Chapter 225: We can’t help you

"Woah... why do I suddenly feel cold?"

Mark rubbed his arms as he made his way toward Hannah, who was sitting on the couch waiting for him.

The moment he sat beside her, Hannah couldn’t help but notice his unusual behavior.

"Why are you rubbing your arm?"

Mark placed the coffee on the table and glanced around the apartment suspiciously.

"Do you think it’s getting cold in here?" he asked. "I suddenly got chills."

Hannah looked at him in confusion.

"Cold? I’m perfectly fine."

"Exactly. That’s why it’s strange."

Mark frowned.

He usually got this strange feeling whenever his boss was nearby and giving him that terrifying look that made him question every decision he had made in his life.

But Dominic wasn’t anywhere around.

There was no sign of danger, no angry boss, and no reason whatsoever for him to feel like someone was about to interrogate him.

Still, the chill wouldn’t go away.

Why do I suddenly feel like something terrible is about to happen?

Mark shook the thought away.

"Anyway, what did you want to talk about?"

He decided to ignore the strange feeling and focus on Hannah instead.

They had barely gotten any time to talk throughout the day. Mark had been busy dealing with everything related to Crownwell Holdings. After making sure the company had no way of escaping the consequences of everything they had done, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Or so he thought.

Mark turned toward Hannah, waiting for her to speak.

When she remained silent, his brows furrowed.

"Hannah?"

She took a small breath before finally speaking.

"Mark, my parents want me to go on blind dates."

The moment those words left her mouth, Mark felt as though his soul had just left his body.

"Blind... dates?"

Hannah nodded.

Mark stared at her in horror.

They had only just started dating, and now her parents were already preparing to send her on dates with other men.

Is this what that cold feeling was warning me about?

He suddenly wished he had taken those chills more seriously.

"Mark."

Hannah’s sudden serious tone made him look at her immediately.

"Yes?"

"I think we should tell my family about us."

Mark froze.

For a moment, he simply stared at her as though his brain had stopped functioning.

"Tell your family?"

Hannah nodded.

"Yes. About us."

Mark swallowed.

Just a few minutes ago, he had been worrying about her parents arranging blind dates for her. Now Hannah was suggesting they reveal their relationship to the very people who could potentially scare him into another dimension.

"Are you sure?" he asked cautiously.

Hannah gave him a small smile.

"I am."

She had wanted to tell Mark about the blind-date conversation the moment it happened. During breakfast, Grace had brought up the idea, but Hannah had managed to brush it aside by claiming she had work to finish.

At the time, she hadn’t known how to handle it.

But after speaking with Clara and thinking carefully about everything she had told her, Hannah realized she couldn’t keep avoiding the matter.

Her parents were already suspicious.

Sooner or later, they would start investigating her mysterious boyfriend themselves. And considering Dominic’s personality, Hannah had a feeling her brother wouldn’t stop until he knew everything about the man in question.

She didn’t want Mark to be discovered that way.

She wanted to tell them herself.

"I don’t want them finding out by accident," Hannah explained. "And I definitely don’t want Mom arranging blind dates for me while I’m already dating someone."

Mark’s lips twitched.

"I’m beginning to think your family is more frightening than my boss."

Hannah laughed. "Brother is not terrifying. He has a good heart, Mark, and knowing you for so long, I am sure he wouldn’t mind’

Mark sighed dramatically. "I was hoping you’d never say that."

Hannah reached for his hand and squeezed it.

"We’ll tell them together."

Mark looked down at their intertwined fingers before meeting her eyes again.

"Alright."

Mark took a deep breath.

A part of him had wanted to take things slowly. He wanted Hannah to have enough time to know him better and didn’t want to make her feel as though he was rushing their relationship.

However, after thinking about it carefully, he realized he couldn’t risk losing her simply because he was afraid of what her family might think—or how his boss, Dominic, would react.

Mark had liked Hannah for quite some time. He had only confessed his feelings after she finally ended things with Eric and freed herself from that toxic relationship.

Since then, their relationship had gradually grown into something neither of them wanted to hide from each other.

And now that they both wanted the same thing—to see where their relationship could go—Mark didn’t mind telling the Sterling family about them.

Of course, he was still terrified of Dominic.

Who wouldn’t be?

But fear couldn’t be the reason he kept his relationship with Hannah a secret.

He looked at her and smiled faintly.

"Alright. Let’s tell them."

Hannah’s eyes softened.

"You’re sure?"

Mark nodded. "I’m sure." He squeezed her hand. "I don’t want you thinking I’m hesitant about us. I’m not. I just wanted to make sure we were both ready."

Hannah smiled. "We are."

Mark smiled back. "Then I guess there’s no reason to hide anymore."

There was only one small problem. He still had to survive Dominic Sterling’s reaction. And somehow, Mark had a feeling that was going to be much harder than dealing with Crownwell Holdings.

***

"Dorothy, we can’t help you."

The voice cut through the heavy silence, leaving both Dorothy and Julianna stunned.

They slowly turned toward the speaker, their expressions changing when they recognized him.

It was Dorothy’s brother—the owner of Flint Group.

Dorothy’s eyes widened.

"You..."

He looked at her with a tired expression before sighing.

"I know you’re expecting us to help, but we can’t do anything for you this time."

Dorothy’s face paled.

"But you’re my brother. You can’t just abandon me when I need you the most."