Her disappointment in Lionel hadn''te all at once; it had been built, piece by painful piece, over countless incidents.


    Hannah stared into the distance. "If you can''t clear this up by the end of the day, I''m going public with our marriage tomorrow. I''m done sacrificing myself for you, Lionel."


    Without waiting for a response, she hung up. She stood on the balcony for a few moments,posing herself, then walked back into the office as if nothing had happened. Her colleagues, who had been whispering among themselves, quickly fell silent and pretended to be busy. Hannah noticed but said nothing, returning to her desk.


    Lionel stared at the dark screen of his phone, a sharp painncing through his chest as if a piece of his heart had been carved out.


    "Mr. Rosenberg, we still can''t get it down!" Owen rushed in. "Every time we suppress it, they push it right back up. We can''t trace who''s behind it, but they''re spending a fortune."


    Lionel''s jaw tightened as he looked at the three rted stories trending at the top of the news feed.


    "Reporters are calling nonstop, asking about you and Ms. Woods. They''ve even dug up the story about you giving the Woods family that project," Owen reported. "Worse, the Rosenberg Group''s stock has been dropping all morning. Headquarters is demanding we handle this immediately."


    Lionel''s gaze was heavy, his finger tapping a slow rhythm on the desk. After a long moment, he said, "Schedule a press conference for three o''clock this afternoon."


    "What?" Owen stared, shocked. That was less than five hours away.


    "Just do it."


    "Yes, sir."


    Lionel knew Hannah wasn''t bluffing. If he didn''t clear this up today, she would release the marriage


    certificate. And while he wasn''t entirely against that, he couldn& stand to see her endure another day of public stander. He couldn''t wait until tomorrow.


    Hannah finished organizing her files and took them to the president''s office. Yves seemed to be waiting for her, his eyes curving into crescents as she entered.


    She delivered her project update, ignoring his expectant look. When she finished and he remained silent, she finally asked, "Mr. Lancaster, is there a problem?"


    "It''s just us here. No need to be so formal," he said, tilting his head. The Rosenberg family stock has dropped several points, and they''re holding a press conference this afternoon. Did you know?"


    Hannah shook her head.


    "Interested in watching it with me?" he offered. "I''m dying to know what Lionel will say. Will he finally announce your marriage, or will he throw you under the bus to protect Sandra?"


    Hannah saw the undisguised malice and amusement in his eyes.


    "You''re not getting soft, are you?" Yves asked, his gaze fixed on her unreadable expression. "Hannah, you don''t owe him any kindness. He certainly never showed you any, did he?"


    She knew he was right, but a part of her dreaded going. She was afraid of what Lionel might say, afraid she wouldn''t be able to handle it. She


    Jooked down, herming racing for a moment, she met Yves''s gaze again.