It was the first time anyone had said that about her and Lionel. For a second, Hannah wasn''t sure if it was an insult or apliment.


    "Cherry, I stopped you for the sake of the Temple family, and for your parents."


    "For my parents? Ha! Sending him away was for my parents? Do you think I''m an idiot?" Cherry scoffed, crossing her arms. “Go on, exin yourself."


    "You''ve just been formally acknowledged by the family. If I introduced you to Quennel now, he would know you forced me to do it. He''d be disgusted with you, and he''d assume your parents raised you poorly. It would reflect badly on the entire Temple family."


    "Cherry, if you''re going to be an embarrassment, at least have the decency not to drag the rest of us down with you."


    Hannah''s eyes raked over her cousin with unconcealed contempt. "It''s amazing you had the nerve to lecture me about having manners. People always talk most about the things theyck themselves."


    With a final, dismissive sneer, Hannah turned and walked back into the ballroom.


    The chilly night wind swept over Cherry, leaving her feeling cold and hollow. She red at Hannah''s retreating back, her heart filled with bitter resentment.


    "What''s so great about her?" she muttered. "She''s just an illegitimate child who doesn''t even know who her father is. If she hadn''t married Lionel, I wouldn''t have given her a second nce."


    It was clear that using Hannah to get to Quennel was not going to be easy. But there were other ways.


    Back in the ballroom, Quennel was engrossed in a discussion about a new partnership. Lionel stood a short distance away from Peter and Samuel. The moment he saw Hannah return, he started toward her.


    But she acted as if he didn''t exist, walking straight past him to join Peter and Samuel.


    "I tried to stop Cherry, but she''s as slippery as an eel. Did she cause any trouble for you?" Samuel asked, concerned.


    Hannah shook her head. "Quennel ignored her. She''s probably sulking


    somewhere. It''s best to just leave her be."


    Samuel snorted and muttered, "Serves her right," then flicked his eyes toward Lionel. "What about him?"


    "Our rtionship isn''t public, and we''ve been in the news a lottely. Standing too close will just fuel the gossip and have no desire to deal with that Hannah said, her voice just loud enough for Lionel to hear.


    He had been about to approach her again, but her words stopped him in his tracks. He remained where he was a silent observer for the rest of the evening.


    As the g came to a close, Lionel trailed behind Hannah, hoping for a chance to speak with her.


    "Mr. Rosenberg!" A man stepped in front of him, blocking his path.


    “Mr. Rosenberg, are we going to be hearing wedding bells for you and Ms. Woods soon? I''ve done business with the Woods family in the past, and I know they''re facing some challenges right now thappen to have a few projects that might be a good fit. What do you think...?"


    Hannah, who was waiting for her driver, paused and overheard their conversation. Samuel''s ears perked up.


    “Sandra... Ms. Woods and I are just friends," Lionel said, his voice tight. "There are no wedding bells. You''ve been misinformed."