Hearing Samuel''s point, Lionel decided to be direct.


    "Someone sent me this recording anonymouslyst night. A while ago, I also received an anonymous message saying Sandra had arrived in Sova by helicopter, but she disappeared afternding."


    "I believe only Quennel could pull something like this off. So, I think Quennel sent me this recording."


    Lionel stared at Samuel, his expression serious.


    He expected Samuel to be shocked, stunned even.


    But after he finished, Samuel just continued to stare back at him, his face an unreadable mask of silence.


    “Mr. Temple, am I not being clear enough?”


    Samuel remained silent, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.


    It wasmon knowledge that Lionel and Quennel had a terrible rtionship, and this certainly seemed to confirm it.


    Now Lionel was dragging Quennel, an outsider, into their mess.


    This idiot knew full well how close Hannah and Quennel were. Making such an usation was a tant attempt to sow discord, to make Hannah suspicious of Quennel.


    He was trying to destroy their friendship so he could worm his way back in.


    What a venomous, maniptive man.


    "If you think Quennel kidnapped Sandra, why aren''t you over there rescuing her instead of sitting here spouting this nonsense?"


    "Or are you hoping Hannah will go after her herself for a more... hands-on experience? Or maybe this is all just a lie, and you''re simply trying to stir up trouble between them?"


    Hearing his words twisted like this, Lionel was on the verge of snapping. He red at the man before him through gritted teeth.


    But the cafe was full of patrons, many of whom were staring at them. Losing his temper here would be a terrible idea.


    Lionel took a deep breath.


    "My point is, Quennel kidnapped Sandra."


    "Oh."


    "..." The t response made Lionel feel like he''d punched a pillow. He felt a surge of frustration, almost choking on it.


    "Mr. Temple, I''m saying Quennel is not as simple as he seems. He was the one who drugged the drink years ago He''s afraid of that getting out, So he''s taken Sandra and forced her to say all this."


    "So those things she said were all lies?" Samuel nced down at Lionel''s phone screen.


    Lionel hesitated, swallowing hard.


    "Yes, they''re all lies."


    "If they''re lies, why did you y it


    me? It''s not like it was sent to


    Hannah''s email if you hadn


    shown


    us, we would have never known


    about any of this."


    fo


    Samuel was getting tired of wasting his time with this man. He stood up with a long sigh.


    "Alright, talking to you is aplete


    waste of my time. I''m going to get some lunch now. As for what you y told me, don''t worry, I''ll passat along to nah."


    With that, Samuel turned and left.


    Lionel instinctively moved to stop him, but Samuel was gone too quickly, not giving him a moment to react.


    Staring at the empty space where Samuel had been, Lionel pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.


    He had no idea if Samuel would ry his message properly.


    “Hannah, you heard all that, right?"