Hannah just sighed, a wry smile on her face. "Whether it''s Sandra or Cora, I''m past caring. It doesn''t matter anymore. In a few days, we''ll have our divorce papers, and then I''m moving south to start a new life with you."


    She said the words, but she knew in her heart she wasn''tpletely over it. If she were, she wouldn''t have ended up in the hospital twice from the sheer stress of it all. But after those two episodes, she knew she had to learn her lesson. If she didn''t, she''d be the one regretting it when she finally broke downpletely.


    The two friends arrived at the hotel with bags of food and several bottles of wine. They sat on the balcony, drinking and talking under the moonlit sky until the early hours of the morning.


    When they woke up the next day, it was nearly noon. They got ready and went out to wander around the neighborhood and find a ce for lunch.


    "Hannah, what a coincidence."


    The voice came from behind her. For a second, Hannah thought her frayed nerves were making her hear things. But when she turned, she saw Sandra, looking pale and gaunt but smiling, sitting in a wheelchair. Hannah''s mind went nk.


    "Is something wrong?" Sandra asked, tilting her head curiously when Hannah didn''t respond. Her gaze shifted to Tess. "You must be Tess, the friend Hannah always talks about. It''s a pleasure to meet you. I''m Sandra."


    Tess was just as stunned. She pulled Hannah a few steps away. "Who is that? Didn''t you say she was in the hospital?" Tess nced back. "Is she already out? This soon?"


    Hannah was equally confused. A broken bone was supposed to take months to heal, yet here Sandra was, barely three or four dayster, cruising around in a wheelchair.


    "Do you think," Tess whispered, "that she''s noticed Lionel isn''t fawning over her anymore, so she''s decided to stage some new drama? She probably came out here looking for you." Tess began rattling off scenarios she''d read in novels-a faked fall from the wheelchair, rolling into traffic, tumbling down a flight of stairs- each more horrifying than thest.


    Hannah swallowed hard. All of those things sounded exactly like something Sandra would do.


    "We should definitely keep our


    distance," Hannah said. Just as she was about to turn and ask Sandra what she wanted, an idea struck her.


    She took out her phone,


    her phone, opened


    new message, and showed itto


    Tess with a meaningful look.


    “Ms. Woods, you''re still injured," Hannah said, her tone cool. "Why are you out here all by yourself? Is Lionel not visiting you, so you came out to find him?"


    "I was just getting tired of being cooped up in the hospital and wanted some fresh air," Sandra replied, wheeling herself closer. "I never expected to run into you two here."


    Remembering Tess'' warnings, Hannah immediately took two steps back, putting a safe distance between them.


    Sandra''s smile twitched. "What''s the matter, Ms. Green? You''re acting as if I''m about to do something to you."


    Hannah lowered her gaze. "Well, if you want fresh air, go get it. Tess and I have things to do, so we''ll be on our way."


    It was better to stay as far away from her as possible, especially with only a few days left. Hannah couldn''t afford any more drama.


    Seeing Hannah about to leave,


    Sandra moved faster, reaching out to grab her arm. But as she lunged, her center of gravity shifted She missed Hannahpletely, and the wheelchair tilted precariously.


    "Whoa!" With lightning-fast reflexes, Hannah stammed her hand down on the armrest, stabilizing the chair "Careful there. You get too close to me, and a passerby might think I was the one who pushed you over."