WHY SISTER?

Chapter 4

The days blurred together after the confrontation with Daniel. Each one seemed to pass by in a haze of work, tears, and forced smiles. Hannah had made the decision, she was done. She couldn’t change what had happened, and she wasn’t going to keep living in the shadow of someone else’s mistakes. But that didn’t mean it was easy. It didn’t mean the ache in her chest went away.

The anger, though fierce and consuming in the beginning, was now slowly fading into a dull, constant ache. It was the quiet pain that followed betrayal, the realization that trust, once broken, could never be fully repaired. She could never look at Daniel the same way again. She could never feel the way she had felt about him, not after what he had done.

She focused on her work like never before. It was her safe place, her escape. The children needed her, and in return, their innocence and joy became the only things that mattered.

But despite the fleeting moments of peace, the nights were harder. Alone in her apartment, Hannah would lie awake in the silence, the weight of her heartbreak pressing down on her chest. She missed the comfort of a warm body beside her, the reassurance that everything would be okay. But now, the bed felt empty, and the silence felt deafening.

It was on one of these nights, while lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, that the phone buzzed on her nightstand. It was a message from one of her colleagues, inviting her to a charity gala for underprivileged children. She had avoided social events like the plague recently, choosing to hide from the world instead of facing it. But something in her stirred when she read the invitation. Maybe it was the thought of escaping her own thoughts, or maybe it was the idea of doing something good for the children she cared so deeply for. Whatever it was, she found herself typing a response: I’ll go.

The day of the event, she dressed carefully, selecting a simple but elegant black dress. It was nothing extravagant, but it made her feel polished, like she was someone who had her life together—even if she didn’t. She spent longer than usual on her makeup, carefully applying the concealer to hide the dark circles under her eyes. She needed to look like she had moved on. She needed to look like she was stronger than she felt.

The gala was held at a sleek downtown hotel, and as she stepped into the lobby, she was immediately struck by the sea of well-dressed faces. It was a world that felt foreign to her now, a world she had once been part of, but had walked away from when everything fell apart. She wandered through the crowd, nodding politely at familiar faces but keeping her distance. She didn’t feel like engaging with anyone, didn’t feel like explaining herself or her pain. She just wanted to disappear for a while, to let the noise of the event drown out the thoughts in her mind.

The gala was a sea of wealthy businessmen, philanthropists, and socialites, each in their own bubble of importance. The atmosphere was thick with politeness, rich perfume, and the clink of champagne glasses. Hannah felt out of place, despite the fact that she had been invited by her workplace. She was one of the few people there who wasn’t a millionaire or a celebrity, but she didn’t mind. For the first time in a long time, her own quiet presence felt enough.

As she navigated the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with colleagues, her gaze was caught by a man standing alone at the edge of the ballroom, near the grand windows. His dark hair was neatly combed back, and his suit was impeccable, a deep navy blue, sharp and elegant. There was something about his presence that commanded attention without him even trying.

She tried not to stare, but it was hard not to. There was an air of mystery around him, as though he wasn’t just a man at a gala, he was a force in and of himself. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to scan the room, yet never lingered on anyone for too long, giving him a kind of aloof magnetism. Despite the surrounding crowd, there was an obvious isolation in the way he stood, tall, confident, but alone.

The man caught her gaze. Hannah’s breath caught in her throat for a split second, and she quickly averted her eyes, embarrassed by her inadvertent stare. But she was keenly aware that he was still watching her from the corner of her eye.

“Are you lost, or just enjoying the view?” a deep, velvety voice interrupted her thoughts.

Startled, Hannah turned, like someone intrigued by a puzzle they wanted to solve.

“I… I was just looking around,” Hannah replied, forcing herself to smile, though her heart raced slightly. She wasn’t sure why, but his presence seemed to throw her off balance.

“I know the feeling,” he said. “It’s a little overwhelming, isn’t it? All the pretension and grandeur.”

Hannah couldn’t help but nod. “Yes, it’s… not quite my scene.”

“I can see that,” he said with a slight chuckle. Then again, I’m not sure if it's anyone’s scene. But here we are.”

She laughed softly, feeling the tension ease just a little.

“Are you here for the event?” Hannah asked, hoping to steer the conversation in a more familiar direction.

“I’m the sponsor,” he replied, his expression turning more serious. “Alexander Crawford.”

The name clicked in her mind. Alexander Crawford—billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and one of the most influential figures in the city. He was a household name, but to Hannah, he seemed like just another distant, unreachable figure, someone who existed in the realm of newspapers and gossip columns.

“Hannah,” she said, extending her hand with a polite smile. “Nice to meet you.”

His handshake was firm, his grip sure, but his hand was warm, too warm for someone who looked so composed. He held her gaze for a beat longer than was comfortable, and for some reason, that simple contact left her feeling like she had been caught in something much larger than herself. But she quickly shook off the feeling.

“I’m glad to meet you, Hannah,” he said. I’ve heard good things about your work with the children’s charity. It’s rare to see someone in this industry so dedicated to a cause.”

She blinked, caught off guard by his words. “You’ve heard of me?”

“Of course,” he said with a smile. “I do my homework on the people I work with.”

Hannah felt a sudden rush of nerves. “Well, thank you. "I don’t usually… seek out recognition, but it’s nice to know my work is making an impact.”

“You don’t have to seek recognition to make an impact,” Alexander said, his voice turning thoughtful. “Your work speaks for itself.”

There was something in the way he said that, something kind yet knowing, as if he understood her more than she let on.

“So, what brought you to this event?” she asked, trying to deflect the conversation away from herself.

“A lot of my companies donate to causes like this,” he said. But tonight, I’m more focused on the people who make things happen. People like you.”

Hannah felt her cheeks flush slightly. She wasn’t used to being singled out in this way, especially by someone like him.

“Thank you, but I’m really just doing my part,” she said modestly. “It’s the children who make it worth it.”

“I think you’re underestimating yourself,” Alexander replied, his smile more genuine now. But I can respect the humility. However, I’m here tonight for a very specific reason.”

“Oh?” Hannah raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“I’d like to sponsor an expansion for your kindergarten. "I’ve been thinking about how I could contribute to the community, and after hearing about your work, I thought—why not make a difference where it counts?”

Hannah’s heart skipped a beat, her thoughts racing. “You want to sponsor the kindergarten?”

He nodded. “Yes. I want to help you grow, provide more resources, and offer the children a better chance at success.”

She was stunned into silence, unsure whether she had heard him correctly. This man, this billionaire, wanted to invest in her work? It seemed almost too good to be true.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she finally managed. “That’s incredibly generous of you, but I’m not sure how…”

“Don’t worry about the details yet,” he interrupted smoothly. “We’ll discuss everything soon. I just wanted to express my interest.”

She stood there, at a loss for words, as the gravity of his offer slowly began to sink in.

“Let’s not worry about formalities tonight,” he said, his voice gentle. “We’ll talk more another time. But, Hannah, I believe in your vision. I hope you’ll let me help.”

As Alexander stepped away to greet other guests, Hannah stood there, her thoughts swirling. This was an opportunity unlike anything she had ever imagined. And yet, as tempting as it was, something held her back.

She knew better than to trust easily. She had been burned before.

But there was something about Alexander that felt different. His sincerit

y, his quiet confidence, it made her wonder if, just maybe, this time, it could be real.