Lionel didn''t hesitate to call his bluff.


    "If I don''t help you, that file will never get done. And now, I''m agreeing to help you."


    “Lionel, just shut up." Sandra, who had been silent on the side, couldn''t take his arrogance anymore. She stood up and gave him a hard shove.


    "Are you out of your mind? Do you have to make an enemy of the whole world?"


    She red at him, her teeth clenched. "Quennel is offering you a way out. Just take it and stop talking nonsense. Maybe he can actually help you, and you and Hannah can reconcile. Don''t push everyone away! That''s enough, rein it in!"


    “See? Even your mistress has more sense than you. She understands everything, while you understand nothing. No wonder Hannah doesn''t want you anymore. You brought this on yourself, you know that? Now, I''ll ask you one more time. What was it you wanted to say to me earlier?"


    Quennel was surprised that Sandra had dared to intervene.


    It was no wonder Lionel kept her around. Without her, he was truly useless, an absolute fool.


    It was just as he''d said: how could two sons from the same mother be so different? Why was this one so dense, so wed?


    "I said, you mentioned a file you needed me to handle. I''ll do it."


    Seeing his still-arrogant posture, Quennel really didn''t want to deal with him.


    But then he reminded himself not to stoop to his level. All he needed was for Lionel to handle one file.


    Arguing would just be a pointless waste of time.


    "As your older brother, I won''t hold this against you. I''ll have someone email the file to youter."


    Quennel said his piece and turned to leave. Seeing him go again, Lionel immediately called out to stop him once more.


    "I''ve already agreed to handle the file, so shouldn''t you tell me how you''re going to help me? Since this is a partnership, we need to be clears about the terms."  fo


    As soon as he finished, Sandra pulled him back, putting on a cating smile for Quennel.


    "Don''t listen to his nonsense. Just give us the file. We''ll take care of it, I promise.”


    "Lionel, if you have the time, you should really fearn a thing or two from Sandra about how to talk to people how to act. Otherwise with an attitude like yours, even if Hannah forgave you now, there''s no O quarantee you two wouldn''t just keep fighting. You can''t even handle the basics ofmunication."


    Quennel scoffed and walked out.


    Only after he was gone did Sandra sink back onto the sofa.


    "Tell me, are you really out of your


    mind? Why do you insist on


    like that? You''vepletely


    talking


    alienated him now. What was the


    point?"


    "If he wants to partner with me, he needs to rify the terms upfront. What if he''s trying to trick me?"


    “So what if he is? You could just go and tattle to Hannahter!”


    Sandra felt a growing certainty that she couldn''t stay here any longer. The thought of it was terrifying.


    But right now, she had no idea how she was going to get away.