Hannah''s gaze swept over him, finally settling on his deep, unreadable eyes. A cold, mocking smile touched her lips, undisguised in its contempt.


    Seeing the secrets hidden in his expression, a sharp painnced through her heart. A bitter sting filled her nose, and her eyes began to burn.


    "Lionel," she whispered, her voice trembling, "why won''t you answer me?"


    "Hannah," he began, his tone frigid, "why must you insist on making things difficult?"


    She bit down on her lower lip, the metallic taste of blood exploding in her mouth. Swallowing down the bitterness and pain, she held her head high.


    "I had nothing to do with Sandra''s marriage. I never spoke to Quennel about it, and I have no way to prove it to you."


    "If you''re determined to believe I did it, then fine. I won''t offer any more exnations. It''s not like you''ve ever believed me anyway."


    She took a deep breath, turned, and walked past him, heading for the door.


    Lionel''s face went rigid. He instinctively wanted to stop her, but his limbs felt frozen in ce.


    Could it be... that he had misjudged her again?


    f


    In his memory, Hannah had always been gentle and eager to please, someone who would share his burdens. But then she had done what she did right before their wedding, and a series of conflicts had followed. Time and again, he had tumed a blind eye ignoring the problems until they became too big to suppress. And every time he tried to ask her about it, all he got was endless fighting and usations.


    Cora was secretly thrilled. She didn''t know who Kim was, but from Lionel''s reaction, it was clear he was bad news.


    This was perfect. Once Sandra was married off and Hannah was divorced, her chance would finallye. She suppressed a smile and put on a worried expression.


    "Mr. Rosenberg, at this point, it doesn''t matter who arranged the marriage. What''s important is figuring out how to stop it, since it''s already been decided."


    Lionel''s fists were clenched so tightly that the veins stood out on the back of his hands. His mind was a chaotic mess of frustration and pain. With a growl of frustration, he strode toward the garage. He had to find Kim''s parents.


    At the Woods family estate, Sandra had just learned the news. Her pupils contracted in horror.


    "Are you both insane? That''s Kim! You want me to marry him? You might as well just tell me to go die!" she shrieked, her face drained of all color.


    Her father, David Woods, mmed his hand down on the solid wood coffee table. "Don''t you yell at me! The fact that a Rosenberg is still willing to have you is a blessing Otherwise, I''d marry you off to someone out of state! How dare you be picky? This is outrageous!"


    Her mother, Edith Woods, chimed in, trying to cate her. "Sandra, your father is right. We went through so many candidates, and you weren''t satisfied with any of them. This is the Rosenberg family! If you marry him, you''ll be Mrs. Rosenberg. Think of the prestige..."


    "Then you marry him! You


    go


    be


    Mrs. Rosenberg!" Sandra screamed, her heart twisting in agony. Tears welled in her eyes as she red at them won''t do it! I will never marry him you hadn''t stopped me from If marrying Lioner all those years ago, would I be in this position now?"