Hannah just smiled and nodded.


    Back at the house, she changed into somefortable loungewear and removed her makeup. Just as she was about to head to her room, she found Cherry standing in the doorway, radiating fury.


    "You did that on purpose, didn''t you! I asked you to help me, and not only did you refuse, you sent him away!" Cherry used, her voice shrill. "Just because your own marriage to Lionel is a mess, you can''t stand to see anyone else happy, can you?"


    Hannah sauntered over, leaning casually against the doorframe with her arms crossed. She raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Can''t stand to see you happy? And what ''happy'' are we talking about, exactly? The one where Quennel falls for you at first sight, you get married tomorrow, and live happily ever after?"


    "You..."


    "Or is it the ''happy'' where you have a sessful career?" Hannah''s eyes traveled from the top of Cherry''s head down to her shoes before meeting her gaze again. "Because Samuel told me you''re unemployed and living at home. So it can''t be that."


    "What are you trying to say?"


    "Then perhaps it''s your good breeding and impable manners? But the first thing you did when I arrived was call me an ill-mannered orphan who doesn''t even know her own parents. Someone from a family with ss would never say something like that. So, Cherry, please, enlighten me. Which version of your ''happy'' life am I so jealous of?"


    With every word Hannah spoke, Cherry''s breath hitched, until her chest felt tight and a lump formed in her throat, choking off any response.


    Seeing her speechless, Hannah sighed dramatically and shook her head. "Look at you. You block my path just to hurl baseless usations, and in the end, you''re the one who gets put in her ce. If I were you, I''d be so embarrassed I''d have run away by now."


    Cherry stomped her foot in frustration, pointing a trembling finger at Hannah. "If I were you, I''d have jumped off a building by now! Your husband is cheating on you and you just pretend you can''t see it. You have some nerve lecturing me!"


    Hannah''s eyes widened in mock surprise. "Cherry, don''t tell me you''re one of those women who, if their husband cheated, would me themselves for not being pretty enough, or curvy enough, or good enough in bed to keep him satisfied at home?" she gasped ming


    at hopning the other woman,


    yourself,


    ming the whole world... but never the man who was disloyal to his marriage and couldn''t control himself? Wow, Cherry. You live with so much insecurity and guilt. If I were you, I''d spend less time worrying about men and more time reading a book to broaden my horizons."


    Hannah straightened up and patted her cousin''s shoulder.


    "You should learn from me. If a man cheats, you divorce him. There are plenty of men in the world. Why hang yourself up over one guy? Or... can you just not live without a man?"


    "Hannah-!"


    Cherry trembled with rage, pping Hannah''s hand away.


    "You know, I think you really can''t," Hannah continued, turning to walk into her room. "Otherwise, you wouldn''t have been begging me to introduce you to someone the second I got here."


    Before closing the door, she paused and added, "But you really don''t have what it takes, do you? I got you into the party, I let you see Quennel, but you couldn''t seal the deal. You should take a good, long loobin the mirror and figure out what the problem is. Your face, your body... or maybe," she finished with a pointed look, "your brain."


    Cherry lunged, swinging her hand to p her.


    SLAM!