Before she could exin, she saw Lionel''s eyes, filled with concern, fixated on the faint red scratch on Sandra''s face.


    The mark stood out starkly against Sandra''s pale skin. She covered it with her hand. "Lionel, Hannah didn''t mean to. Don''t me her."


    Lionel''s expression darkened, his eyes glinting with anger. "Even if you won''t help her, you don''t need toe to the hospital and bully her! Hannah, how can you be so petty?"


    Hannah stared at him, stunned. She knew he favored Sandra, but to me her without even trying to understand what happened was beyond unfair.


    She took a deep breath to suppress the lump in her throat. "It was an ident," she said, her voice choked.


    "Apologize to her!" Lionelmanded, his toneced with disgust.


    A cold, bitterugh escaped Hannah. In his eyes, no matter what happened, if she was present, it was her fault. No matter how she exined, he would never believe her.


    This man had changed. He no longer trusted her. There was no point in exining anything anymore.


    "She''s the one who stopped me, who grabbed my arm. Otherwise, I would never have identally scratched her!"


    Hannah''s gaze was fixed on Sandra, suspecting she had held on to her precisely because she saw Lionel approaching.


    "If I had done it on purpose, I wouldn''t just apologize. You could make me get on my knees and beg for her forgiveness, and I wouldn''t say a word."


    Seeing thest shred of defiance in her expression, Lionel felt an unexpected pang in his chest.


    Sandra gripped his wrist and shook her head gently.


    "Lionel, it''s true. I''m the one who stopped Hannah. I just wanted to convince her not to do something drastic and actually divorce you."


    Lionel''s face tensed. His Adam''s apple bobbed, but no words came out.


    Hannah''s gaze swept over the two of them, her eyes filled with revulsion. She turned and walked away.


    Watching her leave, Sandra gently nudged his arm and took the lunch he had brought.


    "Hannah''s probably angry. You should go and talk to her."


    Lionel took a step forward, then hesitated and pulled back. "What does she have to be angry about? You haven''t fully recovered. Don''t be walking around Go back insid and rest 111 gét a doctor to you."


    Check on


    He wrapped an arm around Sandra''s slender shoulders and led her back into the


    room.


    From around the corner, Hannah caught a glimpse of their intimate embrace. A wave of nausea washed over her.


    After the doctor examined Sandra and spoke briefly with Lionel, he left.


    "I told your was fine. You''re making a fuss over nothing," Sandra chided gently. "Hannah was upset because of me, really. She has her own. herown cases


    to handle and no time to help


    "Worst case, I''ll just ask the other party for an extension. My apprentice is new to


    this and really can''t handle it on her own."


    Sandra let out a long sigh.


    "I''ll find someone to handle the case for you. Just focus on getting better and don''t worry about it Lionel said, pulling out his phone I have some things to take care of, so I''m leaving now. Call me if you need anything."


    Sandra nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips as she watched him go.