Sandra couldn''t believe her luck. She hadn''t expected Hannah to actually run away. It seemed her time at the orphanage had been even worse than Sandra had imagined.


    Good, she thought. Let her run. Lionel is bound to have a massive fight with her over this.


    A shiver of excitement ran through her as she imagined Lionel''s reaction when he eventually found out the truth-that she had orchestrated this whole thing, that she had personally dragged Hannah back to her own personal hell.


    Lionel looked at the sea of eager, happy faces surrounding him. A shadow passed over his features. After a moment''s hesitation, he sat back down.


    "Lionel?"


    "Let her go," he said, his voice t. "Mr. Cooper, you can begin the ceremony."


    Jason blinked, ncing at Sandra for confirmation.


    She gave a subtle nod, her smile unwavering.


    He then strode purposefully toward the stage.


    Sandra''s voice was a soft, gentle murmur in Lionel''s ear. "This is all my fault. I assumed that anyone who came from an orphanage would have a grateful heart. If I had just done a little more research, understood Hannah''s feelings better, I never would have suggested this."


    Lionel remained silent, his face a stony mask.


    "Lionel, everyone has parts of their past they don''t want dredged up. I''ll apologize


    to Hannahter. But please, promise me you won''t fight with her when you get home, okay?"


    "Mr. Cooper is about to speak," Lionel said, effectively ending the conversation.


    Sandra said no more, simply nodding in agreement.


    Hannah walked for what felt like miles. Her ragged breathing finally began to even out. She slumped against a nearby wall, burying her face in her hands, and closed her eyes in despair.


    Memories of her childhood yed on a loop in her mind, a relentless, torturous film.


    She raked her fingers through her hair, taking a long, deep breath before pushing herself to her feet and walking into a nearby café.


    She found a secluded corner and sat there for ten minutes, letting the quiet and the warmth seep into her bones Her body slowly began to feel normal again, and her mind cleared She started to piece togetheothe day''s events.


    Suddenly, a realization struck her. She hailed a taxi and rushed home.


    At the Rosenberg estate, Hannah went straight to the study. Seeing no sign of Cora, she had one of the other staff members find her and bring her to the study.


    Cora''s heart sank when she heard that Hannah had returned alone. A sense of dread washed over her. After a long hesitation, she finally made her way to the study.


    "You tampered with my breakfast, didn''t you?" Hannah asked, her voice calm and


    even.


    She had felt drowsy after eating, a strange feeling she''d noted even before falling asleep in the car. But the shock of finding herself at the orphanage had driven it from her mind.


    "Was it Sandra''s idea?" she continued.


    Cora fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes fixed on the floor. "I... I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "You should know by now that this


    house has cameras everywhere. I


    can have someone review the footage and pinpoint the exact.


    moment you put something in my


    food Once I have that


    And I call the


    police, the charges will be much more serious."


    Hannah tapped a finger on the desk, the sound echoing in the silent room, each tap a hammer blow to Cora''s frayed nerves.


    Cora''s heart pounded in her chest. She gripped the fabric of her dress, her jaw clenched.


    "Fine. In that case, you can exin yourself to the police," Hannah said, picking up her phone.


    "Don''t you dare!" Cora lunged forward, trying to snatch the phone from her hand.