The drawing was of a yellow dog, a ssic mutt with perky ears and big, round, innocent eyes.


    Next to the dog was a small, crudely drawn wooden doghouse, surrounded by sunflowers and daisies.


    "This is Rex. He was the director''s dog," the child exined, looking down at the drawing. "The director said Rex was a very good, loyal boy. He died protecting him from bad people."


    "That''s not true!" Hannah cried out, her voice raw with emotion.


    It''s not true!


    Rex didn''t die protecting Jason! It''s all a lie!


    Her sudden shout startled Lionel. The child froze, his eyes wide with fear.


    "Why are you yelling? You''re scaring him."


    Lionel took the drawing from the child and knelt down, cing aforting hand on his shoulder. "It''s okay. Go tell Mr. Cooper we''ll be out in a minute."


    The child''s eyes welled up with tears. He nodded meekly and ran off.


    Lionel''s frown deepened. He let out a frustrated sigh and ced the drawing on the sink.


    "What is your problem? If you''re angry with me for bringing you here, take it out on me. Why are you yelling at a child?"


    He looked at Hannah, at her strange expression-a mixture of terror, anger, and profound sadness.


    "You grew up in an orphanage. You of all people should know how fragile these kids are, how much they need love and care. Yelling like that for no reason... you terrified him."


    A coldness began to spread through Lionel''s heart. He had nned this trip because of everything that had happened between them recently, hoping it would help.


    Could Sandra be right? Was she so ashamed of her origins that she couldn''t even bear to be here?


    But deep down, he didn''t want to believe that was the kind of person Hannah was.


    "Hannah, tell me," he said, his voice


    low and serious. "Are you so ashamed of your past, of growing up in amorphanage, that you refuse to talk about it? Is that why you only ever mentioned it to me in passing?"


    He looked her straight in the eye. "Is it because you''re afraid of people knowing


    that you react with such hatred and disgust at the mere thought of being here?"


    Hannah''s eye twitched. She stared down at the drawing, her hands clenching into tight fists. Then she looked up at him.


    "Lionel, did you really bring me here without knowing anything?"


    "I know you came from an orphanage. I thought that would make you more


    empathetic to the children here. But... you''ve disappointed me."


    Lionel saw the way she recoiled from everything here, even the children, and he regretted bringing her.


    Not everyone had a heart full of love andpassion like Sandra, not even those who came from the same circumstances.


    Disappointed...


    Hearing those words from his lips, Hannah''s clenched fists slowly, painfully, uncurled.


    "You don''t know anything. You don''t understand anything," she said, her eyes rimmed with red. She clenched her jaw, pushed him aside, and started walking towards the main gate.


    Lionel hurried after her, grabbing her arm to stop her.


    "What don''t I understand?" he demanded, looking at her cold, impassive face. "All I know is that Sandra has spent thest two years dedicating her time and money to this ce. She evenes here to volunteer. But you?"


    dhis


    He tightened his grip. "You left this ce and never looked back. Forget donating, you haven''t even visited


    2 once. I bring you here today to try and lift your spirits, and you ac like you''ve seen a ghost. You can''t even stomach a ss of pear juice. I''ve never seen you be so picky. Are you really that ashamed of where youe from?"