Turning the Tide novel Chapter 30

Hanna began her explanation, "You've pretty much figured it out. I've known Grace for a long time. Our families go way back..."

It turned out to be a gamble between Hanna and Grace.

Despite their similar backgrounds, their personalities were quite different. Grace was competitive by nature, always striving to outshine others in every aspect of her life. In contrast, Hanna had a laid-back approach to life and wasn't driven by a desire to win at all costs.

Adding to the intrigue was how their parents raised them. Hanna's parents wanted her to grow up free-spirited and carefree before eventually taking on the family business. Grace's parents poured their energy into molding her into an impressive individual who could thrive in the ruthless world of business.

As a result, Grace became the star pupil with her straight A's, while Hanna often flew under the radar, her gaze usually glued to the floor due to her shyness. She had few friends, given her reserved nature.

As they grew up and their families' business empires expanded, they inevitably found themselves in fierce competition against each other, with both sides having their strengths.

Grace, as competitive as ever, was determined not to lose. After being overshadowed by Grace for years, Hanna felt it was finally time to advocate for her family's interests.

One fateful day, the two made a bet on my final decision after reaching a new level of wealth.

Grace believed decency was the most fragile thing when confronted with the allure of sudden riches. She assumed I would become consumed by the pursuit of fame and fortune after tasting the sweet life that came with wealth.

Hanna saw things differently. While the idea of striking it rich overnight after years of struggling was enticing, she felt that certain principles would never be compromised.

And the rest of the story was known to all.

At the recent dinner when Grace laid out a promising future for me, I chose to see if I could earn that director role on my own merit instead of relying on Grace to speak on my behalf to the head office executives. In essence, Hanna won.

With a self-mocking smile, I turned to Hanna and said, "Congratulations! You won."

A wave of mixed emotions washed over me. No wonder I couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease, even with a hefty sum sitting in my bank account. I was just a nobody that these two wealthy women had wagered on.

Though the dreamlike life was ending, I felt grateful for the chance to experience what it was like to live as a wealthy man.

Not wanting to embarrass myself further, I turned to open the car door but was stopped by a hand.

I looked back to see Hanna gripping my arm. Her earnest eyes locked onto mine as she said, "Don't go. I know you're upset, but I want you to know that I'm happy not because I won, but because you chose me. It took a lot of courage for me to share my feelings."

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Maybe it's because of your kindness when you helped me, or maybe it's guilt for not helping you back then. Since that day, I've dreamed about you, but I was too afraid to confess my feelings. I knew you had a crush on Grace, and I feared you would reject me. But now I want to tell you: I like you."

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