Lionel remained silent, his face an unreadable mask of stone.


    Sandra looked up at him, her eyes red and overflowing with tears. "Because of those trending topics, my parents thought you were interested in me," she sobbed. "And they know you and Hannah are getting a divorce."


    She lowered her head, feigning embarrassment as she wiped away her tears. "They thought... they thought I had a chance to marry you, so they stopped trying to set me up with other people. But then your grandmother suddenly started ying matchmaker for me! I was backed into a corner!"


    Hearing her exnation, Lionel''s stern expression began to soften. What she said made a twisted kind of sense. The rumors had been everywhere, and even Hannah had been convinced there was something between them. It wasn''t a stretch to think Sandra''s parents would believe it too.


    Seeing the shift in his demeanor, Sandra knew she was winning him back. She reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Lionel, the first two times were because my parents were pressuring me. Thisst time... it was because of Kim. You saw them. They came to the hospital and said they would be back to arrange the marriage as soon as I recovered. I was so scared, so I..."


    She knew that the topic of her forced engagement was a sore spot for him. It had caused a huge fight between him and Hannah, so much so that he had ignored Hannah''s copse to stay by her side. She was betting that Hannah''s patience with him had finally run out.


    In a few more days, the divorce would be final. Then, she would get him to the courthouse and marry him herself. If he resisted, she would convince him it was a temporary, fake marriage to get Kim and his family off her back. And once they were married, a fake marriage could easily be a real one.


    Sandra secretly reveled in her n. A happy future seemed so close, almost within her grasp.


    "Sandra," Lionel finally spoke, his voice measured. "I''ll let it go this time. But this is thest time. If ever find out you''ve faked another story or staged another photo, you know what will happen."


    He pulled his hand away from her grasp, his expression hardening once more. Sandra''s hand froze in mid-air, a look of stunned disbelief on her face.


    "The doctor said you can be discharged tomorrow. When you are, I want you to go and apologize to Hannah properly."


    With that, he turned and walked out of the room. Sandra sat in stunned silence for a moment before calling out his name, but he didn''t stop of turn back. She tried to stand to chase after him, but the heavy bast on her leg reminded her of her immobility. She was like a fish out of water, gasping and helpless.


    "Why? Why did this happen?" she wailed, pounding her fists on the mattress.


    "This isn''t how it was supposed to go! What went wrong?"


    Was it because she had pushed him too far? Had he started to feel guilty about


    neglecting Hannah? Is that why he was being so cold to her now?


    As that thought took hold, the frantic look on her face began to subside. Yes, that had to be it. She had been too demanding, too clingy. After everything that had happened, he just needed some space.