Quennel watched her shy reaction with a soft, knowing smile.


    "If you don''t want to go home, you can stay here for a while," he offered. "The building has tight security, so it''s a safe ce for you."


    Hannah looked up at him, stunned. She barely knew Quennel, their interactions limited to a few brief encounters, but she had always sensed a gentle kindness about him. He always faced the world with a smile, as if nothing could ever break his spirit a stark contrast to Lionel.


    "I... I couldn''t impose."


    While it was the perfect solution, she still felt hesitant.


    "Don''t worry about it. I don''t live here, so the ce is usually empty," Quennel reassured her, seeing the conflict in her eyes. "Or is there something else you''re worried about? You can tell me. I might not be able to solve everything, but I can certainly try to help."


    Hannah took a deep breath and set down her fork. After a long silence, she finally said, “It''s not that. It''s just... I feel bad that you''re being dragged into my problems with Lionel."


    Quennel paused for a moment, then chuckled.


    "Is that all? Don''t be silly. We''re friends; there''s no need to talk about being a bother. Besides, this is all Lionel''s fault. I can''t just stand by and do nothing, can 1?"


    He looked at her, his expression warm and sincere. "Hannah, please, make yourself at home. If you need anything, just let me know. And don''t ever think you''re a burden. Helping you is never a burden."


    His words were like a gentle stream, flowing into her heart and melting the ice that had formed around it. Faced with his genuine offer, she found she couldn''t refuse any longer.


    "If you need to get anything from


    home, just tell Lily to pack it for you, and I''ll go pick it up. She won''t ask any questions, and no one will knów. you''re staying here. Or, I can have someone buy you whatever you need."


    Hannah shook her head. "That''s okay. My things are still at the hotel. I can get themter."


    "Let me send someone. It''s better if Lionel doesn''t find out."


    Hannah looked at him, her eyes welling up again. She nodded, too moved to speak.


    "No more tears," he said softly. "Finish your food. I heard your stomach rumbling earlier."


    True to his word, Quennel had one of his staff retrieve her luggage and stock the apartment with groceries.


    That afternoon, Hannah was scrolling through her phone on the sofa when a news story caught her eye.


    The client from the case Sandra had taken from her was furious about her sloppy dismissive work. After causing a scene at the oldw firm, he hadtracked her to her new one. and had been staking out hechame. This morning, he had broken in with a knife. Sandra had managed to lock herself in a room, but he kicked the door down. A neighbor heard themotion and called the police, and she was rescued just in time.


    It had all happened while Lionel was supposed to be driving her to work.


    Reading the article, Hannah''s eyes


    narrowed. It confirmed her


    Suspicions. It was all too convenient too perfectly timed to be a


    coincidence.


    Just as she was closing the article, her phone rang. The screen disyed a name


    she never wanted to see again: Sandra.