Quennel poured a cup of coffee and handed it to his mother.


    "The driver was Xenia, Sandra''s assistant. She''s been arrested, but she won''t admit Sandra put her up to it. Loyal to the end, it seems."


    Mary picked up her cup, then set it down. "As long as she''s caught, that''s all that matters. Stay out of their business from now on, alright?"


    "Mother, can you do me a favor?" Quennel moved behind her and began gently massaging her shoulders. He leaned in close. "Go talk to Sandra. Tell her to stop with these stupid games. What if she pushes things so far that Lionel refuses to divorce Hannah?"


    Lionel''s impulsive behaviorst night, the raw panic in his eyes—it was clear he still had feelings for Hannah. This incident would only make him more protective, and the divorce was now in jeopardy. Sandra was a fool, constantly overying her hand.


    "Are you worried she''ll try to hurt Hannah again, or are you genuinely worried they won''t get divorced?" Mary asked, catching his hand and turning to look him in the eye. "I want the truth."


    Quennel considered it for a moment. "Both," he admitted without hesitation.


    "You!" Mary sighed, exasperated.


    "Please, Mother. Just handle this for me."


    "You will go on a blind date in two days. If you do that, I''ll take care of this."


    "Deal," Quennel agreed instantly, no longer putting up a fight.


    After seeing his mother off, Quennel went down to the 25th floor. He walked in to find Hannah packing her bags.


    "Hannah," he said, gently stopping her. "You''re still injured. Even if you want to leave, you should wait until you''ve healed."


    She shook her head. "Quennel, you''ve already done so much for me. I don''t want to cause you any more trouble."


    She knew if she stayed, Mary would me Quennel again. She couldn''t bear to be the cause of a rift between them.


    "Don''t be so stubborn. It''s my apartment. I can let whoever I want live here."


    "It''s okay, Quennel. My hotel room is still paid for. I''ll go back there. It''s safe, and Lionel probably won''t think to look for me."


    "I have other properties. Why don''t you move..."


    "No, Quennel, really," Hannah interrupted, forcing a weak smile. "I''m fine. Please, just let me go."


    Seeing that he couldn''t change her mind, and looking at her red-rimmed eyes, he couldn''t bring himself to make her cry again.


    "Alright. I''ll take you. But if you need anything, you have to promise you''ll call me first. Okay?"


    Hannah nodded.


    Quennel carried her luggage downstairs and drove her to the hotel. He insisted on checking the room, making sure it was, secure before finally leaving.


    Alone in the hotel room, Hannah sat on the sofa, feeling an empty ache in her chest. It felt like her entire world had been turned upside down, overnight.  ?wnovels


    A dull throb started at her temples. She was about to head to the bedroom to lie


    down when a knock came at the door.


    Assuming it was Quennel with somest-minute instructions, she opened it without asking who was there.


    "Quennel, did you..."


    Her words died in her throat. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of the man standing in the hallway.


    She stumbled back then instinctively tried to m the door shut.