At his righteous tone, as if he were genuinely concerned for her safety, Hannah let out a sharpugh.


    She set down her fork, inteced her fingers on the table, and sat up straight, her expression deadly serious as she looked at him.


    “So, Mr. Rosenberg, you''re aware that people have been following me, trying to frame me, or taking pictures to make me a trending topic again. If you know all that, then you must also know that I''m in this position entirely because of you."


    "If it weren''t for you, I never would have had to deal with any of this. Now every reporter and media outlet wants to use me to meet their quotas."


    "If you would just sign the divorce papers, they''d move on to someone else and finally leave me alone."


    Lionel was stunned. He had simply tried to start a conversation about the scenery, and somehow she had twisted it into being about their divorce.


    It was clear that she was dead set on leaving him. Otherwise, she wouldn''t bring it up at every opportunity, no matter the topic.


    He let out a long sigh, his voice softening. "Hannah, can we please just talk? I remember you wanted to see the ocean. I was actually nning to take you that day, but then Quennel sent me that message, and it made me suspicious. That''s why I came back early and didn''t have time to go with you."


    Hannah nearly burst outughing.


    "Mr. Rosenberg, yes, I like the ocean. But when did I ever say I wanted you to take me? Listening to you, anyone would think I''m angry because you didn''t take me to the beach that day."


    She truly couldn''t believe how he could warp reality to fit his narrative.


    "Please, Mr. Rosenberg, stop saying things that could be so easily misunderstood. I love the ocean, but I do not love you. If you were standing on the shore, you''d make me hate the sea itself."


    Lionel''s lips tightened, his breathing growing heavier.


    Hannah''s repeated use of "Mr. Rosenberg" felt like a p, a cold reminder of the distance she had put between them. It was more than he could bear.


    "I know what I said might have been misunderstood, but I was nning to ask you to go to the ocean with me that day. It''s just that when. Quennel sent me that message! suddenly got worried so tushed back."


    He brought up Quennel''s name again, hoping she would take the bait and shift the conversation to him.


    Then they could discuss Sandra''s kidnapping. But Hannah remainedpletely indifferent to his words.


    "Even if you hadn''t gone back, I wouldn''t have agreed to go to the ocean with you. Mr. Rosenberg, given our current rtionship, we''re lucky we aren''t at each other''s throats with kitchen knives. Atrip to the beach together? Let''s not talk about such fantasies, shall we? Now I''d like to eat my fruit in peace Please stop talking to me. It''s really killing my appetite, you know?"


    Hannah rolled her eyes internally, disgusted by his words. She had told


    him countless times about his problematic way of speaking, and others had too Yet whenever he talked to her, it was always with that same condescending tone, never once showing a hint of humility.