Quennel tilted his head, a slight smirk on his face. "Already sent her out of the country. I told you not to do something so foolish. It was bound to be traced back


    to you."


    Mrs. Mary Rosenberg downed her ss of red wine in one gulp. "So I''m supposed to just sit back and watch Lionel climb all over you? Quennel, everything I do, I do for you."


    Quennel moved behind her, his hands gently kneading her shoulders. "I know, Mother. Don''t be angry. I was just worried he''d follow the trail back to you."


    He thought of Hannah''s sad little face and chuckled. "He owes his sess to her, doesn''t he? She saved his life. She was his making, and she could just as easily be his undoing."


    Mrs. Mary Rosenberg paused, turning to grab her son''s hand. "Quennel, tell me the truth. Do you have feelings for Hannah?"


    She knew her son better than anyone. She had never interfered in his life, but this was one thing she could not ept.


    "Hannah is married to Lionel. Even if they divorce, you can''t marry her. The gossip would be unbearable. People would say you were the reason they broke up. If she had never married him, I wouldn''t have objected. But she did!"


    Quennel gently pulled his hand away and patted hers. "Don''t worry, Mother. I just find her... interesting."


    "Is that all?"


    "That''s all," he assured her with a disarming smile. "From now on, no more rash decisions. And stay away from Hannah. We wouldn''t want Lionel to have a sudden change of heart and call off the divorce."


    Mrs. Mary Rosenberg nodded. "I''ll listen to you, dear. All I want is for you to be happy."


    Quennel''s eyes darkened, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths.


    After hanging up, Lionel ordered his team to find Zona. She had no reason to harm Hannah. Someone had to be pulling the strings. He was sure his mother was involved, but he had no proof. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache beginning to form.


    The next day, Hannah had just finished a meeting when Sandra called. She excused herself and stepped into the hallway.


    “Hannah, I''m so sorry. I shouldn''t have had so much to drinkst night. I kept Lionel froming back to you."


    Sandra''s voice was filled with apology, but there was an undercurrent of gloating that was impossible to miss.


    Hannah hit the record button. "What was that? I was busy, I didn''t quite hear you."


    Thinking she hadn''t been heard,


    Sandra repeated herself. "I got drunkst night, and Lionel took me home. I started thinking about my brother and I got really upset. Lionel stayed tofort me. I''m so sorry. Owas drunk and emotional, and just clung to him."


    "I see," Hannah said tly.


    Sandra had expected more—anger questions about what had happened between them. But Hannah''s tone waspletely different  swhovels


    "You''re not mad, are you?"


    Hannah stopped the recording. "He''s always been a good friend to you. Don''t overthink it. I have to get back to work."


    Sandra stared at the phone as the line went dead, grinding her teeth in frustration.