As much as Hannah hated to admit it, that was exactly the case. She had no choice but to nod.


    "Yes." The word escaped her lips with a self-deprecatingugh, her expression a mixture of sorrow and resignation.


    Yves sighed deeply, looking at her without saying a word.


    "You don''t have to pity me, Mr. Lancaster,” she said with a faint smile, looking


    down at her te. "I''ll be free soon enough. What a clueless man does after that


    has nothing to do with me. I''ve made my peace with it."


    "You''re right," he agreed. "From now on, every day will be a good day."


    His words struck a chord deep within her.


    From now on, every day will be a good day. Yes. After the divorce, they would never have to see each other again. No debts, no obligations-just freedom. Whether he went back to Sandra or kept Cora, it would no longer be any of her


    concern.


    Cora returned to the matriarch''s residence, dejected, the insted lunch container in her hand feeling nowhere near as heavy as her heart.


    Everything had been going so perfectly. If Hannah hadn''t shown up out of nowhere, Lionel would have eaten the meal she''d so lovingly prepared. He would have seen how much she cared and been moved by her devotion. He might have even brought her back to the main house, and her n could have continued. But no, Hannah just had to appear and ruin everything.


    That damn bitch, she seethed internally. Always getting in my way. I''ll hire someone to take care of her, see how she likes that!


    "Hire someone to take care of who, exactly?"


    A cold voice came from behind her. It was Grandma. “Cora, it seems you have no regard for my words at all. I told you not to go, and you snuck out behind my back. What did you think would happen? That my grandson would fall for you after a few home-cooked meals?"


    Cora froze, the blood draining from her face. She spun around, and when she saw the matriarch''s icy expression, her knees gave out and she copsed to the floor.


    Grandma looked down at her with contempt before sweeping past with a disdainful snort.


    wel


    "Ma''am, I... I was only worried Mr. Rosenberg wouldn''t eat properly," Cora pleaded, scrambling on her knees to face her. "He has a sensitive stomach, and Mrs. Rosenberg is always making him angry. I was just looking out for him on your behalf! I swear, I have no ulterior motives. My loyalty is to the Rosenberg family!"


    Grandma took a seat and watched her crawl closer. "Well, then it seems I have misjudged you," she said with a sharine smile. Since you''re loyal, Such a good cook and so skilled at caring for people, how would you like to go and take care of my grandson full-time?"


    Cora paused, looking up at Grandma in disbelief. She had expected a tongueshing, but after hearing her exnation, the old woman''s attitude hadpletely changed. It seemed this matriarch wasn''t so


    hard to manipte after all. If she had known a few pretty words were all it took, she could have saved herself a lot of trouble.


    "It would be my honor to serve you, Ma''am," Cora said, her voice filled with feigned humility. "I will take the best care of Mr. Rosenberg and will not disappoint you."


    "Excellent. I''ve already had someone book your flight to Zabo. There''s no need to pack; just grab your ID. The driver is waiting for you outside."


    "Yes, ma''am!" Cora eximed, scrambling to her feet before the words fully registered. She froze. "Z-Zabo? Is Mr. Rosenberg going there on a business trip? I hadn''t heard anything about it."


    Grandma smiled thinly. "Lionel isn''t my only grandson. Now, get out."


    "No, wait! Ma''am, what do you mean? You''re sending me away? You can''t do that! If Mr. Rosenberg finds out, he''ll be furious!"