Hearing his mother''s words, Quennel let out a sigh.


    "Since things have alreadye to this, there''s no point in talking about it. We can''t rush things now. Let''s just wait and see what he decides. After all, Hannah is waiting for his decision, too."


    He already had people watching Hannah. He''d thought that with the scandal blowing up this big, she would surely react, especially since her reputation was on the line. But surprisingly, she remained indifferent, seemingly unconcerned.


    Quennel couldn''t figure out what was going on in Hannah''s mind, so he could only wait and see.


    "What if Lionel chooses the factory and just abandons Hannah? What happens if he manages to climb his way back up from there? He''s so capable, you know. I can''t help but worry."


    If Lionel weren''t sopetent, she wouldn''t be this afraid. The original n was to exile him to a failing branch office, making it nearly impossible for him to return. But the board only demoted him to the factory, saying they could recall him once the scandal blew over and he''d proven himself there.


    Quennel''s expression was listless. "It''s toote to change anything. But I''m sure he''ll choose to handle Hannah''s situation first. He doesn''t want to divorce her right now. If he ignores her, she might escte things and take it to court. That would be a public humiliation the board could use against him."


    Quennel himself was puzzled. With things having gotten so out of hand, why hadn''t Hannah blown the whole thing wide open? Why was she giving Lionel time to handle it? Could it be that she still had feelings for him?


    If that were the case, it wouldplicate matters. If she still held any lingering affection for Lionel, all he would have to do is apologize, and she might actually forgive him.


    The thought made Quennel''s head ache, and he instinctively pinched the bridge of his nose.


    He could only conclude that women


    were different from men. A man could be ruthless enough to cast aside the one he loved, but women were often too


    giving me sentimental, always


    one chance after


    another.


    "Let''s just hope it ys out that way," Mary said. "Lionel was the one who wanted a divorce, but then hez dragged his feet and let it get this messy. Why haven''t the Temples stepped in to handle this? If they came to hold him ountable, it would be another major strike against him."


    Seeing his mother''s agitation, Quennel handed her a cup of freshly brewed tea.


    "Calm down. Panicking won''t help. We just have to wait and see. Let''s just hope Hannah ispletely over him. Otherwise, things will get very difficult."


    Mary took the tea. Just as she brought the cup to her lips, a thought struck her, and she set it back down.


    "Doesn''t Hannah listen to you? Why don''t you go and give her a little nudge? Maybe she''ll blow this whole Then he won''t even make it


    thing up


    to the factory; they''ll send him


    straight to the south, or even


    overseas. As long


    she''s out of


    Sova, we''ll have our chance."


    Hearing this, Quennel lowered his gaze, a faint, unreadable light flickering in his


    eyes.