What had happened to their rtionship?


    How did things that started so well end up like this?


    He couldn''t figure it out, couldn''t see it clearly, and had no idea what to do next.


    That night, Lionel didn''t sleep at all. His mind was a chaotic reel of memories, ying back the moments when he and Hannah first met.


    They had been so good to each other back then, trusting each otherpletely. So why? Where did it all go wrong?


    He didn''t know. He couldn''t understand. All that filled his mind was a fog of confusion, leaving no room for any other thought.


    Pain and bewilderment tormented him, threatening to consume him entirely.


    It wasn''t until the sky began to lighten at dawn that drowsiness finally imed him, and he fell into a heavy sleep.


    Throughout the night, his dreams were a relentless montage of their shared past, a turbulent mix of joy and sorrow.


    When he finally awoke, it was alreadyte at night.


    He sat on the bed for a moment, lost in thought, and then made a decision.


    He had kicked Sandra out of the house today. He had to tell Hannah about it, to make her believe him.


    The Temple family estate.


    Lionel was shocked that Hannah had agreed to let him in without an appointment. It waspletely unexpected.


    He sat on the sofa, waiting for a long time before he heard footsteps. But when he looked up, it wasn''t Hannah approaching him, but Cherry.


    "Well, hello there. This must be our first time meeting, right?"


    Cherry walked over, her greeting overly enthusiastic.


    "Are you looking for Hannah? So sorry, she and Samuel went out shopping. They don''t have time for you. But since you''re already here, we couldn''t just turn you away could We?"


    She looked Lionel up and down, noting his grim expression. He was clearly not happy to see her.


    But that didn''t matter. He had no right to see Hannah anymore.


    Cherry asked, "Or are you so displeased to see me that you''d rather leave? You can


    go if you want, but I can''t guarantee we will let you in next time."


    "I heard you bullied Hannah when she first came back, is that right?"


    He had heard about what happened when Hannah first returned to the Temple family.


    "That''s right, did. So what? Hannah forgave me. What can I say? I''m a Temple, after all. Hannah has a soft spot for me. Not like some people who bullied her for years and still haven''t been forgiven. You must be so jealous of me, aren''t you?"


    Cherry raised her eyebrows smugly, watching his face darken as she relentlessly twisted the knife.


    "Or are you trying to stand up for


    Hannah now? Teach me a lesson on her behalf? But what right do you


    have? You''re just Hannah''s


    ex-husband. If you want to fighte


    battles, you should first consider you''re even qualified."


    Yesterday, she had nned to teach Lionel a lesson whenever he showed up. She


    hadn''t expected him to serve himself up on a tter so soon.


    It seemed fate had destined her to help Hannah deal with this idiot.


    Samuel had told her Lionel was a special kind of fool with a twisted way of thinking, but she hadn''t believed him at the time.


    But seeing him in person and hearing him speak, Cherry was now thoroughly convinced. The man was truly sick in the head, and it was a serious case.