Hannah followed Quennel to a private room in the restaurant. Seeing her dazed, soulless expression, he wasn''t sure how tofort her. He ordered several of her favorite dishes, poured her a ss of water, and then simply sat with her in


    silence.


    "Thank you, Quennel," Hannah said, cradling the warm ss. She took a sip, but the lump in her throat made it hard to swallow.


    "Tell me what''s wrong. Did Lionel hurt you again?"


    Hannah instinctively shook her head, then, after a moment, nodded. She hadn''t intended to say anything—it was a private marital dispute-but Quennel wasn''t just some outsider. After a moment''s hesitation, she told him everything.


    When she finished, Quennel''s face was grim. "The idiot," he scoffed. "You don''t have to exin anything to him. He''s just powerless to change the situation, so he''s ming it all on you."


    Hannah didn''t respond, just pressed her lips together and nodded.


    "Don''t think about it anymore. What are your ns for tonight? Are you going home?" he asked.


    "If I go back... we''ll probably just fight again," Hannah said quietly. She regretted not grabbing her ID before she left; otherwise, she could have just checked into a hotel.


    "I think you''re right." Quennel looked at her, a faint smile on his lips. "After you left the other day, I had the maids continue to clean the apartment every couple of days."


    Hannah looked up, surprised.


    "The day after tomorrow, Kim and Sandra are getting married. If you show up, there''s no telling what Lionel and Sandra might do. You should just rest at home for the next few days. Don''t go to the office either. They might have people waiting for you."


    Quennel let out a dryugh, his eyes shing with contempt. "Desperate people do desperate things. If Lionel is willing to fight with you like this overher, who knows what hes capable of


    Hannah was about to say that Lionel would never go that far, but then she remembered his voice on the phone cold, filled with disgust and disappointment. Her conviction wavered. Maybe they really had changed. Maybe the beautiful life she thought they had was all just a fantasy.


    After all, he had known Sandra first. And Sandra had done far more for him than she ever had. Hannah even began to wonder if, had she nevere along, Sandra would have been the one to marry him.


    A storm of dark thoughts assailed her, like a hundred tiny hands trying to pull her down into despair.


    "Then I''ll do as you say," she said, her voice barely a whisper.


    Quennel''s smile was gentle. He nodded.


    Hannah took out her phone and requested two days off work.


    After Sandra''s wedding, there would only be a few days left before they finalize their divorce. Maybe it was best to stay at Quennel''s ce until then, to avoid any more unnecessary drama.


    The delicious fo food arrived, dish after dish, but Hannah had no appetite. Quennel served her a bowl of soup and piled her te high with food The mountain of food on her te was so shocking that it shapped her out of her stupor. She quickly started eating, begging him to stop serving her.


    "No matter what, eating is the most important thing. We can talk after you''ve had


    a full meal,” Quennel insisted, adding another piece of fish to her te.


    Meanwhile, at the Woods family vi, the maid ryed Lionel''s message to Sandra.