The Real Heiress Is Coming Back (Hannah Carter) novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“Why aren’t you getting in?” Barnaby’s thin lips parted slightly.

Hannah paused briefly before replying, “Uncle Barnaby, so you’ve found a quiet gig as a taxi driver?”

‘Or maybe he can’t stay with the Thole family anymore and is out here fending for himself?’ Hannah thought.

“I’m not just idle. I’m waiting for you,” Barnaby said, lifting his phone. “Since yesterday afternoon, you haven’t answered calls or replied to WhatsApp messages. Still mad?”

Hannah thought, ‘Do I really look that childish?’

“Hey, Hannah. You dared to catch a snake and scare me, you dared to talk back to Dad.

“Why don’t you fire back at Susie and those who insult you on the forum?” Lucian suddenly appeared, hands. on his hips, frowning. “Did you really cheat on your entrance exam?”

Hannah glanced at him coolly. “None of your business.”

Lucian was momentarily speechless, then snapped back even more aggressively, “Who said I care? You don’t deserve it.”

Hannah turned and got into the car.

Seeing her ignore him, Lucian felt like he’d really been meddling.

But when he noticed her stuffed canvas bag, he suddenly blocked the closing car door.

“Hey, are you really going to live at school?” he asked awkwardly.

Hannah looked at his hand blocking the door, then back at him with a chilly gaze that seemed to say, “Who just said they cared?”

Lucian squirmed under her stare.

“Who cares? You asked to live at school and gave up your room. I didn’t kick you out.

“Just remember to come back on weekends and explain to Mom,” he said awkwardly, then slammed the door shut and ran red-faced toward the house.

‘It’s not like I’ll miss Hannah or anything,’ he told himself.

Lucian thought, ‘I just think she’s kind of impressive, daring to catch snakes, generous with her actions, quick and agile, and bold enough to talk back to Dad.’

*****

Barnaby drove the car, glancing in the rearview mirror at Hannah’s exquisite face.

Her expression was cold, her long, thick lashes lowered as she scrolled through her phone, unreadable.

“Running away from home?” he asked.

“No. The Scott family’s too noisy; it’s distracting my studies,” Hannah said without looking up, offering a casual excuse.

Barnaby’s lips curled slightly. “Too busy not replying to my messages because you’re studying?”

Hannah thought, “This isn’t over, is it?’

She gave a firm reply. “Yes.”

“Where are you on your workbook?” Barnaby asked again.

Hannah paused her phone scrolling.

‘I’m not careful and fall into a trap here. Don’t ask. If you do, I’ll just say I haven’t done it,’ she thought.

Not only had she not done it, she’d turned around and lost the workbook somewhere.

Barnaby didn’t hear her response but already guessed she hadn’t done it.

‘Hannah’s not very enthusiastic about studying. I’ll have to come up with a plan,’ Barnaby thought.

“The dorm isn’t really any quieter. You might as well not live there,” he said.

Only then did Hannah realize the car wasn’t headed to school.

*****

Half an hour later, Barnaby parked in the Skycrest House garage downtown.

In the expensive Brynlock, Skycrest House was generally considered a wealthy area by ordinary people.

But among the elite, Skycrest House was just a backdrop compared to the neighboring Skyking House villa district.

Hannah looked at the elevator’s advertising screen playing promos for Skyking House’s third phase of hot

villa sales.

‘The Thole family really is harsh on Barnaby, not even letting him have a villa, making him live in a regular condo,’ she thought.

Barnaby was checking messages from Finneus.

[Barnaby, the riverside land has been secured. The Skyking House Phase Four project plan needs your approval.]

Barnaby replied: [Got it.]

The elevator reached the top floor.

There was only one apartment up here.

Barnaby unlocked the door with his fingerprint, and a chubby little pink piglet shot out from inside, rubbing up against his feet and snorting happily.

It was a super cute mini pig.

‘Barnaby is such a super refined guy, yet he actually keeps a pig as a pet?’ Hannah thought, totally thrown off.

‘Just how obsessed is he with pigs?’ she wondered.

There was no way Hannah would ever forget her fifth birthday; Barnaby had surprised her with a tiny piglet as a gift.

It looked just like this one, and she’d even named it after her favorite treat, Hedy.

“Pig, guess who’s here.” Barnaby crouched down, turning the little piglet, who was busy nuzzling his leg, so it faced Hannah.

Hannah wondered, ‘Seriously? Is he really introducing me to a pig?’

Suddenly, she got this weird feeling.

The pig wasn’t happy being called Pig by Barnaby, and grunted, opening its mouth as if to nip at him.

But then its soft pink nose suddenly caught a whiff of something familiar, but kind of unfamiliar at the same time.

Its nose twitched again as it cautiously inched closer to Hannah.

Finally, it stopped right at Hannah’s feet, like something finally clicked in its little brain. It started snorting happily, doing little circles around her and nuzzling her ankles, all excited and begging for some pets.

Hannah couldn’t help but melt at how cute it was. She crouched down and gave its little head a gentle pat.

It squinted its eyes in pure enjoyment, loving every second of the head rub.

“Hedy?” Hannah called out, testing the name.

As soon as it heard its name, it got all excited and started nudging Hannah’s hand, begging for more pets.

But even that wasn’t enough for it; it was nuzzling Hannah like crazy, practically trying to climb right into her

arms.

Hannah couldn’t help but laugh at how adorable it was. She scooped it up in her arms. “It really is you, Hedy. I thought you were—”

‘Long gone,’ she thought.

Hedy let out a couple of happy grunts, snuggling up in Hannah’s arms and closing its eyes in pure bliss.

‘Seeing Hannah again; this is peak pig happiness, Hedy thought, feeling like the luckiest pig ever.

But that happiness only lasted about three minutes before a big hand suddenly snatched Hedy right out of Hannah’s arms and tossed her back into its little bed.

“You’ve been neutered for ages. Are you still in heat?” Barnaby said coldly, his voice full of annoyance.

Hedy let out two indignant grunts at Barnaby, clearly not happy about being interrupted.

But the next second, it caught Barnaby’s icy glare like he was ready to turn it into bacon and instantly chickened out.

Then, Hedy whimpered and sulked its way back into its bed.

Its shiny black eyes gazed up at Hannah, all watery and pitiful.

Hannah couldn’t resist its cuteness and went over to give its little head a gentle rub.

“Be good, Hedy.” Her voice was all soft and sweet now, nothing like the chilly tone from before.

Barnaby watched Hannah, her hair draped over her shoulders, skin smooth, that perfect side profile, and a soft smile tugging at her lips. Yeah, this was the girl he remembered from back then.

His eyes gentled up as he said, “I barely ever use this place. You can crash here; it’s super close to school.”

Hannah looked around, a little stunned. The place was a fancy duplex and big.

‘Seriously, all this space just for a pig?’ Hannah couldn’t help but think.

Suddenly, she figured maybe the Thole family wasn’t so tough on Barnaby after all.

“No,” Hannah started to say.

Barnaby cut her off, “Hold on. Don’t say no just yet.”

“I promised I’d protect you, so keeping you safe is on me. Plus, I need somewhere for you to help me with my health,” he said seriously.

As he spoke, he glanced at Hedy, eyes blissfully shut, soaking up all the attention.

“And this pig here. It would be over the moon if you stayed,” Barnaby added, nodding at the little pig.

With reasons like that, Hannah couldn’t bring herself to refuse anymore.