At the Rosenberg estate.


    When a staff member announced that Cherry hade to see him, Lionel was stunned for a moment. He asked repeatedly, "Are you sure it''s Cherry from the Temple family and not someone else?"


    The staff member assured him it was indeed Cherry. The girl''s mboyant and arrogant reputation preceded her; everyone knew who she was.


    Lionel wondered what she could possibly want. Had she been unable to speak freely at the Temple estate the other day ande here specifically to talk to him now?


    If so, he needed to see her immediately.


    Lionel ordered the staff to show Cherry in at once.


    "I thought you''d still be angry aboutst time and refuse to see me. I guess you''re more magnanimous than I thought," Cherry said, her tone dripping with mock admiration.


    Lionel took a deep breath, ignoring her flippant, arrogant demeanor. “Why are you here today? Have you had a change of heart?"


    At his question, Cherry fought the urge to roll her eyes. She coughed twice and deliberately nced around the room.


    That one look was all it took. Lionel immediately understood and dismissed the nearby servants.


    The vast living room was now empty except for the two of them.


    "I''ve sent the servants away. You can speak freely now."


    "I''m surprised you''re so quick on the uptake. I am here about something very important."


    Cherry finally dropped the act. "Hannah received a letter and a photo of her mother. I snuck a look at the letter says Hannah has t go to a location alone at 7PM, and they''ll tell her where her mother is.”


    Lionel remained silent, watching her intently. He wasn''t sure where she was going with this, but he didn''t interrupt.


    "I came here today to propose a partnership. Even though you''re not managing the Rosenberg family


    business anymore, you still hauet


    some resources at your disposal. You give me some of those


    resources, and I''ll tell you the address in the letter."


    "Just say what you want to say. There''s no need to beat around the bush. I can give


    you the resources you want, but you need to be clear with me first. I can''t


    understand you when you''re being so vague."


    Hearing this, Cherry dropped all pretense and rolled her eyes right in his face.


    "Sometimes I really wonder if you''re genuinely stupid or just pretending to be. Was I not clear enough?"


    She let out a heavy sigh. "What I mean is, I can give you the address so you can go there ahead of time and lie in wait. The letter demands Hannah go alone. What if it''s a trap to kidnap her or something?"


    She looked Lionel straight in the eye. "The Temples has decided to let


    Hannah go alone. You''re her husband, and even though you''re separated, what if you suddenly showed up to y the hero?


    Wouldn''t that move her? Maybe this one incident would be enough to make her forgive you, just a little. Don''t you think?"


    “Of course, I''m not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I''m here to trade resources—give me what my parents need for their business, and I''ll give you the address."


    If he still didn''t get it after she''d spelled it all out, then he was a lost cause.