But the old woman had refused, saying it wasn''t her ce and that the household staff would take care of it. No matter what Cora said, Mrs. Rosenberg Sr. wouldn''t budge.


    It was only during the matriarch''s afternoon nap that Cora had managed to slip away, telling the other servants she had an urgent errand.


    So, breakfast had turned into lunch, but it didn''t matter. All that mattered was seeing Lionel. She had to beg him to let here back. At his grandmother''s house, the other servants, clearly influenced by the old woman, treated her with contempt and mocked her relentlessly.


    At Lionel''s house, she had been a queen. No one would have dared to treat her like that.


    It was all Hannah''s fault. If it weren''t for her, she wouldn''t have been sent away in the first ce. The thought filled her with rage.


    "I''m sorry, but we haven''t received any instructions from Mr. Rosenberg, and we can''t verify your identity. We can''t let you up. Please leave and stop causing a disturbance," one of the receptionists said politely.


    "Who are you to verify my identity? Do you know who I am? Just let me up, Mr. Rosenberg will recognize me. Now get out of my way! If you keep stopping me, I''ll call him right now and have him fire all of you!"


    Despite her threats, the receptionists remained calm and professional.


    Furious, Cora pulled out her phone and pretended to make a call, though she didn''t actually have Lionel''s number.


    "She''s telling the truth. She''s a member of Mr. Rosenberg''s household staff," a voice said from behind her. Hannah had been standing there for a moment, listening. “Let here up with us."


    Cora spun around, her eyes wide with disbelief when she saw Hannah. Her face contorted into a scowl.


    Hannah smiled at the receptionists, who, after a moment''s hesitation, allowed Cora to apany them.


    In the elevator, Cora stood in the


    back, her face grim. "Don''t think I''m grateful just because you helped me Hannah Those receptionists ipetent, and I''m going to tell the master all about it."


    Yves nced at Hannah in the reflection of the elevator doors, then at the fuming woman behind them First Sandra, now this one. Hannah''s life was certainlyplicated and Lionel''s inaction made him look like less of a man.


    Hannahpletely ignored Cora''s rambling.


    When they entered the conference room, Lionel was already waiting.


    His eyes lit up when he saw Hannah, but his expression immediately soured


    when he saw Cora trailing behind her.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Cora pushed past Hannah and hurried to his side.


    "My mother told me you didn''t eat breakfast this morning, sir. I tried to bring you something earlier, but Mrs. Rosenberg Sr. wouldn''t let me leave until now." Ignoring the fact that they were in a meeting with other people, She began unpacking the food containers.


    Yves took his seat. "Doesn''t yourpany have a cafeteria?"