he swept up everything Phoebe wanted–art, jewelry, antiques. His spending was obscene, even by their standards.
“Mr. Humphrey treats his sister better than most men treat their wives,” a woman whispered loudly enough to be heard.
Catching this, Kaden turned to Hannah with a performance of consideration. “See anything you Just say the word.”
Hannah was about to shake her head when a watch caught her eye on the auction block.
A classic men’s Patek Philippe–elegant, understated, timeless.
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Chapter 5
Chace would have loved this, she thought. Then corrected herself: That college student might love
this.
Without hesitation, she raised her paddle. “Three hundred thousand.”
Something shifted in Kaden’s expression. After an evening of casually dropping millions on Phoebe without blinking, he seemed genuinely surprised–even touched–to see Hannah wanting something
for herself.
His gaze softened unexpectedly, and for a fleeting moment, something unreadable passed between
them.
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