Heaven or Hell: Loving My Twisted Billionaire novel Chapter 43

Hannah’s POV

I stood at the corner of the hallway, watching as Finn and Jack walked toward the master bedroom. Finn’s movements were hesitant, almost reluctant, as if he were approaching unfamiliar territory rather than a room he’d called his own for years. The contrast between the Finn I knew–who navigated every

corner of this mansion with blind confidence–and this wary stranger was heartbreaking.

I noticed how his eyes darted around, assessing each doorway, window, and potential exit. The man who once owned this space now looked like a cornered animal, ready to flee at the slightest provocation. His shoulders were tense, his jaw set in a hard line, and his hand kept brushing against his side as if

checking for a weapon that wasn’t there.

When the door closed behind them, I let out a soft sigh. My hand moved unconsciously to my stomach, gently caressing the small bump where our child

grew.

“Your daddy doesn’t remember us,” I whispered, “but that’s okay. We’ll help him remember. And if he doesn’t…” I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“We’ll make new memories.”

My thoughts drifted to the hidden room behind Finn’s closet–his sanctuary. I remembered the night he had shown it to me. “The cage reminds me of the fighting pits,” he had told me, his voice hollow a

his fingers traced the outline of the hidden door. “Strangely, it makes me feel safe. It’s the only place I can

truly sleep.”

Now, I wrestled with a dilemma. Telling Finn about the secret room might help him sleep tonight, but it could also drag him back into the darkness of his past. The Finn who stood before me today seemed even more fragile than the blind man I’d first met–his newfound sight exposing him to a world that

contradicted everything he remembered.

“Maybe it’s better this way, I murmured to myself. “Maybe he can learn to sleep without hiding. Maybe this is his chance to heal properly.”

With renewed purpose, I made my way to the kitchen. The spacious room gleamed with stainless steel appliances and marble countertops. I reached for a deep blue mug–Finn’s favorite–from the cabinet. He’d chosen it himself, claiming the deep color “felt right‘ against his fingertips.

Amy was cleaning dishes at the sink and looked up when I entered, her eyes immediately softening with concern.

“How is he?” Amy asked, her voice low.

“Scared,” I replied, offering a small smile. “Though he’d never admit it.”

I began preparing Finn’s nighttime drink–warm milk with a spoonful of honey and a dash of cinnamon. The familiar routine brought a sense of normalcy to

this surreal day.

“You should rest,” Amy said, eyeing my tired face and the way I absently rubbed my lower back. ‘You’re taking care of two people now.”

I nodded gratefully. “I will. But first, I need to make sure he’s settled.”

With the steaming mug in hand, I made my way back to Finn’s room. I paused outside his door, took a deep breath, and knocked gently.

“Who is it? Finn’s voice was cold and distant, nothing like the tender tone I’d grown accustomed to.

“It’s Hannah,” I replied softly.

“Ah, my wife checking in?” His mocking tone cut through the door. ‘How touching.”

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Chapter 43

I steadied myself against the wall, reminding myself that this wasn’t personal. He didn’t remember me, didn’t trust me,

*I just thought you might have trouble sleeping. I brought you some warm milk.”

“How would you know about my sleeping habits?” Finn’s voice grew harder. “Did Victoria brief you, or is it written in that script you’re all following?”

You told me yourself,” I answered evenly. “On the third day after we met. Warm milk with honey would helped when the nightmares got bad.”

A brief silence followed, then Finn scoffed. “You’re quite the actress, Mrs. Sterling. Your performance today was impressive enough without continuing the

show at night.”

I closed my eyes, drawing strength from within. “I’ve left the milk outside your door. Drink it or don’t–it’s up to you.”

I carefully placed the mug on the carpet, remembering how just weeks ago I had spent an entire night sleeping outside this very door, waiting for him to let

me in–both literally and figuratively. My hand moved to my belly again.

I’m sorry, little one,” I whispered. “Mommy can’t sleep on floors anymore. We have to take care of you now.”

Walking back to my room, I glanced over my shoulder, hoping to hear the door open. But there was only silence. The blue mug sat untouched, steam still

rising from its surface.

Inside my own room, I sat in the armchair by the window, gazing out at the moonlit gardens. I imagined Finn pacing in his room, unable to sleep in a bed

that felt foreign to him, surrounded by luxury he didn’t believe he deserved.

Taking out my phone, I composed an email to the director of Sunshine Special Education Center:

“Dear Mrs. Collins,

I need to request a leave of absence due to a family emergency. I apologize for the short notice, but circumstances have changed unexpectedly. I hope to

return in approximately one month.

Could you please let me know how Jamie is doing? I worry about his progress with the piano. His breakthrough last week with the C–major scale was so

promising, and I’d hate to see him lose momentum.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Hannah Lancaster–Sterling”

My finger hovered over the send button, briefly stuck on the hyphenated surname I’d used. Was I really Mrs. Sterling when my husband didn’t even

recognize me? With a sigh, I deleted “Sterling” from my signature, leaving only “Hannah Lancaster,” and pressed send.

Mrs. Collins‘ reply came quickly, expressing understanding and support. She assured me that Jamie would be temporarily assigned to Ms. Sarah and reminded me to take care of myself.

“How long do you anticipate being away?” the director asked.

I thought carefully before typing: “One month, for now.” A month should be enough time to help Finn adjust, I hoped. A month to rebuild what we’d lost.

As I prepared for bed, I heard footsteps in the hallway–slow, measured pacing. Finn was still awake, confirming my fears about his insomnia. The familiar

2:32 pm P P P

Chapter 43

rhythm of his footsteps was one of the few things that hadn’t changed.

I remembered Victoria’s warning from earlier: “Don’t get too close to him. This version of Finn is more dangerous than the one you knew.”

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