Sandra''s eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of hope igniting within her. He did still


    care.


    She maintained her sorrowful expression. "If I don''t marry him... I don''t know what else to do."


    She lowered her head, and a single tear fell onto the table. She sniffled, wiping it away with the back of her hand. Just as she was about to continue her performance, the door swung open.


    Hannah noticed Sandra''s tear-streaked face but didn''tment. She sat down, picked up her phone, and casually stopped the recording that had been running.


    A notification popped up on her screen.


    Yves: [They caught the kidnappers. One of them confessed that a woman named Zona hired them. But it seems Zona was just a middleman; she doesn''t know who was really behind it.]


    Zona.


    Hannah''s blood ran cold. It couldn''t be a coincidence. Lionel''s mother had a maid named Zona. The same woman who had urged them to have children at the dinner table had then arranged for her to be kidnapped and assaulted. What was she trying to do?


    Hannah knew Mary disliked her, but this was beyond anything she could have imagined. And the kidnapping... its purpose was to lure Lionel out.


    Could it be? Was Mary targeting her own son?


    The thought made Hannah''s breath catch in her throat.


    "Hannah, what''s wrong? You look pale," Sandra asked, her voice still thick with emotion. "Are you feeling alright? Maybe Lionel should take you to the hospital."


    Hannah put down her phone and turned to Lionel. "Mr. Lancaster said they found the kidnappers."


    Lionel nodded. "I know."


    He knew, but he hadn''t told her. Was it because of Zona? If Yves hadn''t told her, would he have kept it a secret forever?


    "Did they confess who was behind it?” Hannah pressed.


    "What did Yves tell you?" Lionel countered.


    His evasion was all the confirmation she needed. It wasn''t a different Zona; it was Mary''s maid. And Lionel knew. He had been nning to hide it from her. The thought that the two of them, mother and son, had nearly gotten her killed, was so absurd it was almostughable.


    She fought back a wave of nausea and texted Yves.


    Hannah: [Thanks for letting me know, Mr. Lancaster. I''ll treat you to dinner when I get back.]


    Yves: [Can I pick the restaurant?]


    Hannah: [Of course! Anything you want.]


    Yves: [There is one dish I''ve been dying to try.]


    Hannah: [What is it?]


    Yves: [It''s a secret. I''ll be waiting for you.]


    Hannah didn''t try to hide her phone from Lionel. He sat beside her, his gaze falling on the screen. The words were innocent enough, but to him, they seemedced with an intimacy that grated on his nerves.


    After dinner, Hannah looked at a tipsy Sandra. "You should take her home." She pulled out her phone to call a cab.


    "Get in the car with us," Lionel said. "I''ll take you home after I drop her off."


    Sandra swayed, waving a dismissive hand.


    modelona


    no, I''m not drunk. I can get a cab. You and Lionel should get home Don''t worry about me.


    She stumbled toward the curb, letting out a pained hiss with every step.