"Me?" Jason scoffed.


    "Who was it that snuck into the kitchen to steal food in the middle of the night?"


    "Who stole the other girls'' hair ribbons?"


    "Who snatched another child''s lunch?"


    "Who ruined the adoption ceremony?"


    "Who kept hiding, forcing everyone to call the police?"


    "Who put snakes and rats and cockroaches in the other children''s beds?"


    "And who, in their desperate attempt to run away, got Rex killed? Who is responsible for Rex being beaten to death?"


    Jason''s hands shot out, grabbing her shoulders. His fingers dug into her flesh as if trying to rip her arms from their sockets.


    "Hannah, you were a little monster, and you have the gall to be awyer? What would your colleagues think if they knew you nearly killed someone? Do you think they''d let you stay in this profession?"


    The color drained from Hannah''s face. She shook her head, muttering over and over, "It wasn''t me. It wasn''t me. I didn''t do those things. It wasn''t me."


    "You were a wicked, cruel child from the very beginning. It was my kindness that saw you raised to adulthood, yet you repay me with this betrayal. You used school as an excuse to run away and never looked back. You truly are an ungrateful wretch!"


    Jason''s eyes roamed down her body, and his hands began to slide down her arms.


    He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "You''ve been a very bad girl. Tonight, I''m going to have to lock you in the dark room. You''re going to go in there and reflect on..."


    "No!"


    The words were a trigger. The blood in her veins turned to ice. She shoved him away with all her might, staring at him, her lips trembling too violently to form words.


    She stood there, paralyzed by a fresh wave of terror, then doubled over, stumbling backward.


    Finally, she turned and fled, running towards the gate as if her life depended on it.


    Jason didn''t chase her. Instead, he calmly straightened his clothes and walked toward the main yard.


    From a hidden corner, Sandra had witnessed the entire exchange. A triumphant smile curved her lips as she made her way back to Lionel.


    He was sitting with the children,pletely oblivious to what had just transpired.


    "Lionel," Sandra said, gracefully seating herself beside him. "Mr. Cooper is such a good man. For a single man to run an orphanage well... Its truly remarkable. If the Wood''s family weren''t in such trouble, I would have loved to offer more substantial help."


    "I can handle it. I''ve already spoken to a few friends about the Woods family''s situation. They have


    resources theyre willing to


    Contribute you dont need to worry."


    Sandra nodded. Thanks to him and his friends, her family''s business was slowly recovering, and her mother had stopped pressuring her to go on blind dates.


    A genuine smile touched her lips. Even though she hadn''t married him, he was still so good to her, still trusted her implicitly.


    "Mr. Rosenberg," Jason said, walking over with a dramatic sigh. "Ms. Green just ran off. I have no idea what happened. I''m so busy here, I couldn''t go after her.”


    "She left?" Lionel asked, his brow furrowing.


    "Yes, just now."


    Lionel started to get up, but Sandra quickly grabbed his arm.


    "Lionel, the anniversary ceremony, about to begin. The children have been looking forward to seeing y


    If


    leave now, it will ruin


    is


    Shing. I''ll go look for Hannah."