An awful silence fell over the private room once more.


    Even Samuel grew quiet, staring at Lionel in disbelief.


    Lionel''s brow was furrowed as he watched Gloria without a word.


    His intense gaze made her skin crawl, so she decided to just lower her head and continue eating.


    She couldn''t help but grumble to herself. If she had known this would happen, she never would have said anything. Then the atmosphere wouldn''t be so suffocating.


    "Gloria, are you insane? If you have nothing to say, then don''t say it. No one will think you''re mute. Owen has been by Mr. Rosenberg''s side for years. How could he possibly betray him?"


    It was Gary who couldn''t stay silent any longer.


    He shot up from his chair, pointed a finger at Gloria''s head, and shouted, "I think you''re just jealous that Sandra has a better life than you, that she''s cherished, so you can''t stand it and decided to spread vicious rumors about her! I''m calling the police on you right now."


    Gloria already had a bone to pick with Gary, and seeing him defend someone else was thest straw. She mmed her hand on the table, stood up, and confronted him.


    "Go ahead, call the police! You think I''d make baseless usations without a shred of proof?"


    Gloria shot back, just as fiercely, “If Sandra hadn''t told me herself, how would I know anything? Today is the first time I''ve ever even seen Lionel! How would I know he even had an assistant?"


    "Gary, if you don''t call the police today, I''ll lose all respect for you! I''m telling you, I have plenty of proof on my phone. Go on, call them! If you don''t, you''re nothing but a coward!"


    Gary''s mouth fell open as he stared at Gloria in disbelief.


    His bravado instantly deted. He swallowed hard, sat back down meekly, and instinctively nced over at Lionel.


    "What proof do you have? Show me," Lionel said, his voice low.


    Gloria hesitated, then looked at Hannah.


    "He''s your assistant, so investigate him yourself. Don''t expect us to just hand over our evidence to you," Hannah said with a smirk. "You really have a convenient way of doing things, Mr. Rosenberg What if we give you the proof, you delete it, and then turn around and use us ofstander it wouldn''t be the first time you''ve pulled something like that. I''ve learned my lesson more than once."


    Lionel never believed her word or the evidence she presented. Who was to say he would believe anything Gloria provided either?


    So it was better not to give him anything. He was more than capable of finding things out himself.


    Gloria nodded firmly. "I''m not giving it to you! Investigate it yourself."


    "Gloria, have you lost your mind? This is Mr. Rosenberg! Do you think she can protect you forever just because you''re on her side?


    telling you, you''d better give M


    Rosenberg whatever evidence you have, or else..."


    Before Gary could finish, Lionel stood up, his face dark, and walked out.


    After he left, the Temple siblings


    froze for a moment, then started shifting ufortably exchanging nces,pletely unsure of what to do.


    Samuel nced at the two of them, his eyes narrowing. He smiled, walked to the door, and shut it.


    “Alright, now that Lionel''s business is handled, it''s time to deal with you two idiots!" Hannah couldn''t help but give Samuel a thumbs-up for his quick thinking.


    Look at him, she thought, so perceptive. He even knew to trap them before dealing with them. Clever boy.


    "Samuel, what do you mean? We''re family! What are you nning to do?"