“I''m not sure I see the point of this desperate struggle you''re putting up.”


    Hannah didn''t show a flicker of anger at his words; she had grown ustomed to his shameless tactics.


    "Lionel, you''re the one who wanted a divorce. You''re the one who had the affair. You cheat, you file for divorce-I haven''t stood in your way. I''ve gone along with


    everything you wanted. So why now? Why are you suddenly refusing to sign? Don''t you dare tell me you''ve fallen in love with me now of all times."


    "I have fallen in love with you."


    He said it without any warning.


    Hannah fell silent the moment she heard him.


    The office was plunged into a dead stillness.


    After a long moment, a genuine look of surprise crossed Hannah''s face, but it quickly faded, leaving only a trace of shock.


    She let out a smallugh. "And? You love me, so I''m supposed to just ept your ''love'' and get back together with you?"


    "I waited for you for three years. Three years, and I never got the evidence I needed. It was only after I''dpletely given up hope that you tell me this. What do you take me for? Do you think I should just ept you because you say you love me? Let me tell you, your love is cheap, and it''s not worth my time. Don''t waste your breath. Just sign the divorce papers. The sooner you sign, the sooner we can finalize this and go our separate ways."


    She didn''t understand.


    She couldn''tprehend it.


    It was baffling, truly baffling.


    He imed to love her. After less than a month, not even a full month, he was saying he loved her and wouldn''t divorce her.


    But just a month ago, after they had signed the papers, they had done nothing but argue. He''d been framed and be a viral disgrace, he''d been manipted and forced out of hispany.


    So much had happened between them. The only peaceful moments they''d shared were in thest few days, after he learned the truth. He couldn''t have possibly fallen in love with her in just these past few days. That was just too absurd.


    Hannah sighed and pulled the divorce agreement from her bag.


    "I gave you a copy of the papers before, but you didn''t sign it. So I had another one drawn up. Take a look."


    Hannah ced the document on the desk and pushed it toward him.


    "Of course, if you refuse to sign again, I''ll just keep giving them to


    ie


    you. Next time, I might mail it to your factory, or your office, or your home. Maybe I''ll even send it to your mother. The point is, I won''t give up until you sign. There''s no point in putting up a useless fight. This marriage should have ended a month ago. We just forgot to file the paperwork at City Hall."


    With that, Hannah smiled and walked out.


    After seeing Hannah out, the secretary returned to the office.


    She had barely reached the doorway when she saw Lionel staring dejectedly at the divorce papers on his desk.


    Seeing them at such an impasse, she knew it wasn''t her ce to say anything. She quietly walked over, closed the door for him, and went back to her own office to call Mary.


    "Ma''am, Ms. Green was here today. She came to discuss the divorce with him and brought the papers. But it doesn''t look like he intends to sign. Ms. Green said if he doesn''t sign today, she''ll mail another copy tomorrow She said she''d send it to the office, to the factory, and even to you. All she wants is his signature on the divorce papers."


    Mary pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "That woman haspletely lost her mind. First, she announces their marriage to the world and now she''s storming his factory to demand a divorce This is nothing short of ckmail."