Before Lionel could react, Hannah pped his hands away.


    Hearing themotion, Cora rushed out. Seeing the scene, she marched forward, her voice sharp with anger. "What is wrong with you? He was worried sick when you didn''te home, calling you over and over, and this is how you treat him?"


    She jabbed a finger at Hannah. "Don''t think you can act like this just because he loves you. You need to learn some damn respect and stop being so—"


    "Shut up!" Lionel roared, silencing her with a cial re. “This is none of your business. Get out!"


    Cora froze, stunned. She had been defending him. Why was he yelling at her?


    Lily quickly appeared and pulled her daughter away.


    Hannah stood there, dripping water onto the floor, a puddle forming at her feet. Without a word, her eyes vacant, she walked past Lionel and headed upstairs.


    As she brushed past him, Lionel caught a glimpse of her utterly broken expression and followed her up the stairs.


    Hannah grabbed a set of dry clothes and went into the bathroom.


    Just as the door was about to click shut, arge hand pressed against it, stopping


    it.


    "Tell me what happened."


    Hannah''s face was a nk mask. Like a puppet, she lifted her hollow eyes to meet his but said nothing.


    They stood there, staring at each other through the crack in the door, the only sound the furious drumming of the rain against the window.


    Finally, Lionel dropped his hand and let her close the door.


    Inside, steam filled the air. Hannah shed her wet clothes and stepped under the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her.


    After what felt like an eternity, tears began to mingle with the water. Her body went limp, and she slid down the tiled wall, hugging her knees to her chest. She buried her face in her arms as a choked sob escaped her, then another, until she was weeping uncontrobly.


    Outside the door, Lionel heard her cries, and his brow tightened with a mixture of confusion and concern.


    Eventually, the crying subsided, and the water shut off.


    Hannah emerged with her hair still dripping, walking past him as if he weren''t there, and headed numbly toward the guest room.


    A cigarette dangled from Lionel''s fingers. He watched her soulless retreat and followed her.


    He had already sent people to find out what had happened to her, but


    investigating the internal affairs of a powerhouse like the Lancaster Group wasn''t easy.


    The only way to get answers was to ask Yves.


    "Are you insane?" Lionel had just pulled out his phone, debating whether to call Yves when he Saw Hannah, her haft still soaking wet copse onto the bed.


    He strode over, pulled her from the mattress, and sat her down in a chair. He took out the hairdryer and began to dry her hair.


    Throughout the entire process, she remained unnervingly silent. Her stillness filled Lionel with a growing sense of dread.


    When her hair was finally dry, she didn''t say a word. She simply climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over her head, cocooning herselfpletely.


    Lionel took a long, deep drag from his cigarette and walked out onto the balcony, phone in hand.


    "What the hell happened at yourpany today? Hannah came home aplete wreck. Did


    someone there mess with her?met


    you don''t give me an exnation, dont me me for what happens next!"


    Yves was bewildered. As Lionel described Hannah''s condition, his tone shifted.


    This was about Hannah. Yves didn''t waste time arguing. He hung up and immediately started looking into it.


    Lionel stepped back in from the


    balcony and saw Hannah still cuded into a tight ball. He walked over his frown deepening and sat on the edge of the bed, watching her in silence.


    Afterst night''s storm, Hannah woke up with a splitting headache. A ss of


    warm water and some pain relievers sat on the nightstand.


    She ignored them, pushing herself out of bed and heading downstairs.