Seeing their expressions, Cherry knew what they were thinking.


    “Shh, I''m not finished. Of course, that''s not all," she said with a knowing look, finally revealing the most important piece of information.


    "The nurse just messaged me. Not long after I left, Lionel was sitting on his bed with a grim look on his face, lost in thought."


    "Then, as if he''d made some momentous decision, he asked her for a half-day leave from the hospital."


    At this, Cherry couldn''t help but raise her eyebrows again, looking at them and lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Now, what could Lionel possibly be doing that would require such a serious expression and an urgent leave of absence?”


    For a moment, the living room fell into a dead silence as the three of them looked at each other. Then, in near unison, they all drew a sharp breath.


    "That''s right, it''s exactly what you''re thinking!" Cherry dered, seeing the understanding dawn on their faces. She gave herself a little round of apuse.


    "I really impress myself sometimes. How do Ie up with such brilliant ideas?"


    If it hadn''t been for her sh of genius, they probably wouldn''t have gotten this information.


    “Looks like the guy is actually going to confront Quennel. Hannah, what''s our next move?"


    They had assumed Lionel wouldn''t do it, or at least that he''d wait a few days before approaching Quennel.


    But they never expected him to be so impatient. Cherry had barely left before he was already asking for leave to go see him.


    And here they were, thinking Lionel had finally grown a brain and would be harder to deal with.


    Turns out, he was just as predictable as ever. Not nearly as clever as they''d imagined—at the end of the day, still aplete fool.


    Hannah considered for a moment, a new idea taking shape in her mind.


    Her eyes lowered slightly as a bright smile spread across her face.


    "Lionel is going there to talk about the letter: I''ll call Quennel right We''ll


    ver too, but we''ll set


    of sight and just listen in.


    Hannah immediately picked up her phone to call Quennel.


    She wasn''t sure if Quennel was really behind it all, but right now, she was happy to do anything that would hurt Lionel.


    Lately, there were moments when Hannah wondered if she had a bit of a cruel streak.


    Why else would she feel such a thrill, such joy, when she was tormenting Lionel?


    It was only now that Hannah could vaguely understand how Sandra Woods must have felt back then.


    Bullying someone was truly


    fascinating, and dangerously


    addictive. No wonder Sandra, with


    nothing better to do


    had enjoyed


    formenting her and getting under


    her skin.


    Lionel called Quennel and, upon learning he was home, drove over to his ce.


    As he entered the living room, he found Quennel lounging on the sofa, lookingpletely at ease, one leg


    crossed over the other, a cup of coffee in han when he heard


    Lionel enter did he slowly raise his


    eyes and scan him from head to toe.


    "Couldn''t this have been a phone call? I have an international video conference


    soon, I don''t have time to waste with you."


    He set down his coffee, his wordsced with a clear thread of disgust.