Hannah was on her way to a meeting when the call came through. She paused, stunned for a moment.


    "What did you say? Who hit you?"


    He had spoken so quickly that she hadn''t quite caught who did what.


    "Your husband! Lionel! He''s downstairs right now. I''ve already called the cops, they''re on their way."


    James gestured at the red mark on his face as he spoke.


    "He pped me so hard my face is red, swollen, and burning. The handprint is obvious, and there were plenty of witnesses and security cameras. I''m going for a full medical check-up, and you two are going to be held responsible for all of it.”


    Hannah stood rooted to the spot, her brow furrowed. "What does him hitting you have to do with me? I didn''t ask him to do it."


    "I don''t care! He said he was getting revenge for you because of the rumors I spread."


    Hearing the satisfaction in Hannah''s exasperated voice, James shot a smug, triumphant re at Lionel.


    "Anyway, that''s the situation. I apologized to you and paid thepensation, but you still had someone ambush me. This isn''t over between us."


    James hung up abruptly.


    “Hannah, what''s wrong?" Samuel asked with concern, seeing the dumbfounded look on her face.


    Hannah took a few deep breaths and looked at him, her tone serious. “Let me process this. I think I just heard somethingpletely insane."


    After a few seconds ofposing herself, Hannah ryed what James had just told her.


    Samuel''s reaction was even more horrified than hers had been.


    "So you''re saying that idiot was waiting downstairs, pped James the moment he came out, imed he was doing it for you, and now James has called the cops on him and tattled to you? Is that the gist of it?"


    Hannah nodded. "Yes, that''s exactly right."


    "Is he crazy? What does any of this have to do with him?" Samuel couldn''t fathom Lionel''s logic.


    Hannah sighed. “And now James probably thinks I put him up to it. This was already over. All he had to do was go apologize to Tess, and it would have been done. But no, Lionel just had to stick mis nose in it. Does he think this makes him look like some kind of hero?"


    "Hannah, should we go down and see?"


    "Go down for what? It has nothing to do with me. He''s the one who threw the punch, not me. Why should I get involved?"


    Soon enough, the police arrived and took both men to the station to give their statements.


    Jamesid out the entire sequence of events, providing the transaction record for hispensation payment and a copy of his handwritten apology letter.


    "Officer, as you can see, this matter between me and Hannah was already resolved."


    James pointed a finger at Lionel.


    "This man is her soon-to-be


    ex-husband: They''re in the middle of


    a divorce, but he has no


    shame and


    refuses to let her go. He tried to act all tough and pped me. I want to go to the hospital for a full check-up. feel like my whole body is out of whack now!"


    "We''ll have someone apany you for an examination shortly," the officer said, then turned to Lionel.s what hes saying true? Were you waiting for him downstairs? Did you decide to do this on your own, or did


    Hannah call you and ask you to assault him?" Content bétongs