That evening, in the hospital room.


    Yves hade to check on Hannah and was just about to leave when Lionel walked in.


    Yves turned to see Hannah packing her things andughed loudly. "Well, look who it is! News travels fast. You get admitted this morning, and he shows up tonight."


    Hannah looked up and saw Lionel, breathless and disheveled. Her eyes widened in shock, then flickered with disappointment, and finally settled into a mask of indifference as she went back to packing.


    Yves deliberately stood in the doorway, blocking Lionel''s path. He nced at Lionel''s empty hands and teased, "I always heard Mr. Rosenberg was so caring, bringing three square meals a day, all perfectly bnced. How is it that for our Ms. Green, you show up with nothing?"


    Though Hannah wanted to ignore Lionel, she couldn''t help but steal a nce at him.


    He really hade empty-handed.


    "I thought you were generous to everyone, but it seems your kindness is reserved for just one person," Yves said, crossing his arms and clicking his tongue. "Not even a bouquet of flowers or a fruit basket. Tsk, tsk. Even if you don''t dote on her, you could at least show some basic courtesy, right?"


    Lionel''s gaze darkened. "Move."


    Instead of moving, Yves pressed on. "See that bouquet of lilies on her nightstand? Beautiful, aren''t they? I brought them."


    Only then did Lionel notice the flowers. They were an eyesore.


    Hannah stopped what she was doing and looked at Lionel. "Mr. Rosenberg, whatever you have to say can wait until tomorrow. I need to rest."


    Her distant tone and formal words were like daggers to his heart.


    "Mr. Rosenberg, Hannah is a patient. She needs her rest," Yves interjected.


    Seeing Lionel try to push past him, Yves raised a hand to block him, his expression hardening. "This is a hospital, not the Rosenberg estate. Please leave."


    Without a word, Lionel shoved his arm aside and stormed into the room.


    "Lionel!" Yves spun around and grabbed his arm, hissing, "Hannah needs to rest!"


    Outside, dark clouds gathered, threatening a storm. Inside, the tension crackled, and the temperature seemed to drop.


    Hannah quickly stepped between them. "Mr. Lancaster, it''s alright."


    Yves looked at the strained smile on her face and, after a few seconds of silence, released his grip.


    "Call me if you need anything."


    Hannah nodded. "Okay."


    Yves shot Lionel onest warning look before backing out of the room, leaving the door ajar.


    Hannah took a deep breath and sat on the sofa. "What do you want?"


    Lionel stood over her, his brow


    furrowed as he scanned her from head to toe. There were dear ligature marks on her exposed wrists and several bruises on her arms.


    "You were really kidnapped?"


    Hannah stiffened, looking up at him in disbelief.


    Really kidnapped?


    What aughable question.


    "Hah," she let out a coldugh. “No, of course not. I was just jealous that you spend all your time with Sandra, so I staged the whole thing to trick you into visiting me is that what you wanted to hear, Lonel?


    His gaze felt on her face, and his eyes narrowed. For a moment, hearing her words, his first instinct was to believe that was exactly what had happened.


    But then he looked into her eyes and understood... Hannah really had been kidnapped.