The maid looked him up and down, thinking to herself that there was a very good reason Hannah despised him.


    He was so arrogant, so infuriating.


    "Ma''am is still asleep. I''m not going to disturb her just because you say so. When she wakes up and whether she wants to see you is her decision. If you want to wait, then wait. If you can''t, then leave. You''re not wee in this house."


    The maid turned and walked away.


    Only then did Lionel btedly realize hisst words had also been wrong.


    He let out a frustrated sigh, silently reminding himself to think before he acted from now on, to be more considerate and stop being so irrational.


    He sat in the living room and waited for a long time. He saw Samuel and Cherrye downstairs, but there was still no sign of Hannah.


    When they saw Lionel in their house, they were both shocked and immediately tried to have him thrown out. He was only allowed to stay after insisting he had an urgent matter to discuss with Hannah.


    "What could possibly be so important that you have the nerve toe back here after failing to find that woman? If I were you, I''d have had the decency to die of shame in that other country and not even have my body sent back," Samuel said, rolling his eyes.


    Cherry chimed in, "Oh, if it were me, I''d be too embarrassed to ever show my face again. You know, it really pays to be shameless. I envy people like that. For once in my life, I''d love to live so freely, without a shred of shame.”


    Samuel nodded in agreement. "What ''important matter''? He''s obviously just counting on Hannah being a pushover, thinking he can bully her. Look at him, he has no respect for her at all. If he truly cared, would he have shown up this early? Wouldn''t he have called first to see if she was awake? Just looking at him is annoying."


    The two of them went back and forth, relentlessly tearing into Lionel.


    He acted as if he couldn''t hear them, sitting quietly on the sofa and waiting for Hannah. Even though no one had offered him so much as a ss of water since he arrived, he didn''t get angry. He knew he was unwee here; being allowed to Sit and wait was already more than he deserved.


    About ten minutester, Hannah finally made her way downstairs, lookingpletely rxed.


    "You''re awake! Come have breakfast. We made your favorite shrimp raviolis today. They''re delicious!" Samuel called out warmly.


    Hannah walked right past Lionel as if he were invisible and went straight to the dining table.


    "This is really good," she said after taking a bite. "By the way, Yves just sent a message. He said there''s a meeting today and we shouldn''t bete.”


    "Don''t worry, I''m neverte for anything. But what''s it about? It''s not that business trip they mentioned in the office a few days ago, is in ye never been there Have you


    Hannah shook her head. "I think it''s probably about the trip, but he didn''t give me any details about who''s going Well find out at the meeting after we get to the office."


    Samuel nodded.


    After they finished breakfast, they tidied up and prepared to leave for thepany.


    "Hannah, I need to talk to you."