Cora knelt before him, clutching his pant leg like a lifeline. Her eyes were red- rimmed as she sobbed.


    "I only went downstairs to tell the madam that what she did was wrong, that she upset you and made you miss dinner. I asked her not to do it again, and she... she called Mrs. Rosenberg Sr. and had her send people to take me away!"


    She exined that she had been walking in the yard when a group of men appeared and asked for her. Unsuspecting, she had identified herself, only to be seized by them. If she hadn''t reacted quickly and used all her strength, she would have been dragged away.


    After breaking free, she had run straight upstairs to beg Lionel for protection.


    Cora couldn''t believe Hannah would stoop so low and use such a dirty trick. Just moments ago, she had acted like she didn''t care what Cora did, but then she had gone behind her back and called the family matriarch to have her removed.


    "Sir, you know I''mpletely loyal to you! But the madam... she''s gone too far! And remember, when Mrs. Rosenberg Sr. first wanted me to leave, it was the madam who insisted I stay. Now she turns around and does this! You have to stand up for me!"


    Cora''s wails were so loud that other servants began to peek out from the doorway.


    Even Hannah was drawn by themotion.


    She had been surprised when Grandma''s people suddenly arrived, but after a moment''s thought, she suspected it might have been Lionel''s doing. Curious, she joined the other staff, listening from the hallway.


    "Let go!" Lionel''s voice was ice as he kicked her hand away. "I was the one who called Grandma to have you taken away. Cora, you know exactly what you''ve done. If Lily hadn''t begged for you, you would have been gone a long time ago!"


    He continued, his voice sharp with anger. "Hannah and I have given you so many chances, and you''ve wasted every one of them. So get out. If you don''t leave now, I''ll have the security guards throw you out!"


    Shoved away, Cora heard his words and scrambled back, wrapping her arms tightly around his leg. She pressed her body against him, rubbing herself subtly against is thigh, hoping to evoke a shred of pity.


    BUMS


    She looked up at him, her eyes wide and tearful, but before she could


    speak Lionel kicked her awarenes


    this time with force. >


    "Cora, don''t make me say it again. If you don''t get out now, I''ll have your mother thrown out with you!"


    His eyes zed with fury as he stood and stalked toward the door.


    Hannah and the other servants didn''t have time to move and were caught in his path.


    "What are you looking at? Keep staring and you can all get out too!" he roared.


    The servants flinched and scurried away without a word.


    Hannah shot him an indifferent nce before turning to leave.


    Lionel followed, grabbing her arm.


    "I was the one who called Grandma to send for Cora," he exined quickly. "I saw what she did downstairs."


    Hannah paused, looking him up and down with a flicker of suspicion.


    The past couple of days, Lionel had still been an idiot, but there was a new gentleness in his tone and he was actually trying to himself.