Tess'' words nted a seed of doubt in Hannah''s mind.


    After all, having someone suddenly transferred to headquarters out of the blue was bizarre no matter how you looked at it, as if someone was pulling strings behind the


    scenes.


    The timing was also incredibly suspicious. Tess had been in Nyston for months without a single incident, and now, at this critical juncture, this happens.


    A flicker of suspicion ignited in Hannah''s mind. Just then, Tess spoke up. "Do you think it could be Lionel?"


    Hannah considered it for a moment. "I''m not sure, but he seems like the most likely suspect. But what would be his motive? He''s beenpletely consumed with this Sandra businesstely. How would he even have the time to orchestrate something like this?"


    But besides Lionel, she really couldn''t think of anyone else who would do such a thing. Could it have been Quennel?


    It wasn''t impossible, but Quennel wasn''t the type to do things behind her back and call it a surprise.


    He would have discussed it with her first, so the odds of it being Quennel were slim. Could it just be a normal, routine transfer? That seemed highly unlikely.


    "Wait!" Tess suddenly eximed. "What if Lionel realized that if he''s nice to me, you''ll forgive him? You know what I mean?"


    The idea hade to her so suddenly that she struggled to articte it.


    But Hannah understood perfectly. She mulled it over for a moment before replying, "I don''t think that''s very likely."


    Tess immediately shot back, "Why not? Think about it. Why is he so obsessed with this Sandra situation right now, so desperate to prove he wasn''t the one who kidnapped her? It''s because he wants you to believe he''s not malicious.”


    "He wants you to believe him, that he didn''t do it. He wants you to trust him. By the same token, he''s the reason I got sent to Nyston in the first ce. So if I get transferred back now, we can be together again, and that would make you happy."


    "Then, at just the right moment, he''d casually mention that he was the one who arranged my transferral to make you happy. You''d be so thrilled you''d think, ''Maybe I should give him another chance."


    Hannah fell silent as Tess finished her exnation.


    If Tess'' theory was right, then he''s truly at his wit''s end, willing to resort to any bizarre scheme he could think of.


    The more she thought about it, the more Hannah felt it might actually be possible.


    He had been far too persistent about the Sandra issue. Even after she had humiliated him so thoroughly, he was still hell-bent on proving his innocence.


    And what would proving it even aplish? She doubted he''d ever grasp that.


    Besides, he hadn''t contacted her at all today, which was a stark contrast to his previous relentless attempts. Had he finally given up?


    A glint appeared in Hannah''s eyes.


    "Tess, now that you put it that way, think it''s highly possible. He hasn''t


    contacted my family today about


    meeting to discuss Sandra. It''s been eerily quiet."


    "Maybe he really is behind this. If that''s the case, would you be willing toe back to Sova?"


    Hannah asked the question instinctively. It was because of her messy history with him that Tess had been unfairly dragged into this and forced to move to Nyston.


    Getting her back would be a wonderful thing. But to Hannah''s surprise, Tess rejected the idea without a second thought.


    "I''m noting back. First of all, this has nothing to do with you two. It''s purely because I''ve always loved living by the sear you know that ve built a good life here and I''m in a good rhythm. If I move again I''m afraid I''ll have to start all over, and I don''t want to struggle to adapt


    again. I want to stay here and


    continue to build my life."