Lionel started to exin, but Cherry cut him off.


    "For all I know, you set this whole thing up. A ssic hero-rescues-the-damsel ploy, except you were really just testing me, waiting to see if I''d actually cooperate ande tattle to you."


    "Your goal wasn''t to save Hannah at all. It was to see if I''d be your loyal spy. Once I told you, you nned to go in her ce, let them rough you up, and make Hannah feel so sorry for you. Make her think you''re so great, so noble."


    Cherry''s words tumbled out in a rush.


    For a moment, Lionel''s long-winded exnation had almost made sense, and she''d found herself at a loss for a rebuttal.


    Thankfully, she was quick on her feet and had pieced it all together. Otherwise, he might havepletely led her in circles.


    "You''re talking nonsense! How could I do something like that? The letter clearly says Quennel''s name, not mine! Go back and look again!" Lionel eximed, his voice shaking with agitation.


    If he hadn''t opened that letter and seen Quennel''s name with his own eyes, he might have actually fallen for her act.


    But it was definitely Quennel''s name. Why was Cherry insisting it was his? Was she lying to him, or had she misread it?


    Or perhaps Cherry had switched sides and was working for Hannah now. If that was the case, giving them the letter had been a massive mistake he never should have made.


    "I''m not blind. The letter was right there. I walked over and read it carefully, every single word. It was your name."


    Cherry heaved a deep sigh, her expression a perfect mask of wounded innocence. "Hannah was furious when she saw it, you know? She looked angry enough toe after you herself, which is why I got scared and rushed over here. And this is how you treat me? With suspicion? I honestly don''t understand what goes on in that head of yours."


    Lionel''s reaction only confirmed her suspicions that he had, in fact, opened the letter.


    He was afraid of being tricked, afraid of the fallout, which is why he''d passed the problem on to them.


    "Lionel, I''m trying to do you a favor


    here, and all you do is question me. I''ve told you


    I''m done talking to you.


    need to know. If you


    what you need to don''t


    believe me, that''s on you."


    Cherry shot him a withering look, stood up with a cold scoff, and added, "You''ve been warned. Whether you believe me or not is your problem now. When Hannah, shows up, don''t say I didn''t give you


    a heads-up, you hear?"


    Lionel was at aplete loss. What was he supposed to do now that everything had gone sideways?


    After a long pause, he looked at Cherry and finally said, "Go get that letter for me. I need to see for myself if what''s written on it is true."


    In response, Cherry simply raised her middle finger.


    "Who the hell do you think you are? Ordering me to go steal something for you."


    Hearing Lionel''s outrageous demand, Cherry had to fight the urge to walk over and p him across the face.


    She''d thought he might have finally grown a brain, but it was clear he was still the same old idiot.


    "Let''s get one thing straight. We''re partners. I don''t work for you. If you can''t wrap your head around that, then this partnership is over."