Anna cleared her throat, setting her tray down. "Sorry, that''s my seat. Can''t give it up."


    A flush of embarrassment crossed Sandra''s face as she looked at Hannah, but Hannah was calmly eating her food, seemingly oblivious. The exchange, however, had not gone unnoticed by others in the crowded dining room.


    "How strange," someone whispered nearby. "They came from the same firm. One gets fired, and the other gets into the Rosenberg Group."


    "Just goes to show she wasn''t good enough. No wonder she''s so hostile."


    "Right? If I were her, I''d be too embarrassed to even show my face."


    Hannah tried to ignore the chatter, but one of the gossipers decided to approach her directly.


    "Ms. Green, why did you get fired from your old firm? I heard they rarely let anyone go."


    Hannah put down her fork and turned to the woman. "As a fellowwyer, you should know the consequences of nder. I resigned. I have no idea where you heard that I was fired."


    Her tone was calm, but it held an edge that instantly silenced the woman, who averted her gaze and said no more.


    "Or perhaps you think the Keystone Group''s legal department is inferior to the Rosenberg Group''s?" Hannah continued, her voice even. "I resigned through the proper channels and was hired based on my merits. If any of you have an issue with that, you''re wee to file a formalint with the Keystone Group."


    The surrounding tables fell silent. The legalmunity was small; everyone knew everything. But no one had expected the usually quiet and reserved Hannah to be so formidable. They had intended to belittle her to tter Sandra, but they had clearly misjudged their target.


    The tide of whispers turned.


    "If we''re talking about questionable hires, what about Sandra joining the Rosenberg Group?"


    "I heard her position was secured before she was even out of the hospital. And Mr. Rosenberg himself was photographed visiting her."


    "Well, if Mr. Rosenberg personally visited her, that changes everything, doesn''t it?"


    The hushed spection now focused entirely on Sandra. Feeling the weight of their stares, Sandra''s face crumpled. She turned and hurried away.


    Anna watched her go with a smirk. "Serves her right. She tried to show off and ended up making a fool of hersett. Someone who gets a job through connections should know to keep their head down."


    Hannah watched Sandra''s retreating back. She sometimes wondered if Sandra


    was deliberately malicious or just thoughtlessly cruel.


    After lunch, Anna stepped away to


    call her boyfriend, and Hannah,


    on the balcony. As she reached the door, she heard a soft, sobbing voice.


    decided to get some fresh a


    "Lionel, I know you mean well, but if I don''t go through the proper channels,


    people will talk. Maybe it''s better if I just stay at my old firm."


    Hannah leaned against the wall, her eyes fixed on the floor.


    "No one is saying anything, I just... I want to get in on my own merit. You''ve already done so much for me" Sandra sniffled “My brother gone, but I''m not so fragile that can''t stand on my own two feet. Lionel, I know you''ve done a lot for my sake, but... Hannah?"


    Not wanting to listen to their drama any longer, Hannah started to walk away, but


    Sandra had already spotted her.