For the first time in three years, she found the courage to look Mary directly in the eye. Hannah knew that Mary had never once considered her a true family. She had tried so hard to win her approval, but now she understood it was pointless. She no longer cared about being the perfect wife or daughter. She just wanted to be herself.


    "Sandra denied stealing my project and made her assistant take the fall, getting her fired. Then she faked a fall to frame me, which started this whole mess online..."


    "I don''t want to hear about your petty squabbles," Mary cut her off, her voice like ice. "Hannah, as long as you are married to Lionel, you will remember your ce. You will remember whose wife you are."


    "Moving into my own son''s home, then shamelessly clinging to him in a public ce like a hospital... Quennel may be kind, but that doesn''t give you the right to use him."


    Hannah stared at her, stunned. It felt like something was caught in her throat, a suffocating mix of anger and humiliation.


    "If you''re leaving the Rosenberg family, then leave quietly. Don''t think for a second you can stir up trouble between Quennel and Lionel. Do you really think an outsider can tear my family apart?"


    "Mother, I didn''t!" she protested, her voice rising. "I only moved out to get some space from Lionel. Quennel was just being kind. I wasn''t trying to do anything else. I was just waiting for things to cool down..."


    Mary ignored her exnations, rising to her feet and looking down at her with undisguised contempt. "Move out of here. I''ll be back in two days. If you''re still here, I won''t hesitate to have you thrown out."


    With that final warning, Mary left.


    Hannah sat on the sofa, feeling lost. Her eyes welled up, and tears began to fall, one after another.


    Outside, the elevator doors opened. Mary paused, seeing the man standing inside, then stepped in.


    "Why didn''t you tell me you wereing?" Quennel asked, his tone neutral.


    "If I had, you would have hidden her," Mary replied, pressing the button for the 26th floor "If the housekeeper. hadn''t told me you moved Hannah in, I suspect you would have kept it from me forever."


    "It''s not that dramatic. She''s only staying for a few days."


    Mary smiled at her eldest son. "A few days that turn into a permanent stay? And suddenly Hannah bes your wife? Quennel, darling, I''m getting old. My heart can''t take that kind of shock."


    The elevator opened. He stepped out and held the car door for his mother.


    "Don''t worry, that won''t happen. I know how much the Rosenberg family''s reputation means to you. I would never do anything to cause you shame."


    Mary paused, her eyes searching his for the truth.


    Quennel smiled and gently guided her into the car. "Rx. It''s not going to happen. You didn''te all this way just to see Hannah, did you?"


    Seeing his yful demeanor, Mary swatted his hand away.


    "Who was behind the car ident? You were photographed carrying her into the hospital and taking her home Do you have any idea how worried was about the rumors Promise me you''ll stay away from her. Make her go back where she belongs."