"Lionel, are you busy right now?" Sandra''s voice, fraught with anxiety, came through the speaker.


    Lionel didn''t answer right away. He lowered his gaze, stealing a nce at Hannah.


    She sat at her desk, organizing files for the next day''s meeting, acting as if she hadn''t noticed a thing. Her detached, indifferent expression was a dagger to his heart.


    His brow furrowed. "Go on," he said, his voice a low growl.


    He deliberately raised his voice, wanting to provoke a reaction from Hannah.


    But she remained unmoved, her fingers flying across the keyboard, her entire focus on her work.


    "Those men who tried to attack me... a few of them escaped, remember? Well, one of them contacted me today. He told me that the person who really hired them to rape me wasn''t..."


    Sandra''s voice trailed off.


    "Who was it?"


    She took a deep breath, hesitating for a long moment. "Lionel, can we meet? It''s better if we talk in person."


    He wanted to refuse. He had just fought with Hannah, and the mess with the video was still unresolved. His priority should have been fixing things with his wife. But seeing her so cold and distant, a slow burn of anger began to build inside him.


    "Lionel?" Sandra''s soft voice cooed when he didn''t respond. "If you''re busy, we can talk another time. I shouldn''t be bothering you thiste at night."


    Lionel clutched his phone, his eyes still fixed on Hannah.


    Was she really so determined to shut him out?


    After a two-second pause, he spoke, his voice deliberately loud. "Sandra, I''m on my way."


    The words were meant as much for Hannah as they were for Sandra.


    Still, Hannah''s hands didn''t falter on the keyboard.


    His breathing grew heavy. He spun around and stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    The thunderous bang made Hannah flinch, and she stared at the door in disbelief.


    Muttering "maniac" under her breath, she turned back to herputer and pulled up her phone''s calendar.


    A reminder for the 15th of next month was marked: Finalize Divorce.


    She had a nagging feeling she was forgetting something important, but she chalked it up to the anxiety of the approaching date. It was just a few more weeks. Whatever happened between now and then she just had to endure it.


    Downstairs, Cora rushed to Lionel''s side as soon as he appeared.


    "Sir, where are you going sote? You barely touched your dinner. Let me make you ate-night snack."


    She practically clung to him, her voice a constant stream of feigned concern. The chirping sound was like a fly buzzing in his ear, fraying his already frayed nerves. His frown deepened.


    "Just be quiet!" he snapped.


    His sharp tone stunned Cora into silence. She stood frozen, her eyes welling with tears as she watched him whispering "I was just worried about you..."


    Lily, standing nearby, felt a pang of sympathy for her daughter, whose good intentions had been so cruelly rejected. She pulled Cora aside into a corner.


    "Don''t be so desperate," she whispered fiercely. "These things take time. Sooner orter, Mr. Rosenberg will see how good you are."


    Cora knew her mother was right, but she couldn''t swallow her resentment. She stood there, silent and sullen, tears streaming down her face.


    Seeing her stubbornness, Lily tugged her arm sharply. "Did you hear me?"


    "I heard you, I heard you!" Cora snapped, yanking her arm away and storming out into the courtyard.