Seeing his tense silence, Hannah couldn''t help butugh.


    She crossed her arms, leaning back slightly in her chair and crossing her long legs. A look of pure contempt shed in her eyes. "It seems I hit the nail on the head,” she said with a cold smile.


    "Lionel, even though I hate you now, I still know you better than anyone. My hatred for you doesn''t erase all the years I spent learning your habits."


    Although her feelings for him were now nothing but pure hatred, she couldn''t deny the fact that she had loved him for over a decade. She knew his preferences, his personality, everything about him, inside and out.


    It was safe to say no one in the world knew him better than she did, and it was that very understanding that now caused her so much pain.


    "I thought you wereing here today to talk about something else. I never expected you to bring up Tess. You''ve sure never been this sweet with me."


    Hannah lowered her gaze, a hint of sorrow in her eyes. She let out a long sigh and continued, “Did you really think that bying here to apologize for making decisions about Tess on your own, I would forgive you? That I would think you''re a good man who''s turned over a new leaf?"


    Lionel remained silent the entire time. His hands had unconsciously clenched into tight fists, the veins on their backs bulging. He felt so exposed that he didn''t even dare to meet Hannah''s eyes.


    He had truly believed that Sandra''s idea was brilliant, that it would change Hannah''s opinion of him.


    He never imagined things would turn out like this, nor did he ever think Hannah would see right through him and know he''d gotten help.


    It just proved that Hannah knew him too well. She could spot even the slightest deviation in his behavior.


    Hannah watched his continued silence, saying nothing more herself.


    For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air grew still, the only sound the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind.


    After about a minute, Lionel finally broke the silence.


    "You''re right. Everything you said is right. I deceived you. I thought that by arranging for Tess toe back, you would be happy. I didn''t realize how disrespectful it was. I asked Sandra what I should do, and she. suggested Ie here and


    apologize to you directly


    At this point, there was no use in hiding anything else. His only option was to offer a


    sincere apology and hope she would see his earnestness.


    Unfortunately, nothing was going ording to n.


    "If Sandra hadn''t told you, would you have ever realized you did


    something wrong? Would you Kave


    just one on thinking your ne


    done Something wonderful?"


    Hannah asked, looking at him with a strange curiosity.


    Lionel nodded without hesitation.


    The moment he nodded, Hannah burst outughing.


    “And if I''m not mistaken, Sandra didn''t just tell you that, did she? She probably told you other things as well I''m curious. Since you''re already here, why don''t we sit down and talk about it?"


    As she spoke, Hannah sent a quick text to Samuel.


    An event this entertaining shouldn''t be missed by Samuel.


    He absolutely had to be here for this.


    Upon receiving the message, Samuel immediately dropped what he was doing and hurried over to find Hannah.


    When Lionel saw Samuel approaching, he knew Hannah must have summoned him. The two siblings were practically inseparable these days.