Hannah nced back instinctively but didn''t recognize the driver at first. She moved further onto the sidewalk, but the horn red again. This time, she squinted and realized with a jolt that it was Lionel. A dark cloud settled over her expression. She put her phone away and quickened her pace, walking determinedly away from him.


    Infuriated that she was not only refusing to get in but actively running away, Lionel mmed his foot on the elerator, swerving the car to block her path.


    Hannah nearly crashed into the passenger door, her heart pounding as she gasped for breath. She met his furious gaze for a moment, then clenched her jaw and tried to walk around the car.


    "Hannah, get in the car!" he yelled.


    She ignored him, continuing on as if she hadn''t heard a thing.


    Enraged, he cut her off again, threw the car door open, and stepped out to confront her.


    "I told you to get in the car. Didn''t you hear me?" Lionel grabbed her arm, trying to force her into the passenger seat.


    "Let go of me! If you don''t let go, I''ll scream!"


    "Go ahead!"


    His dark eyes were locked on hers, challenging her, making it clear he didn''t care


    if she made a scene. His reaction stunned her into silence, and before she could react, he had pushed her into the car.


    Once inside, he immediately locked the doors.


    Hannah folded her hands in herp and angled her body away from him, staring


    out the window, refusing to acknowledge his presence.


    "Where were youst night?" he demanded, not starting the car.


    She remained silent.


    He pressed on. “Sandra didn''t know that case was yours. She thought it had been abandoned and the client was desperate, so she took-"


    "Hah," Hannah eut him off with a


    cold, mockingugh. She turned to


    face him. "So, you really think I would just abandon a case halfway through to work on something else? Lionel, did you just me?t me yesterday? Do you have any idea what my work ethic is?"


    Her face was a mask of calm, but her eyes rolled in exasperation. They had known each other for years. From the day she graduatedw schooDuntil now, she had never given up on a single case no matter how simple orplex. She had poured everything she had into her work, driven by the oath she had sworn on her graduation day. Even when faced with immense difficulties and deliberate obstruction, she had never thought of quitting. She had even gone to him for advice.


    And now, in his eyes, she was nothing more than an ipetent, irresponsible, third-ratewyer.


    "You can insult me, Lionel, but you


    will not insult, my professional integrity," she said, a flicker of anger in her eyes. She turned back to the


    window crossing her arms. been less than two weeks. The firm''s security footage is still avable. You can go pufbthe tapes and see for yourself who abandoned the case and who stole it from someone else. Now, open the door."


    "So you''re saying you didn''t abandon it?" he asked, a hint of disbelief still in his voice.


    Hannah didn''t even bother to look at him, simply taking out her phone and starting to scroll.


    A tense silence filled the car.


    Without another word, Lionel stepped on the gas and drove toward the Rosenberg estate. Hannah stopped struggling, quietly typing out a message on her phone.


    Half an hourter, as they pulled up to the main gate, Lionel saw a familiar car parked just outside.


    Hannah followed his gaze, and a small, triumphant smile touched her lips.


    As a man stepped out of the other car, Lionel''s face darkened instantly.