Hearing Cora''s furious outburst, Hannah, for some reason, saw a faint reflection of her younger self.


    Back then, she had also believed that if she just loved Lionel enough, if she put his needs first and gave him everything, he would never leave her. She had made him the center of her universe, her life revolving around work, her studies, and him. When he''dined that she was too clingy, she''d med herself, resolving to give him more space.


    And what had all that gotten her?


    A marriage that was never acknowledged.


    A rtionship devoid of trust.


    The thought brought another bitterugh to her lips.


    "What is so funny?" Cora shrieked, feeling theughter was aimed at her, dripping with contempt. She clenched her fists. "Tell me I''m wrong! It''s because of you that Hey! Get back here! Don''t you walk away from me!”


    Cora was cut off mid-sentence as Hannah turned and walked away. She started to follow, but a choked sob from the courtyard below stopped her. She whipped her head around to look.


    Something had happened. Sandra was covering her face, running away in tears.


    "Damn it," Cora muttered. "I missed everything."


    Hannah went back to the study, hoping to lose herself in work, but her restless heart refused to settle. The words on theputer screen seemed to dance and blur before her eyes.


    With a frustrated sigh, she shoved the keyboard away and leaned back heavily in her chair.


    A momentter, Lionel opened the door. Hannahnguidly lifted her gaze to meet his.


    "Sandra just came by," he began. "She said she had no idea about the Sunbeam Orphanage''s history. She also..."


    CRACK!


    Hannah snatched the pen holder from the desk and hurled it at the wall next to his head.


    "Get out," she ordered, her eyes half-closed as she stared him down.


    Even now, he was still making excuses for Sandra. A furious pressure built in Hannah''s chest, making it hard to breathe.


    "You''re right, this was my fault," Lionel admitted. "I should have done my


    research. But it''s already happened, and I know that nothing I say now will make a difference."


    Hearing about Hannah''s childhood had shaken him to the core. It was horrifying to imagine her enduring such things at such a young age.


    "I''ve already sent people to investigate," he continued, his voice


    softer Hannah belieont


    me, I


    let anyone who hurt you get away with it. I''ll make Jason pay for what he did."


    ?


    He watched as Hannah turned her pale face away, refusing to look at him. He knew she couldn''t stand the sight of him right now, so he didn''t press the issue. He simply turned and left the study:


    For the rest of the day, Hannah remained locked in the room.


    Lionel told Cora to pack her things and leave. Despite Lily''s frantic pleas, his mind was made up. Defeated, Lily took Cora straight to Mrs. Mary Rosenberg to appeal their case.


    The next morning, Hannah forced herself through her routine. After a quick shower, she got dressed and headed to the office, determined to carry on as usual.


    Work was slow, with no major cases on the docket. Hannah sat at her desk, trying


    to appear normal while her colleagues chattered nearby.


    "Samuel, honey, why are you staring at our Hannah?" Anna teased, raising an eyebrow at him. "What''s with the shifty eyes? It''s a little obvious. If you have something to Say, just say it!"


    Suddenly put on the spot, Samuel blushed and ran a hand through his hair. "It''s not... I just had a question. I was curious about something."


    "What is it?" Hannah asked. "Is it work-rted?"


    He shook his head, ncing around at the curious faces now staring at him. He hesitated, then finally steeled himself. "It''s personal. Hannah, do you have a minute? Can we talk in private?"