**Chapter 4: Fragile Hope**

As Hange answered the phone, his expression transformed from relaxed to concerned in an instant. He listened intently, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something, or someone. I watched him, my mind racing with possibilities. Who was calling at this hour? And what did they want? "Yeah, I'm still here," Hange said, his voice low and even. "What do you mean, it's urgent?" I sat up, my back against the headboard, as Hange's body language shifted from relaxed to tense. His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, and his voice took on a guarded tone. "Okay, I'll be right there," he said, his voice firm. "Can you give me a few minutes?" As he ended the call, Hange's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes searching for something. "I'm sorry, baby," he said, his voice laced with regret. "I have to go out for a bit. It's work-related." I nodded, trying to process the sudden change in plans. We had just started to reconnect, and now he was leaving me again. The familiar ache of disappointment resurfaced, but I pushed it down, refusing to let it consume me. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice cautious. Hange hesitated, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "I'll tell you when I get back," he promised. "I just need to take care of something." I nodded, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. What was he hiding from me? And why did I get the feeling that this was more than just a work-related issue? As Hange stood up, his movements swift and efficient, I felt a pang of frustration. He was leaving me again, just when we were starting to reconnect. But as he approached me, his eyes locking onto mine with a deep-seated love, I knew that I had to trust him. "Hey," he said, his voice soft. "I'm not leaving you, okay? I'm just taking care of something. I'll be back soon." I nodded, feeling a fragile sense of hope rekindle within me. Maybe, just maybe, we could navigate this fractured landscape, and find our way back to each other. As Hange leaned down to kiss me, his lips brushing against mine in a gentle, reassuring touch, I felt a spark of hope. For the first time in a long time, I felt like we might actually make it through this, together. But as he turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of something on his phone. A text message, flashing on the screen. My heart skipped a beat as I read the words, my mind reeling with implications. "Who's Lena?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Hange's eyes froze, his gaze locked onto mine with a mixture of guilt and fear. And in that moment, I knew that our fragile hope was about to be tested in ways I couldn't even imagine.