Hearing Lionel''s exnation, Hannah''s anger subsided slightly. She slowly reached a hand toward him.


    Lionel flinched, instinctively shutting his eyes and bracing for another p. But after a few seconds, the expected sting never came. Instead, she poked him hard in the chest twice.


    "Don''t use those kinds of excuses with me anymore. I don''t care what you choose. Besides you, I have Quennel and the Temple family helping me deal with this."


    Hannah turned and walked toward the driver''s side of her car. "They''re both more capable than you. Your contributions have been minimal and ineffective. You can''tpare to them, so stop with the devoted act, pretending you''ve changed and want to help me. The truth is, you never helped me before, and you certainly aren''t now. Don''t tter yourself. Now get out of my way, or I''ll run you over."


    She got into the car and mmed on the horn, a clear signal for him to move.


    Lionel stood frozen in front of the vehicle, his expression a mixture ofplexity and pain.


    He knew he had messed up too badly in the past. Now, no matter what he did, Hannah wouldn''t believe him.


    "Hannah, I know you still doubt me, that you don''t trust me, but I have to tell you— this time, I''m absolutelymitted to helping you. I''ve already bought my ticket. I''m leaving tomorrow..."


    BEEP


    He was cut off by the shrill st of the horn.


    Hannah reversed, swerved sharply around him, and sped away without a second nce, leaving his words hanging in the empty air.


    Lionel stood rooted to the spot, watching her car disappear, his brow tightly furrowed.


    "I knew you were stupid, but I never thought you were this stupid. You actually told Hannah about it and asked her to choose for you. And now you''ve told her you''re going to Roxa instead of the factory."


    Quennel had been about to leave when he saw the scene unfold. He''d watched


    from the sidelines until their conversation was over.


    "Tomorrow, when you don''t show up at the factory, who do you think Mom will me


    first? Do you think she''ll see it as your fault? No. She''ll me Hannah."


    Quennel walked up to him. "Mom will think Hannah threatened you into doing it. She''ll summon Hannah and berate her again. How much more. do you think Hannah will hate you then?"


    "The factory... was that your idea?"


    Lionel''s expression suddenly darkened as he stared at Quennel with suspicion.


    He couldn''t believe all of this was just a coincidence. It had to be Quennel pulling the strings from behind the scenes.


    Quennel was about to admit it, but he caught himself just in time.


    For all he knew, Lionel could be recording him. If he confessed and Lionel yed it for Hannah, it would ruin the image he''d carefully built. He wasn''t about to make such


    foolish mistake.


    "You''re ming me for your own ipetence? Go ahead, tell Hannah I did it. See


    if she believes you."


    Quennel shot him a provocative look, then turned and walked away.


    In an instant, Lionel was alone on the street.


    He stood there, his thoughts in turmoil, with no idea what to do next.