Sandra''s eyshes fluttered as she considered her answer. "Hannah is a topwyer now," she said with a smile. "It''s likely hispany is just trying to recruit her."


    Jason grunted. "As long as she shows up, that''s all that matters."


    "Yes. It''s about time she came home for a visit."


    After seeing Jason off, Sandra sent a message to Cora and ced a small packet in a coded locker.


    Less than thirty minutester, a breathless Cora ran up to the locker. She nced around nervously, punched in the code, and snatched the packet. After confirming no one had seen her, she shoved it into her purse and hurried away.


    That evening, Lionel returned home to find Hannah already eating dinner without him.


    The sight gave him a strange pang of disappointment. She used to wait for him, no matter howte he was. Even when he told her to eat first, she would insist.


    He loosened his tie and sat down. "There''s an event tomorrow. I want you toe with me."


    "No," Hannah said without a second thought.


    He had just picked up his fork, stunned by her immediate refusal. "Why not?"


    Hannah looked up, her expression weary and dismissive. "Why should I? In what capacity would I be attending? As your wife? A friend?"


    She scoffed. "Aside from Rosenberg family gatherings, I have never apanied you to a single event. If you need a date, go ask Sandra. That''s what you''ve always done."


    She had no idea what had gotten into him, asking her to go with him now.


    Lionel looked at her indifferent face and sighed. "It''s not really an event. It''s just... a ce I want to take you."


    Hannah studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing. "No."


    Something about him today felt off, pushy. A sense of unease settled over her.


    She was going nowhere tomorrow. She was going to stay home and rest. Worried he would press the issue, she put down her utensils and went upstairs. Cora, who had been standing by, grew anxious at Hannah''s firm refusal.


    Once she was sure Hannah was gone, she approached Lionel. "Sir," she whispered, "you know how women are. They say one thing but mean another She might seem like she''s refusing, but deep down, she wants to go. She''s just too proud to admit it."


    Lionel looked down, a hint of doubt in his voice. "Really?"


    "Of course! You and her... you''ve had a misunderstandingtely. She''s just not ready to back down and say yes." Cora leaned in closer. "If she won''t go with you, just change the story Tell her you''re taking her to see your grandmother Once you''re in the car, you can go wherever you want."


    Lionel considered it. It made sense. Things were so tense between them right now; of course, she wouldn''t want to be alone with him.


    Seeing that he had taken her advice, Cora hid a triumphant smile. The n was in motion.


    The next morning, Cora brought a ss of warm milk out from the kitchen just as Hannah and Lionel wereing downstairs.


    Hannah drank her milk while scrolling through her phone, half-expecting another message from Jason.


    But since that day, he had neither shown up nor contacted her again. Maybe he had forgotten about it.


    Good. I''ll block him.


    She pulled up his contact and blocked the number.


    "Since you''re noting to the event with me today, how about I take you to see Grandma?"


    Hannah looked up. "Isn''t she still at the church?"


    "We can still visit. It''s been a while since she''s seen you. I''ll drive you over after breakfast," Lionel said, trying to sound casual, though he couldn''t quite meet her eyes.


    He''d almost forgotten that detail.


    Having blocked Jason, Hannah agreed. She finished her breakfast, and after getting ready, she intended to drive herself But hepcar was still in the mall''s parking garage, and she wasn''tfortable driving any of the others. So, she let Lionel drive.


    Cora stood at the door and watched them leave, then immediately pulled out her phone and sent a message to Sandra.


    [I did what you said. I put the sleeping pills in her milk, and she drank all of it.]


    Sandra saw the message but didn''t reply. A smile touched her lips as she started her car and headed for the orphanage.


    She had been worried that if Hannah found out where they were going, she would fight with Lionel and jump out of the car. Her carefullyid ns would be ruined. That''s why she''d had Cora spike her milk with a mild sedative.