Hannah stared at the broad, dependable back in front of her, a strange warmth spreading through her chest. There was a time when another man would have stood before her like this, shielding her from the world. Now, that same man was on the side of those who sought to hurt her. Her face paled, and a bitter taste filled her mouth as she looked at him.


    "How much is the penalty for breaking the contract? I''ll pay it," he said.


    "Oh?" Yves'' voice was light and teasing. He nced over his shoulder at Hannah. "What do you think the penalty should be? How about we split it, fifty-fifty?"


    Hannah''s mouth twitched. The man was incorrigible, always so flippant.


    "Alright, since you''re too shy to say, I''ll say it for you." Yves'' eyes narrowed, sly as a fox. "One billion dors."


    Hannah stared. "???" Was he trying to ckmail him?


    "Yves, are you insane?" Lionel roared.


    "Not at all. It''s written right here in the contract, in ck and white. It''s a lifetime contract. As long as the Keystone Group is standing and I don''t agree to it, she can''t leave." Yves crossed his arms, enjoying Lionel''s frustration. "The contract was signed willingly. I exined all the terms, and Ms. Green here agreed to them without hesitation."


    "Hannah, did he force you to sign this?" Lionel demanded, his voice sharp.


    "Hannah, tell him. Did you sign it of your own free will?"


    Hannah took a deep breath and looked Lionel straight in the eye. "Mr. Lancaster exined every use in the contract to me. The penalty, the lifetime term-l knew everything. I signed it willingly. There was no coercion involved. So please, stop with the usations and stop trying to get me to leave the Keystone Group."


    Lionel''s pupils contracted. He was about to speak, but Hannah


    they head back to the event Yves, all smiles obediently followed her


    already turning to Yves,


    Sandra rushed over to Hannah. "Hannah, don''t know what''s going on between you and Lionel, but he really does want you at the


    Rosenberg Group  fo


    Hannah just gave her a faint smile and continued walking.


    Sandra stood there, torn, looking from Hannah''s retreating back to Lionel''s stormy face. She finally ran to his side.


    "Lionel, what did she say? Do you want me to try talking to her again? Or maybe you could ask your grandmother to persuade her?"


    "If she wants to get caught up in the Lancaster family''s mess, let her. When she ends up dead in a ditch, I won''t lift a finger to help her."


    "Lionel..." Sandra sped her hands together, her face etched with worry.


    "Don''t try to persuade her again," he warned.


    Sandra wanted to argue, but seeing the resolve in his eyes, she simply nodded. "Okay, I understand."


    Meanwhile, Yves leaned in close to


    Hannah. Do you think he was


    serious about paying the penalty


    .n


    Maybe I should lower the price. Five hundred million? A hundred million?"


    Hannah gave him a yful look. "Mr. Lancaster, are you trying to get a payday, or


    are you just trying to mess with him?"