It was peak discharge time, and the elevator was crammed full of people. If they weren''t in such a hurry to see Mrs. Mary Rosenberg, Lily and her daughter would have waited for the next one.


    They squeezed in, earning grumbles from the other passengers.


    "Couldn''t you have just taken the next one? It''s already so crowded."


    "Yeah, hey, your bag just hit me."


    Lily rolled her eyes. "Do you own this hospital? Mind your own business. If you don''t like it, you can get out," she snapped.


    "Exactly!" Cora chimed in.


    If someone hadn''t intervened, a full-blown argument would have erupted.


    About a minute after they got off, the adjacent elevator opened. Sandra stepped out, asked the nurse at the front desk for Lily''s room number, and headed straight there.


    The room was empty.


    "Excuse me, where are the patients from this room?"


    "They justpleted their discharge paperwork. They''ve probably already left."


    A dark look crossed Sandra''s face. They had some damn good luck, managing to leave just in time.


    Thinking they couldn''t have gone far, Sandra immediately took the elevator back down. By the time she reached the parking garage, Cora was already driving toward the main Rosenberg estate.


    At the estate, Mrs. Mary Rosenberg had already seen the news about Hannah. The video of her so-called immersion in the act was an eyesore. If she didn''t already know about the impending divorce, she would have been on the phone with Lionel, demanding he file immediately.


    Even though it had been a secret marriage, and few people knew Hannah was a Rosenberg, her circle of friends had been messaging her all moming, asking if it was true. Some were even feigning concern, an excuse to mock her


    using it?


    for having such a promiscuous daughter-inw.


    Hannah''s background was already a disgrace. Now, after this, how could she possibly hold her head up in front of her friends?


    "Madam!" Lily called out as she entered the house. "Madam, something terrible has happened to the young mistress!"


    Mrs. Mary Rosenberg looked up, her expression cold and impatient.


    Lily immediately fell silent, her voice dropping as she recounted the news about the video.


    Cora, standing beside her, was so intimidated by Mrs. Rosenberg''s powerful presence that she couldn''t even speak, let alone look at her.


    So this is what a high-society matriarch is like, she thought. The poise, the aura, the clothes-it was all so perfect. If only she could be like that one day.


    Cora looked down at her own outfit. It was from decent, mid-range brands, better than what most girls her age wore, but it was nothing, Comparison. The thought of Hannah made her clench her fists in O resentment. Why did a parentless orphan get to be a society queen? Why her, and not me?


    "Madam, I''ve worked for the young master for so many years. Even if I haven''t done anything extraordinary, I''ve served him faithfully. My daughter only made one mistake. Please, give us another chance. Let us go back."


    She had been worried they wouldn''t be allowed to return, but now, it seemed very likely. The n she had devised for her daughter might still work. A small, triumphant smile yed on Lily''s lips.


    Mrs. Mary Rosenberg considered


    her for a moment. She knew exactly what the mother and daughter were after. She rarely meddled in Lionel''s


    affairs but this time their drama had caused her to lose face among her friends.


    "Don''t make another mistake," Mrs. Mary Rosenberg said, her voice devoid of emotion.


    Lily gasped, her heart leaping with joy. "Thank you, thank you," she stammered, nudging her still-dazed daughter with her elbow.