Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)

Chapter 2347

Hannah, with a warm smile, nudged the fruit platter forward. "Help yourselves to some fruit. I'm going to make a quick call upstairs, see if Brooke has arrived yet."

Norah made a mental note that Xavier's blind date was named Brooke.

Once upstairs, Hannah found Yvonne in her room. "Mom, I forgot my moisturizer. I'll just use yours for now."

"Sure," Hannah murmured, pulling out her phone to call Carol.

Carol said she'd be there in about thirty minutes.

After hanging up, Yvonne complained, "Mom, why are you so obsessed with his love life? He's always been so bitter towards us. No matter what you do, he won't be touched. Why bother, especially during the holidays? You're just making things uncomfortable for yourself."

"You don't understand," Hannah said, sitting gracefully in her chair with a soft smile. "Your father is determined to bring him back into the fold. Sooner or later, he's going to settle down, and if he ends up with someone who doesn't get along with us, where does that leave us in the Hanson family?" "That's why I have to be the one to find a wife for Xavier. If I can keep his woman under my thumb, I'll still run this household."

Hannah was putting in a lot of effort to find the right wife for Xavier. She couldn't pick someone too influential, to avoid them ganging up against the Franco family with Xavier.

But she couldn't choose someone too ordinary either. After all, the Hanson family's reputation was at stake.

Yvonne nodded. "You do what you think is best. But I doubt it'll work. Xavier's resistance towards us is strong. He's unlikely to like anyone you choose."

Hannah's smile didn't waver. "If this one doesn't work, there'll be another. As long as your father sees my effort, that's all that matters. Besides, if it keeps failing, your father will eventually be disappointed in him, maybe even think he's not interested in taking over the Hanson family."

She stood up to smooth Yvonne's hair. "Human hearts are delicate. Guide them gently in the direction you want, and they'll follow without realizing it." Yvonne's thoughts drifted to Jonathan, her voice tinged with sadness. "Some hearts are as hard as iron."

"That's because you haven't found the right approach. Do you think it was easy for me to win over Simon Hanson, who was so cautious? In front of men, you need to show vulnerability, not always trying to outdo them, and certainly not let them think you're opposing them."

Yvonne's eyes flickered but she remained silent.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

...

When Xavier came downstairs, he immediately spotted Norah sitting on the sofa, enjoying some fruit and laughing with his father.

Whatever Norah had said had his father laughing heartily.

Before coming down, Norah had

been all animated. But upon seeing him, she suddenly turned quiet and docile, even putting down.

her

fruit.

He frowned, puzzled. Even if she was putting on an act, it was clearly for his father's benefit. Why pretend for him?

Didn't she realize he knew what she was really like?

"Gonzalez, come here!" Mr. Hanson

called out with a smile. "This is Norah, from the Henson family Geoffrey's grandkids. You met them last night. They've been waiting to see you!"

Henson got up. "Hello, Gonzalez!"

Norah wanted to disappear.

Calling him uncle!

Now that Henson had said it, was she supposed to follow suit?

She suddenly remembered her first visit to the Lamont family with Estelle, where she had to call Jonathan. Now, it felt like karma.

As Norah hesitated whether to stand up and greet him, Xavier asked, "Waiting for me? Is there something you need?"

Henson replied, "Originally, my sister

and I wanted to ask you out, but Grandpa Hanson mentioned you had a blind date at home today. We got curious and decided to stay and keep you company."

Xavier, "...".