The Real Heiress Is Coming Back (Hannah Carter) novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48

“Susie…” Evelyn began, recognition dawning in her eyes.

Before the old woman could continue, Susie cut in sharply, “What are you doing here?”

The servant glanced between them. “Ms. Scott, do you know this…”

“That will be all. Leave us.” Susie’s voice was low and cutting, silencing the maid mid-sentence.

The servant faltered, staring at Susie in open

astonishment.

This sharpness was a far cry from the polished grace Susie typically displayed during her visits to the Baker family.

Anxious to avoid prying eyes, Susie seized Evelyn’s arm and unceremoniously pulled her into the secluded backyard.

“Did Hannah send you?” she demanded, her tone accusatory.

“No,” Evelyn replied, her brow furrowing at the visible anger on Susie’s face.

“Has Anna done something to upset you?” She used the private nickname she’d always had for Hannah.

“Don’t lie to me! I know Hannah put you up to this.” Choked with resentment over Gemma’s earlier slights and seeing they were alone, Susie abandoned all pretense of civility.

She jabbed a finger sharply against Evelyn’s chest. “Wasn’t it enough? Hannah shamed the Scott family with her cheating scandal, nearly driving us to bankruptcy! And now she sends you to dig up more dirt, to expose some lie and finish us off for good?”

Evelyn was utterly bewildered. She thought, ‘Hannah? Cheat? With her intellect? And how could cheating possibly bring a family to the brink of ruin?’

From Susie’s fragmented outburst, one clear fact emerged. Hannah’s life within the Scott family had been far from comfortable.

Though they spoke often, their conversations had always revolved around medical studies.

Hannah had never once mentioned any hardship, never hinted at any trouble. She had kept it all hidden, undoubtedly to shield Evelyn from worry.

The thought of Hannah bearing such burdens alone wrenched Evelyn’s heart.

“What lie are you talking about?” Evelyn’s voice turned cold and steady.

“Stop playing ignorant! All she wants is to snatch back the title of the Scott heiress, to stop being the adopted daughter.” Confident that Evelyn wouldn’t dare repeat this elsewhere, Susie let out a derisive laugh.

She continued, “Even if she succeeds, the Bakers would never accept a rustic nobody like her. Wasn’t Jasper’s

declaration at the banquet clear enough? His heart belongs to me.

“Give up this pointless fight. If this secret of the Scott family gets out, it will destroy everyone. Now get out of my sight.”

The venomous words struck Evelyn motionless, leaving her numb to the sharp prods against her chest.

She was aghast. When the Scotts had taken Hannah back, they had publicly introduced her as their adopted daughter.

It didn’t matter that Hannah wasn’t her biological grandchild. Evelyn had raised that girl as her own, had held onto her to survive the unbearable agony of losing her daughter.

And now, the Scott family dared to treat her precious girl with such contempt.

If she hadn’t come here today, she might never have discovered the cruel truth of Hannah’s situation.

“How could you keep what’s rightfully hers?” Evelyn shot back, her hand snapping out to clamp around Susie’s wrist.

“I’m keeping what’s hers? This was always my place!” Susie tried to wrench her arm free, but the older woman’s grip was like iron.

“You people couldn’t even tell two babies apart seventeen years ago. Don’t you see? It was fate. I was always meant to be the Scott heiress, and I always will be. Now let go of me!” Susie shouted.

Despite her age, Evelyn was surprisingly strong, her fingers locked tightly around Susie’s wrist.

Furious and humiliated, Susie raised her other hand, aiming a sharp slap at Evelyn’s face.

A crisp, loud crack echoed through the garden.

But it wasn’t Evelyn who was hit. Susie’s head snapped to the side, her ear ringing from the force of the blow that had just landed on her own check.

If her free hand hadn’t been caught in a viselike grip mid-swing, the impact might have sent her stumbling backward.

“Anna…” Evelyn murmured, staring in stunned silence at the figure of Hannah, who now radiated a chilling, formidable aura.

