If she hadn''t been so smart and savvy, if she had instead kept picking on Hannah like Lionel did, her fate would have been the same as his.


    In a way, she was the sessful version of Lionel—a perfect example of what he should have done.


    Lionel heard Cherry''s words and shot her a furious re. He stood up, looming over the woman on the couch, and snarled through clenched teeth.


    "I came here to see Hannah, not you. I don''t have time to waste with you. Say whatever you want; it has nothing to do with me. Since Hannah isn''t here, I''m leaving!"


    Just as he turned to go, the servants stationed outside promptly shut the door.


    Lionel''s brow furrowed as he stared at the closed doors, then he spun around to re at Cherry.


    "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.


    "That means you don''t get to just waltz in and out of here as you please. Hannah will be starting her new job in a couple of days and doesn''t have time to y your games. If you have something to say, you can say it to me."


    Cherry raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with scorn. "If you think you''re going to talk to Hannah, that''s practically impossible. I''m being generous here, offering to listen to you out of the kindness of my heart. If what you have to say is useful, I might consider passing it along to her. But if it''s useless, then the words will die with me.''


    Lionel stood there, seething with humiliation. He stared at the arrogant woman on the sofa, a storm of anger brewing inside him.


    But even now, he wasn''t sure if he should confide in her.


    11


    What if he told her, and Hannah saw it as him getting close to another person who had hurt her? Would that only deepen her resentment?


    But if Hannah had truly forgiven this girl, then maybe telling her was the right move. Perhaps she would, actually pass on his message and Hannah, upon hearing what he''d done, might see him in a different light.


    It felt like a coin toss, and he had no idea which side wouldnd up.


    As he hesitated, Cherry suddenly stood and walked right up to him.


    She jabbed a finger at his chest, enunciating each word. "You don''t have the luxury of hesitation. You will speak, right here, right now. Otherwise, I''ll have you locked in the Temple family''s basement just like you did to Sandra. Flock you up down there, where no one will ever find you."


    Cherry couldn''t help but think how amusing that would be.


    Lionel pped her hand away and took two steps back, putting some distance between them.


    After a long, hard thought, he decided to just tell her. It wasn''t exactly a state secret, after all.


    He took a deep breath and began. “I came to tell Hannah just one thing. I kicked Sandra out. She''s locked up in the old Rosenberg family basement. I will have no further contact with her. Our rtionship is over, for good."


    When he finished, a dead silence fell over the living room.


    Cherry pressed her lips together, thinking for a moment before speaking in a tone of disbelief. “So, that''s your reason foring here today? Just to say that? Are you sure?"


    "Yes. That''s what I came to say. And you will ry every single word to Hannah. Do you understand?"


    "I refuse."