Chapter 48: I’m the one who no longer wants your son
Hannah’s voice echoed through the silent living room.
"You wanted proof, didn’t you?"
Her expression was eerily calm.
But those who knew her well could see the heartbreak hidden beneath her composure.
Without another word, she reached into her handbag.
Everyone watched her every movement.
Then—
She pulled out a thick stack of photographs.
Eric’s eyes widened.
"No..."
Before he could react, Hannah flung them straight at him.
The glossy photographs struck his chest before scattering across the marble floor.
"They’re all yours," Hannah said coldly.
"So tell everyone..."
"How are you going to explain these?"
Silence.
The pictures lay everywhere.
Some had landed face-up.
Jonathan bent down first.
His expression changed almost instantly.
Every photograph showed Eric.
With different women.
In expensive restaurants.
Leaving hotels.
Holding hands.
Hugging.
In one picture, he was kissing a woman outside a nightclub.
Another showed him wrapping his arm around a model while smiling affectionately.
Grace slowly picked up another photograph. Her face darkened.
None of these pictures could be misunderstood.
Nicholas glanced at a few before placing them back onto the table. His expression was colder than ever.
Eric’s face had turned completely pale.
"Hannah..."
His lips trembled.
"T-This... It’s not what it looks like."
Hannah let out a soft, bitter laugh.
"Really? You expect me to believe that?"
Her fingers clenched tightly around her handbag. Ever since Dominic had warned her about Eric, she had refused to accept it.
There came a flickering moment when she had thought Dominic was mistaken. After all... she had loved Eric for years.
Long before she understood what love truly meant. She still remembered being a young girl who followed him everywhere, believing he was the kindest person she had ever met.
When her parents had questioned their relationship, she had defended him without hesitation.
When others doubted him, she trusted him.
She had even persuaded her own family to approve their marriage because she believed no one would ever love her the way Eric did.
Yet every single investigation report shattered that illusion.
After hiring a private investigator, she had uncovered far more than she had imagined.
There wasn’t just one woman. There were several.
Some relationships had lasted months. Others overlapped with the time he had been promising Hannah forever. Every new piece of evidence felt like another knife twisting into her heart.
The love she had protected so fiercely had turned out to be nothing more than a carefully crafted lie.
Eric hurried toward her. "Hannah, listen to me." He reached for her hand.
"I can explain everything."
She pulled away.
"You don’t understand—"
"I said I can explain!"
He grabbed her wrist.
"Hannah, those pictures don’t tell the whole story. They were business meetings. Some were friends. Someone is trying to frame me."
His voice became increasingly desperate. "You know me. You know I love you. I’ve only ever loved—"
Pak!
Another slap rang through the mansion. This one was even louder than the first.
Eric staggered backward, nearly losing his balance. A red handprint immediately appeared on his other cheek.
Everyone remained frozen. Hannah slowly lowered her hand. Her eyes glistened with tears, but her voice remained steady.
"Don’t. Don’t you dare say you love me. If this is your version of love..." She shook her head. "...then I’m grateful I found out before marrying you."
Helena finally snapped. She rushed toward Hannah, fury burning in her eyes.
"How dare you hit my son!" She pointed an accusing finger at Hannah.
"So what if he made a few mistakes? What man doesn’t?" Her voice grew sharper.
"If you’re going to create such a scene over something so trivial, then this marriage is over!"
She lifted her chin proudly. "The Swan family refuses to accept you as our daughter-in-law anymore."
The room fell silent. Everyone looked toward Hannah. Instead of panicking... she smiled.
It wasn’t a happy smile. It was one filled with relief.
"You think you’re rejecting me?"
She met Helena’s eyes without fear.
"Aunt Helena...I’m the one who no longer wants your son."
Eric froze.
"Hannah..."
Eric attempted to persuade Hannah, but as soon as he took a step towards her, her legs lifted up and hit it between his legs, causing him to whimper in pain.
Helena stood speechless. She had expected Hannah to cry.
To beg. Instead... Hannah hit him.
"Hannah, what are you doing?!" She shouted, but Hannah ignored her and turned on her heels, walking away without turning back.
Alaric and Helena looked stunned, but before anyone could recover from the shock, Dominic’s calm voice broke the silence.
"There is one more thing."
Every eye turned toward him.
He stood beside Clara, his posture relaxed, but the authority in his voice left no room for negotiation.
He looked directly at Alaric and Helena.
"From today onward...the Sterling Group will terminate every ongoing partnership with the Swan family."
Helena’s eyes widened.
"What?"
Dominic continued as though she hadn’t spoken.
"All pending projects will be suspended. No future investments will be approved. Our legal department will contact your company before the end of the day."
Alaric’s expression changed dramatically.
"Dominic, you can’t be serious! This is a personal matter. It has nothing to do with business."
"It became business," Dominic replied evenly, "the moment your family attempted to manipulate the Sterling family for financial gain."
His gaze settled on Eric.
"And the moment he admitted that Hannah was merely a stepping stone to expand the Swan family’s influence."
The room became deathly silent. Alaric’s confident expression finally cracked.
The Swan family’s rapid growth over the past few years had depended heavily on their relationship with the Sterlings.
Without those contracts... their company would suffer a devastating blow.
Helena’s face drained of color.
Nicholas remained seated, saying nothing. His silence alone was enough to show that he had no intention of overturning Dominic’s decision.
For the first time since arriving at the Sterling Mansion, the Swan family understood one undeniable truth.
They hadn’t just lost Hannah or just lost the Sterling family’s trust.
They had lost the most powerful ally they had ever hoped to have.