This wasn''t the first time Lionel had chosen Sandra over her. He had abandoned


    her when she was sick to rush to Sandra''s side. Seeing him here now was just another confirmation of his true priorities, and it was both infuriating and pathetically predictable.


    For the past few days, he had been putting on such a show—making breakfast and dinner, waiting for her to eat with him, even getting rid of Cora. He had yed the part of the devoted husband so well. But in the end, it was all a lie. This was who he really was.


    A wave of disappointment and disgust washed over her, and she tore her gaze away.


    Lionel saw the look in her eyes and knew she had misunderstood. He started to stand, ready to go to her and exin, but a sudden thought made him hesitate.


    "What are you looking at me for, Lionel?" Sandra shrieked, making sure her voice was loud enough for Hannah to hear. "Did I stop you from going to her? Did I force you to be here? Go on, do whatever you want! The way you''re looking at her, anyone would think I was holding you hostage!"


    Hannah heard her, but she didn''t care. She turned and walked toward the exit. Samuel looked confused, but Peter shot a knowing nce at Lionel before following his niece.


    Lionel desperately wanted to chase after them, but he couldn''t bring himself to leave Sandra—injured, alone, and in a wheelchair-in the middle of the hospital lobby. After a moment of agonizing indecision, he turned back to Sandra.


    "I''m going to wheel you to the curb so you can get a cab. Then I''m going to find Hannah and exin this," he said, his voice firm.


    Sandra didn''t answer, simply bowing her head as tears fell silently onto herp.


    As luck would have it, just as he was helping Sandra into a taxi, he saw Hannah and the Temples walk into a nearby restaurant.


    Inside, Samuel was practically bursting with curiosity. He kept stealing nces at Hannah, trying and failing to be subtle. Peter sighed, embarrassed by his nephew''sck of decorum.


    "Just ask whatever you want to ask," Hannah said, a small smile on her face.


    Samuel, remembering his uncle was present, hesitated for a moment before leaning in conspiratorially. "That jerk you mentioned before... the one you said you were involved With... it''s Lionel, isn''t it?


    Hannah decided there was no point in hiding it anymore. If the DNA test came


    back positive, they were family. And besides, the divorce was tomorrow.


    "Lionel and I got married three years ago," she stated calmly. "He was supposed to marry someone else, but circumstances forced him to many me instead. That''s why we never went public with it. But we''re getting divorced tomorrow.


    The revtion left both Peter and Samuel stunned.


    Samuel turned to his uncle, his eyes wide. "Did you know about this? That Lionel was married?"


    Peter shook his head. "I''d heard rumors, but no one knew who the bride was. So it was you. That exins why we couldn''t find any Information on you when we first started looking. Lionel must have hidden it all."