"After all," Sandra said with faux sympathy, "a divorcée is considered damaged goods. And with yourck of family connections, Ms. Green, it might be difficult to find someone of quality. But don''t worry, with your looks, I''m sure you''ll find someone decent."


    Hannah finished ordering and set her phone down.


    "I''ve never understood why a woman''s value is always tied to her marital status. Unmarried, poorly married, divorced-it''s like we''re just products on a shelf, constantly being devalued. I''ve only ever seen myself as a person, and my worth has nothing to do with a man."


    Sandra was clearly stung by her words, taking a sip of water to hide her difort.


    "Still, you might want to put the blind dates on hold, Ms. Woods. Your own house is about to be robbed."


    Hannah didn''t beat around the bush. She pulled up a few key clips from the security footage and handed her phone to Sandra.


    "Cora is the daughter of my housekeeper, Lily, who is Mary''s right-hand woman. The moment they heard we were getting a divorce, they sent the daughter over to get a head start. Who knows, on the day we finalize the papers, you might find her in Lionel''s bed. By then, it''ll be toote for blind dates."


    Hannah knew that while Cora was young, she was ambitious and cunning, a real handful. Even though she''d been fired, she wouldn''t give up easily. But Sandra was no pushover either. When two thorns shed, it was just a matter of who was sharper.


    As Sandra watched the videos, her face hardened, and her breathing grew heavy. The woman on the screen, acting like she was already Lionel''s wife, fussing over him with such familiarity... Sandra wanted to reach through the screen and p her.


    How could anyone be so shameless?


    "I don''t understand what you''re trying to say, Ms. Green," Sandra said, pushing the phone back. "This girl is interfering in your marriage. Why are you telling me about it?"


    "You''re right, it''s pointless," Hannah agreed, nonchntly ying with her phone. "The girl made a mistake, and Mary even came over today. But even though it was clearly her fault, the whole family scolded me Her She didn''t say a


    to harsh


    word to her. I think she''s quite fond


    of her."


    "Maybe there''ll be wedding bells for the Rosenberg family in a few weeks," she added, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "You know, it''s funny we both ended up selling jewelry at the same consignment shop. That piece Mr. Rosenberg. gave you was so valuable Why did you sell it? If you needed money, you could have just asked me. We''re colleagues; I would have lent it to you."


    Sandra watched Hannah''s cheerful expression, and a heavy weight settled in her chest, making it hard to breathe.


    "That ne of yours looked exactly like one I saw two months ago. Lionel said he was going to order it for me, but he lied. It turns out he gave it to you."


    She wasn''t sure if the ne was really meant for Sandra or if it had been a mistake. But if it was a mistake and it still ended up at a consignment shop, things were about to get very interesting.


    "I really loved that ne. I was so jealous when I saw you wearing it the other day. I''m d you sold it, though. Now can just contact the owne and buy it for myself. So


    thank you, Ms. Woods, for making my wishe true."


    As she watched Sandra''sposure begin to crumble, Hannah''s smile widened.


    Sandra''s hands, which had been resting on the table, slowly dropped to herp.


    Just as she was about to speak, a man appeared at their table.


    ...