Hannah ate her pastas in silence, as if she hadn''t heard a word.


    "I know you''re still angry that I misunderstood you," he continued. "But you''ve been spending so much time with Quennel, and he was the one who arranged the marriage. I was just so angry at the time, I wasn''t thinking straight."


    Hannah clenched her jaw, a lump forming in her throat. She forced herself to swallow it down.


    Noticing the change in her expression, Lionel realized she didn''t want to talk about it and dropped the subject.


    When she finished eating, he immediately took her bowl.


    "I''ll wash up."


    Hannah gave him a cool, indifferent look and thenughed.


    At first, he thought he had pleased her, but then she spoke. "You''ve been away from this house for so long, treating it like a hotel you only use for sleeping and breakfast, that you''ve forgotten we have a dishwasher."


    Her voice wasced with sarcasm, her eyes rolling in disdain as she turned and walked away.


    Lionel took a deep breath, put the bowls down, and followed her upstairs.


    Hannah knew he was just trying to atone for his mistakes, but every move he made felt so forced, so deliberate, it was infuriating.


    She grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom. For the first time in a long while, she drew a bath, letting the warm water soak away her fatigue and frustration, savoring the quiet solitude.


    When she came out, Lionel was waiting for her in the hallway.


    "Let me dry your hair," he offered.


    She didn''t refuse. If someone was offering to wait on her, why not enjoy it?


    After her hair was dry, Hannah stood up to go to the guest room, but Lionel grabbed her wrist again.


    "The wedding photo... let''s retake it," he said.


    Hannah stared at him nkly for a moment, then followed his gaze to the empty picture frame on the wall.


    "Lionel, we never took a wedding


    photo. What is there to retake?" she


    said, pulling her and away


    "Besides, we''re about to get


    vel!


    divorced. What''s the point?


    The more she looked at him, the more she thought he was losing his mind. She shot him a look of disgust and went into the guest room, closing the door behind her.


    Lionel watched her go and let out a long sigh.


    They had never filed for divorce. He had torn up the agreement long ago.


    But he didn''t dare tell her that now. She was furious. If he told her, she would probably drag him to the courthouse to file the papers immediately.


    He didn''t want a divorce.


    The night was long. He tossed and turned in bed, his mind flooded with memories of their past.


    The next morning, Lionel woke up early and cooked breakfast.


    When Hannah came downstairs and saw the spread, she was surprised for a moment, but her expression quickly returned to one of cool indifference as she sat down to eat


    "I''ll drive you to—”


    "Bzz, bzz, bzz."


    Before he could finish, his phone started ringing.


    It was Cora.


    He thought for a moment, then answered the call in front of Hannah, putting it on speaker.


    "Sir, Ms. Woods is awake. She


    wanted me to ask if you''reing to see her today. She saw the


    patient in the next room get a


    delivery of red roses, and think she really wants some too. Should you bring a bouquet?"