Although they had kept their voices low, they hadn''t ounted for Grandma and Cindy eavesdropping from nearby. The moment she heard the word "divorce," Grandma couldn''t stay hidden any longer and marched back into the room.


    “Hannah, tell me right now, did you just say you''re getting a divorce? What... why? Everything was fine!"


    Grandma pushed Lionel out of the way, sat down next to Hannah, and gripped her hands tightly, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    Hannah''s brow furrowed. She felt a knot of anxiety, unsure how to respond. Lionel simply turned his head away, avoiding the question entirely.


    "Grandma, you heard correctly," Hannah finally admitted with a quiet sigh. "Lionel and I are getting a divorce. It was his idea."


    "How was it my idea?" Lionel retorted.


    "Right after Sandra''s car ident, he lied and said he was at the hospital. I was terrified and rushed over to find him. But when I got there, he handed me divorce papers. He wanted me to sign them to make Sandra happy."


    As she said the words, a bitterugh escaped her lips. Looking back, she realized she must have been in shock not to see how monstrous his actions were-and not to have pped him across the face right then and there.


    Grandma and Cindy both turned to stare at Lionel, their expressions a mixture of shock and horror.


    "Lionel, you tell me right now, is this true? Speak!" Grandmamanded, her voice rising.


    "What kind of person are you? You made your wife sign divorce papers just to appease your mistress? What in God''s name is wrong with you?"


    She raised her hand and smacked him hard on the back of the head.


    Lionel winced, clutching his head. He had long since regretted his decision and didn''t dare try to defend himself now. He could only nod meekly, epting the pain.


    "You foolish boy! How could you do something so heartless, so despicable? How did the Rosenberg family produce such an idiot?"


    Grandma shot up from the couch, grabbed a throw pillow, and started beating him over the head with it. Hannah quickly stood and gently guided her back to her seat.


    "Lionel, you owe me a proper


    exnation today! It wasn''t


    Hannah''s fault Sandra was in an ident, so why did you use a


    divorce tofort her? If you don''t give me a good reason... then you


    can get out of the Rosenberg family for good!"


    "Let''s see if that shameless mistress of yours still wants you when you don''t have


    the Rosenberg name to your title!"


    Lionel sat slumped on the sofa, his expression grim. After a moment, he finally spoke. “She was hurt very badly, she almost died. She said that if she had married me back then, maybe none of this would have happened."


    "She said she regretted sacrificing her own happiness to let Hannah


    and I be together. Sone


    at that


    moment was ust so scared by her injuries, I wasn''t thinking straight. That''s why I..."


    He trailed off, looking up at Hannah.


    His exnation elicited no reaction from her. It was one of the many possibilities


    she had already considered, but hearing it confirmed was still chilling.


    Grandma was silent for a long moment before she finally spoke again. "In that case, you two should get a divorce."