Passion and Power

Chapter 24

Hanni saw Minji's car and walked swiftly over. The driver had the door open for her before she reached it. She let herself drop into the supple leather seats.

"Good evening, Ms. Pham. My name is Kai. Where would you like to go?"

The place that flashed through her thoughts was Minji's apartment, but she knew that wasn't an option, so she recited Danielle's address and collapsed against the seat.

Several minutes down the road the driver spoke up, sounding hesitant.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I don't mean to bother you, but I just can't help saying - you were fantastic in the championship game! Well, and the whole season, of course. But that last one was the most exciting game I've ever seen!"

"Thank you, Kai. It's really nice to hear that." Hanni appreciated the reminder that she and her team had done something fantastic. She shouldn't let the encounter with Jay detract from that. She resolved to do her best to process and put it behind her, but also that she wouldn't lose track of all the good she had in her life.

Hanni spent the next weeks meeting regularly with her therapist. The therapist was well aware of her abusive relationship and had helped her as she was getting out of it. Hanni had reached a good place. Her decision not to date alphas was one that helped her cope and feel more in control. But Minji had cracked through her resolve with her caring, patience, and complete respect for Hanni and what she wanted.

Hanni's doctor considered her decision to explore a relationship with Minji an important breakthrough. Hanni felt anxious telling her about her run-in with Jay and her decision to take a break to deal with her re-awakened feelings. She was relieved at the woman's reaction.

"Hanni, I'm really proud of you!"

"You are?"

"Of course I am." Dr. Kwan said with an encouraging smile. "You've come so far. That doesn't mean there isn't more work to do. And if you feel like you need to do that before pursuing a relationship, then you need to do that. Trust yourself, Hanni. You have a good heart and a good mind."

"When I was trying to break up with him, it was so hard. So long and drawn out. When I finally made the break I just really needed to focus on moving on. But now...after the way he reacted when Minji confronted him...the way he denied it - as if I was overreacting! I just...I started to wonder if he really believes that. And even if he doesn't, what's to stop him from doing it to anyone else?"

"What do you want to do, Hanni?"

"I'm not sure. I want to talk to him again. I want to confront him. I want to try to make him see what he did."

"How do you propose to do that?"

"I don't know. Not in person. Maybe...Zoom?" Hanni laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. "I want him to be able to see me, but I don't want to be near him."

"That makes sense. Do you think he'll agree to it?"

"Yes. At the party, the way he acted at first, it almost seemed like he was hoping we might get back together. Like he really just had no idea."

"I support you, Hanni. And we can talk through what you want to say to him. But I think we should first spend more time on you. It's totally understandable that you reacted the way you did to him. But if you want to be able to change those feelings, to take back your power and not feel afraid, or insecure, well, that can only come from you."

"I understand that." Hanni said. "I'm not afraid of hard work. I want the work. I'll do whatever it takes."

"I think we should focus on you first and then on him."