Lionel''s brow instantly knotted. "Are you sure about that?"


    Owen nodded quickly. "Positive. I had someone check with the police station. Mrs. Rosenberg was definitely at both locations."


    He was so furious he wanted to storm back to the restaurant and demand an exnation from Hannah. What happened to Sandra tonight had to be connected to her.


    "Find Zack and bring him to me. Now."


    "Yes, sir!"


    Lionel stood outside the hospital room, taking several deep breaths beforeposing himself and walking back inside.


    “Lionel,” Sandra said, her eyes lighting up the moment he entered. She sat up eagerly, but her smile quickly faded into a look of sorrow.


    "Are you not feeling well? Should I get the doctor?"


    She shook her head, forcing a weak smile. "No, it''s not that. I was just thinking about my brother. If he were still here, I wouldn''t have to bother you like this sote at night. I''m so much trouble for you."


    Her words struck a chord in him. He sat down on the sofa. "Taking care of you is never trouble."


    A faint smile touched Sandra''s lips as she wiped away a tear.


    "I''ll stay with you tonight. You get some rest."


    "Okay."


    Back at the restaurant, the waiter had reced the seafood dishes with new ones. Hannah sat alone, pouring herself more wine and picking at her food, a solitary figure in a room full of happy couples.


    She scrolled through Facebook and saw a new post from Sandra.


    [You always show up right when I need you most.]


    It was apanied by a photo of a man sitting on a sofa, arms crossed, eyes closed in rest. The hospital room was dark, lit only by the pale moonlight streaming through the window, casting a soft glow on him. The atmosphere was intimate, suggestive.


    Hannah had barely eaten a few bites when a wave of nausea churned in her stomach.


    She fought it down, closed the app, and drained her wine ss before getting up to leave.


    "Excuse me, miss, you haven''t paid the bill yet," the waiter said, hurrying after her with the check.


    His voice was loud enough to make several other diners turn and look. Some of them even smirked.


    The absurdity of it all made Hannahugh. She pulled her bank card from her purse and ced it on the tray.


    "One moment," she said brightly. "I''d


    just like to take a picture. It''s not every day you get asked out by a jerk who ditches you halfway through dinner it''s a moment worth


    remembering."


    She held up the receipt, took a selfie, and posted it to Facebook.


    [Forced into a dinner date after work by a jerk. Not only did he run off to answer a phone call, but he also left me with the bill. Gotughed at by the whole restaurant.]


    Almost immediately, Yves liked it andmented: [He ditched you? You should have called me. I''d have finished dinner with you, and always pay.


    Other friends chimed in.


    [Girl, that''s rough!]


    [Name and shame! Let us know who to avoid!]


    [Who dares to treat our Hannah like that?!]


    [I''m in Taros. Need me to go jinx the jerk for you?]


    Hannah smiled at thements. If she had his birthdate, she would have seriously considered asking someone to do just that.


    What a disaster of a night.


    Just as she left the restaurant, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she answered immediately.


    "Where are you? I''lle pick you up."