Wait.


    What was happening?


    Was she seeing things? Why would Lionel be here, of all ces, standing right at her doorstep?


    Shouldn''t he be busy dealing with the divorce from Hannah? Had she been watching too many dramastely, making her hallucinate?


    "Sandra, open the door," Lionel said, forcing his hand into the gap to stop it from closing. "I need to talk to you."


    Hearing his voice confirmed it wasn''t a dream, and her breath caught in her throat. She swallowed hard, her heart pounding.


    "Sandra, don''t make me force my way in. Open the door-now."


    Despite his words, he didn''t wait for her toply, pushing the door open and stepping inside.


    "Where do you think you''re going to run? I''m telling you, even if you fled the country, I''d still find you."


    Facing the man she hadn''t seen in so long, Sandra was at a loss for words, standing frozen in ce.


    "You posted all that garbage online before you left, and now both our families are at each other''s throats because of you. Meanwhile, you''re hiding out here, enjoying your freedom. Does it make you happy, ying us all for fools? Or did you really think I wouldn''t be able to find you here, that there was nothing I could do?"


    Lionel spoke as he walked into the living room, his eyes scanning the space. Noticing no one else was around, he let out a coldugh.


    "Where''s your aplice? Not here? Or did you two have a falling out over the spoils?"


    "Lionel, thank God you''re here! I


    didn''t know what to do. You have no idea... I was coerced by Owen! He threatened me, forced me to run away whim ve been a prisoner in this house this whole time. If you hadn''te..." Sandra said, her expression a mask of innocence.


    Lionel''s voice was icy. "Who opened the door just now?"


    Sandra blinked, momentarily confused by his question. "It was me, wasn''t it?”


    "If you were a prisoner, how could you just open the door? And if you could open the door, why didn''t you run? I see you have a phone in your hand. Didn''t you think to call the police?"


    Lionel''s face was grim as he stared her down. "You can lie without even


    blinking now. Are you treating me you think I''m so


    like an idiot or do onsense you''


    stupid I''ll believe any


    spew?"


    After Lionel''s sharp rebuke, a dead silence fell over the room.


    "What''s wrong? Cat got your tongue? You were so clever with your words before. Or maybe you need more time toe up with another excuse."


    Sandra stood there,pletely unprepared for this cold, severe Lionel. She had never seen him like this before and had no idea how to respond.


    In the past, no matter what she said, no matter how flimsy or ridiculous the excuse, he would believe her. It was nothing like this. Her old tactics wouldn''t work on him anymore.


    "Sandra, if you go back with me right now, admit to your mistakes, and apologize to Hannah, I can choose to let this go. Whether Hannah will do the same, I can''t say."


    With a thud, Sandra dropped to her knees, her eyes filling with tears as she looked up at him. She shuffled forward on her knees and clutched his pant leg.


    “Lionel, I''m sorry, I''m so sorry. But I had no choice! I never knew things would turn out like this."