She had never seen this side of her granddaughter.

It took a moment for Susie to process what had happened. She slowly turned back, one hand pressed to her red, swelling cheek. Her eyes were bloodshot, her expression twisted with pure venom. “Hannah… How dare you hit me!”

“You’re exactly who I wanted to hit,” Hannah retorted, shoving Susie’s hand away with contempt. Evelyn was her non-negotiable line in the sand.

“You!” The forceful push sent Susie stumbling back several steps.

Just then, Jasper, who had come looking for her, emerged into the garden and witnessed the scene. “Susie!”

He rushed to her side, steadying her. Seeing the vivid handprint blazing on her cheek, he glared at Hannah, his voice thick with anger. “Hannah!”

Hannah didn’t even grant him a glance. Her attention was solely on Evelyn. “Grandma, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, dear. Don’t be upset,” Evelyn reassured her, shaking her head.

“What brought you here?” Hannah asked.

“I took on a job nearby and thought I’d come see you,” Evelyn explained.

For the first time, Jasper experienced the sting of being utterly invisible, and from a country girl no less. The feeling was a bitter pill to swallow.

‘Interesting. You’ve successfully caught my attention, he thought, a cold curiosity sparking within him.

His gaze then shifted to Evelyn, dripping with disdain. “Where did this beggar come from, daring to trespass on our property? Security! Get this woman off my property immediately.”

It was clear that this elderly woman was Hannah’s vulnerability. And that made her the perfect leverage.

“Jasper, wait. She’s Hannah’s grandmother,” Susie interjected, swiftly moving to block his path.

Several of Jasper’s classmates, who had been observing the scene with amusement, now watched with heightened interest. The call for security had drawn even more guests from the main party, gathering a small crowd.

Fearful that Hannah might expose the truth publicly, Susie decided to strike first and control the narrative.

Whispers spread among the onlookers. “Didn’t Mrs. Baker just ask her to leave? Why is she still here, and even brought her grandmother?”

“Probably here for free food and drinks. Country folks don’t know their place.”

“Such low-class behavior has no place at an event like this.”

“Just have them removed. They’re ruining the evening for everyone.”

Having emphasized their relationship, Susie continued her performance. “Jasper, I’m so sorry. I’ve lost the diamond bracelet you gave me. I was desperate to find it and asked the staff for help.

“One of them mentioned they saw an older woman with a similar-looking bracelet here. I only wanted to ask her about it, but then Hannah…”

She trailed off, delicately covering her cheek and turning just enough for everyone to see the faint redness.

Just then, someone in the crowd pointed out something dangling from the edge of Evelyn’s canvas tote.

In a swift motion, Jasper stepped forward and yanked the bag. It fell to the ground, and beside it lay a

glittering diamond bracelet, the very one he had gifted Susie.

“You…” Evelyn stared at the bracelet on the ground, then back at Susie, disbelief and disappointment washing

over her.

She was stunned that someone so young could manipulate the truth so effortlessly.

“The evidence is right here. What do you have to say for yourselves now?” Jasper picked up the bracelet, his eyes fixed challengingly on Hannah.

After her earlier display of confidence, he was curious to see how she would talk her way out of this.

Hannah responded with a light, almost amused laugh. “Are you certain our fingerprints are on that bracelet?

“Are you absolutely sure Susie isn’t lying?

“And are you convinced your relationship is built on complete honesty?”

The three questions struck a nerve, not only with Susie, who froze in panic, but also with the surrounding guests, who now stirred with doubt.

Even Jasper felt a flicker of uncertainty, though he stood his ground. “I trust Susie.”

“Then let’s review the surveillance footage right here, in front of everyone,” Hannah replied calmly, her gaze drifting toward the security camera mounted nearby.

At those words, Susie’s face went pale. She had completely forgotten about the cameras.

“Fine. I have nothing to hide,” Jasper declared, signaling to the butler. “Henry, bring up the security footage. Now.”

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