The entire drive home, Lionel''s mind raced.


    Everyone was telling him to let it go, that pursuing it was meaningless.


    Sandra, the victim herself, seemed indifferent. Hannah refused to even listen. From start to finish, he was the only one who ever cared.


    Hannah had met him at that café, in front of all those people, and publicly humiliated him without a shred of courtesy.


    If he tried to confront her again, he dreaded to think what might happen. The next meeting certainly wouldn''t be in a café.


    Hannah, is it possible you knew all along? That Quennel was the one who kidnapped Sandra, and you''ve just been pretending not to know?


    The thought suddenly bloomed in his mind, sharp and unnerving.


    If that were true, it would exin everything—herpleteck of interest, her refusal to engage. She already knew who did it.


    She had just been ying along, watching him make a fool of himself, treating him like her own personal entertainment.


    Lionel gripped the steering wheel, his heart sinking with a long, silent sigh.


    When he got home, not a single light was on. Staring at the dark house, a memory from long ago unexpectedly surfaced.


    He remembereding home veryte one night to find the lights on and ate- night meal spread out on the table.


    Hannah had heard him arrive and rushed downstairs, excitedly telling him she''d prepared food and asking if he was hungry.


    He hadn''t told her he wasing home that night and had no idea how she knew to wait up.


    Onlyter did he learn the truth: she had hoped he woulde home every night. She left a light on for him, and every evening she cooked a meal, just in case.


    But he had disappointed her, time and time again, until she eventually stopped leaving on the light and preparing the meals.


    Now, the house was just as he''d left it: dark, silent, and so cold and empty it was frightening.


    It''s true what they say. You really don''t know what you have until it''s gone.


    If he could go back to that time, he would cherish it properly. But it was far toote for regrets.


    The next day, in Nyston.


    Tess was summoned to her boss'' office first thing in the morning.


    "Do you have some serious connections at Sova?" her boss asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.


    "This morning, an order came down from the higher-ups to transfe over there. And get this they want to make you the director!"


    Tess stared at her boss,pletely bewildered.


    "It wasn''t that girl who helped you with the smear campaign, was it? She must be incredibly powerful!"


    Tess blinked, the words taking a few


    seconds to register:


    "Is this for react


    This is the first hearing of it. Let


    move a call."


    "Sure! As soon as you do, we can start the paperwork on our end!"


    Tess pulled out her phone and called


    Hang what her boss he


    just told her. Hannah was silent for a moment, equally stunned. >


    "That''s beyond my abilities. Not me," Hannah said finally. "I''ve been too busy toying with a fooltely."


    "It really wasn''t you?" Tess pinched the bridge of her nose. "If it wasn''t you, then who could it be?"