Quennel smiled. "It''s only natural for him to suspect me. After all, I was the one who kidnapped her."


    Mary froze for a few seconds, then looked up at him in disbelief.


    "What did you say? You really kidnapped her?"


    "Yes, I did. I leaked some information to him, and he followed the breadcrumbs. I was actually worried he wouldn''t figure it out, but he did."


    Mary shot up from her chair, her eyes wide with worry. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you kidnap Sandra?"


    "Because Sandra abused Hannah, so I''m going to abuse her back. I''m teaching her a lesson on Hannah''s behalf."


    Quennel''s reasoning was sound, but Mary listened in horror.


    "You''re insane! Why are you meddling in their affairs? Aren''t things chaotic enough as it is?"


    "I have my reasons, Mom. Don''t worry, I know how to handle this."


    Mary frowned deeply, looking at her son. She wanted to say more, but the words wouldn''te.


    Her eldest son had always been independent. He made his own decisions without consulting her, and he always handled things perfectly. Perhaps this time would be no different.


    Mary sighed, a long, heavy breath.


    "Fine. Do what you want. But you must remember one thing: don''t make me worry, and don''t get yourself into unnecessary trouble. You know how much I care about you."


    Mary reached out and gripped her son''s hand tightly, still deeply concerned.


    Quennel wrapped an arm around his mother''s shoulders from behind, resting his head on her shoulders know, Mom.


    with a lightugh."know,


    Don''t worry. I won''t let you get hurt,


    and won''t let myself get hurt. Just trust me."


    "Alright."


    ?


    "It''s okay, Mom. Lionel will leave this family. I won''t let him get away with this, and I won''t let him upset you again."


    Quennel''s eyelids lowered slightly, a dark, unreadable glint in his eyes.


    "By the way, there''s one thing I have to ask. Where did you take her? You didn''t actually hide her in the house, did you? He''s searching everywhere. If he finds her and realizes you took her, things could get very messy


    Mary knew she couldn''t persuade him now. Things had already gone this far. The


    best she could do was watch out for him.


    "Don''t worry, Mom. She''s not in the house. He''ll never find her."


    Hearing her son''s answer, Mary finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    She held his hand tightly, repeatedly warning him to be careful.


    Since it had already happened, there was nothing more she could say


    She could only téh ! her sort to be cautious and not leave any evidence for Lionel to find.


    Although she didn''t think Lionel would do anything too drastic, it was still better to be safe than sorry.


    When Mary went downstairs, she realized Lionel was gone. A servant came over and exined that he had left after failing to find anything.


    Mary scoffed and ordered the servant, "If hees here again, tell him to get lost. He''s not wee in our home."