The idea was so absurdly invasive it was chilling. After a long hesitation, she unblocked his number and called him.


    "Lionel, are you insane? What did you do with my things? If you don''t bring them back right now, I swear I''ll call the police and report you for theft!"


    "Come downstairs. I''m waiting for you at the hotel entrance."


    His voice was calm, utterly devoid of emotion. Then he hung up.


    She tried calling back several times, but he didn''t answer.


    Taking a deep breath to control her anger, Hannah took the elevator down. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw his car parked by the curb. She yanked open the passenger door and saw her suitcases piled in the back seat.


    "Alright, what''s this all about?" she asked with a brittle smile. "Is your grandmother making a surprise visit? Do I need to rush back and y the happy wife again?”


    "Thew firm burned down," Lionel said, turning to look at her. He noticed her seatbelt wasn''t fastened and leaned over to buckle it for her.


    As he moved closer, his familiar, subtle scent of sandalwood filled the space between them. For once, it wasn''t tainted by Sandra''s perfume. It seemed they hadn''t seen each other today.


    He settled back into his seat and started the car, heading toward the Rosenberg estate.


    "Did the fire have anything to do with you?"


    Hannah had just pulled out her phone to text a former colleague about the fire when his question hit her. Her simmering anger instantly boiled over.


    She put her phone down and pressed her lips together.


    "That''s right. I did it," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I''m an arsonist and a murderer. You should drive me straight to the police station and turn me in Go on do it!"


    She exhaled sharply, pushing her hair back from her face. She must have been blind and stupid to have ever fallen for this man. Now,


    whenever anything wentve


    he


    immediately assumed she was to me If the sky fell it would. probably be her fault, too? In his eyes, she was the devil incarnate.


    Lionel''s expression was weary. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache forming. "I was just asking if you knew anything about it. Why are you so worked up?"


    "


    "Asking?"" she shot back. "Lionel,


    that wasn''t a question. It was an interrogation. An usation!" She crossed her arms, taking deep


    1.n


    breaths and felling herself heal


    to let


    this idiot get to her. Getting angry would only hurt herself.


    Lionel exined the situation at the firm, but Hannah ignored him.


    "Xenia told me today that everyone at the firm ganged up on you. Is that true?"


    Hannah shot him a surprised look, then turned her gaze back to the window without a word.


    "I sent Owen to get the surveince footage to verify her story, and then the fire happened. Don''t you think that''s a little too convenient?"


    She remained silent, but she was already piecing it together. The realization made herugh.


    “Hannah, I''m trying to have a serious conversation with you. Could you please stop being so flippant?"


    She rolled her eyes.


    "So, what you''re really saying is that you think I paid off Xenia to lie, then burned down the entire firm to destroy the evidence when I thought you were onto me? Is that it?"