Quennel stood by his car, offering them a polite smile.


    Instinctively, Hannah reached for the door handle, only to find it locked. "Open the door," she demanded.


    Lionel''s mind raced. He didn''t have time to process why Quennel was here; all he knew was that if he let Hannah out of the car, she would be gone.


    He turned to her, his eyes intense. "Did you call him?"


    On the surface, Quennel was gentle and harmless, but Lionel knew better. He knew just how vicious his older brother could be. When he had first taken over the branch office, a series of disasters had nearly crushed him, all orchestrated by Quennel to prove he was ipetent and should be sent back home to live as a useless heir. There had even been a few near-idents on his way home from work. While there was no concrete proof, he couldn''t think of anyone else who would target him so relentlessly.


    The man was a wolf in sheep''s clothing.


    Seeing that he had no intention of unlocking the doors, Hannah just shrugged. "Fine, Lionel. Keep me locked in this car forever, if you can."


    He had to let her out eventually.


    "This is between us, Hannah. Why did you have to drag him into it?" Lionel''s knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel.


    She didn''t respond.


    The car rolled into the garage. After a long, tense silence, Lionel finally unlocked the doors. Hannah got out calmly and walked toward the house.


    "Lionel," Quennel said, already seated on the living room sofa. "I have somepany business that requires Hannah''s expertise. I came to pick her up."


    Lionel walked over to him, his expression cold. "What are the rest of your employees for? You have toe to my house to borrow my people? The answer is no."


    His arrogant, controlling words didn''t faze Hannah in the slightest. She only felt a deeper sense of disgust. Who was he to make decisions for her? She was a person, not his property.


    Quennel saw the confident smile on Hannah''s face and understood her thoughts without her needing to say a word. He stood up, gave hera knowing look, and started walking toward the door.


    Seeing him leave so readily, Lionel didn''t feel relieved. Instead, a sense of unease settled over him.


    "Hannah, let''s go upstairs."


    He turned and started up


    Stairs


    but when he didn''t hear her footsteps behind him, he spun


    around. To his shock, she


    was


    following Quennel out the door.


    "Hannah!"


    She didn''t stop, didn''t even acknowledge his call. She and Quennel walked side- by-side, chatting andughing as if he were the outsider.


    Watching them leave together, a wave of panic washed over him. He rushed back down the stairs and caught up to them.


    "I told you not to go, didn''t you hear me?"


    He blocked Hannah''s path, his eyes dark as he red at Quennel. "If your people are ipetent, fire them. Don bother others in the middle of the night."


    Quennel just smiled faintly, his gaze resting on Hannah.


    "Lionel, if you try to stop me today, I will post our marriage certificate on every social media tform I have."


    Her voice was calm, each word delivered with chilling precision. She stared at him, watching the certainty in his eyes waver and crumble into anxiety.


    He didn''t speak, but she already knew his answer.


    She looked at Quennel. "Let''s go."