The door opened on the first knock.


    "Mr. Rosenberg, there''s something..."


    Before she could finish, Lionel bolted past her, sprinting in the direction Hannah


    had gone.


    "Mr. Rosenberg! Mr. Rosenberg!" Cora called after him, but he didn''t seem to hear, his footsteps echoing down the hall.


    She stomped her foot in frustration. "Damn it, is he really that in love with her? What''s so special about her, anyway?"


    She had just worked up the courage to do the right thing, only to bepletely ignored. Cora stood there for a moment, her mind racing. Then she nced down at her phone, and an idea began to form.


    Fine. If they didn''t want the lifeline she was offering, they couldn''t me her for being cruel. They were the ones who had dismissed her. They deserved whatever came next.


    Cora looked at the photo of Sandra and Jasonughing together, her brow furrowed in concentration. Then, with a decisive tap, she deleted it.


    Immediately after, she dialed Sandra''s number.


    "Ms. Woods, I have something to tell you," she whispered, one hand covering her mouth as she nced nervously at the security camera in the corner of the ceiling. Then she turned and hurried back to her room.


    Lionel burst into the master bedroom, but Hannah wasn''t there. He checked the guest room next, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach when he found it empty too. His jaw clenched as he continued his frantic search through the house.


    He finally found her on the balcony. The stone in his chest dissolved into relief, and he took a deep, steadying breath before walking toward her.


    "Hannah."


    She was sitting on the porch swing, gazing out at the view. At the sound of his voice, she raised a hand to wipe a tear from her cheek but didn''t turn around or respond.


    "I know I was wrong. I should have investigated before doing anything," Lionel said, kneeling beside her and reaching for her hand.


    Hannah snatched her hand away before he could touch her, shifting on the swing to put more distance between them.


    Lionel blinked, his hand falling to grip the swing''s chain instead. "My only thought was to give back to an orphanage on your behalf. You never


    mentioned which offe, and I forgot to ask."


    "You don''t have to say any of this. It''s meaningless now," Hannah said, turning her head to face him. Her eyes were cold as she bit down hard. And don''t talk about


    vel


    forgetting. When have you ever truly paid attention to anything about me? Get away from me. I need to be alone. I don''t want to see you, and I don''t want to hear your voice. Just go!"


    After her outburst, she sagged against the swing as if her soul had been ripped from her body, gasping for air. She


    stared up at Der head back a


    the vast blue sk


    watching the white clouds driftzily by. Only then did the suffocating tightness in her chest begin to ease.


    She slowly closed her eyes, forcing herself to stop thinking, but a tear escaped and traced a path down her temple.


    Seeing her in so much pain, Lionel said no more. He stood and walked back inside.


    But he didn''t go far. He leaned against the wall just inside the ss door, watching over her. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, took a long drag, and exhaled a plume of smoke.


    Through the gray haze, he watched Hannah weep in silence, each of her tears a fresh stab of pain in his own heart.


    If only he had been willing to dig a little deeper, to ask more questions, maybe they wouldn''t be here.


    But it was toote now. There was no going back.


    He lost track of how long he stood there until the burning tip of the cigarette


    seared his fingers. He dropped it hastily, his gaze snapping back to Hannah. She was still crying.