Hearing Hannah''s words, the old woman''s heart filled with unease.


    She felt a pang of guilt. It had been so long, and she hadn''t called Hannah once. And now, her useless grandson was using her to lure Hannah over.


    Even though Hannah knew Lionel was behind it, she was stilling without hesitation, just to see her. A wave of guilt washed over Grandma Rosenberg; she felt she had gone too far. “It''s my fault,” she said, her voice heavy. "You don''t have to force yourself for my sake. If you don''t want toe, then don''t. I''ll tell that brat you came and tell him to get lost."


    Hannah couldn''t help butugh, a genuine warmth in her voice.


    “Grandma, please don''t me yourself or say things like that. Right now, I truly just want to see you. It has nothing to do with anyone else. It doesn''t matter if he''s there. Besides, I have time now. I''ll get ready and head over."


    Her grandmother still wanted to protest, worried that Hannah''s visit would end in another fight with Lionel. But she hadn''t seen her in so long and desperately missed her.


    After hanging up, Hannah quickly changed, then drove to a department store to pick up a few hostess gifts.


    Though things were tense with the Rosenberg family, her bond with Grandma remained strong.


    Walking into the house felt as familiar asing home.


    As she stepped into the living room, she saw Lionel''s familiar figure on the sofa.


    He had been watching the door intently. The moment he saw Hannah, he shot to his feet, reaching out to take the gifts from her.


    "Those must be heavy. Let me help you with them."


    Hannah ignored himpletely. Clutching the bags tightly, she walked straight past him as if he were invisible.


    Lionel froze, a strained, awkward smile on his face.


    He had been ignored, treated like thin air. Hannah had looked right through him.


    The feeling was awful, but he knew it was what he deserved. It was his own damn fault. So, without another word, he followed her.


    Hannah ced the gifts on the table and instinctively nced around, but she didn''t see Grandma Rosenberg.


    She was about to ask where she


    was, but since only she and Li


    elget


    were in the living room, she swallowed the words before they could escape.


    Lionel, however, noticed the small gesture. Knowing what she wanted to ask, he spoke up before she had to. Grandma''s busy in the kitchen. She said you wereing today so she wanted to make some of your favorite dishes. We went to the market together this morning to pick out everything you like."


    But even after he spoke, Hannah paid him no mind, heading straight for the kitchen.


    “Grandma, let me help,” Hannah said, grabbing an apron from a hook on the wall.


    She had just tied it when her grandmother gently pushed her out.


    "You silly girl, what are you doing in here with all this smoke and oil? The food is almost ready Go sit at the dining table and wait. You''re a guest in my home; how could I let you cook? Just go and rx, you hear?"