He was starting to suspect that Hannah was the one pulling the strings.


    She hated him so much, it wasn''t out of the question that she''d set a trap for him. But he had no proof.


    Just as Lionel was trying to figure out what to do, the housekeeper rushed in, announcing that Sandra''s parents had arrived. They were demanding to see him and refused to be stopped.


    At the news, a sharp painnced through Lionel''s head.


    He took a deep breath. "Let them in."


    There was no getting rid of them now. He would just have to let them in, try to keep things calm, and deal with the falloutter.


    The moment Mrs. Edith Woods walked in and saw Lionel standing there, she charged at him, her hand raised to strike.


    Luckily, Lionel was quick enough to dodge. Otherwise, the p would havended squarely on his face.


    "Dodging? How dare you dodge me! You have no right to dodge!"


    Furious that she''d missed, Mrs. Woods shrieked, "Lionel, look at the mess you''ve made!"


    "I''m telling you, Lionel, because of you, my daughter is all over the news again! Her mental state is fragile right now, and if you don''t get those headlines taken down immediately, I''m going to the police!"


    Faced with Mrs. Woods''s unreasonable behavior, Lionel felt helpless.


    "Sandra was the one who told Cherry everything. You can''t me me for that," Lionel said, and then a thought struck him. He looked at them shrewdly.


    "Sandra and Cherry hardly know each other. When Cherry went to visit her didn''t she find that suspicious? A near-stranger showing up to see her right away... isn''t that odd? And yet she just sat there and started chatting with her."


    He''d been so fixated on what Cherry said about Hannah that he''d overlooked this crucial point.


    But it wasn''t toote to bring it up now.


    Lionel''s words seemed to make Mrs. and Mr. David Woods realize that something was indeed off.


    Mr. Woods suddenly tugged on his wife''s arm, whispering something in her ear. Her eyes widened in shock.


    "I don''t care! And don''t you try to distract me with this nonsense!" Mrs. Woods red at Lionel and continued her tirade. "I''m asking you about the news headlines. What does it matter if they know each other or not? My daughter just g?t out. She''s using my old phone and doesn''t even have Cherry''s contact information. We didn''t call her over!"


    "Oh! I know what happened. You and Cherry must be acquainted. You sent her to talk my daughter into


    giving up the settlement money


    didn''t you? Well, I''m telling you, not a chance! I don''t care if you and Hannah are getting a divorce or what. I want that settlement, and I''m going to get it!"


    Their divorce and their marital assets had nothing to do with her family. That was his problem!


    Besides, he was obligated to pay the settlement. If he kept stalling, they wouldn''t hesitate to make things ugly!


    "Mrs. Woods, when the Woods family was in trouble all those years ago, I helped you a great deal. Is this really how you''re going to treat me now?"


    Lionel brought up the past through gritted teeth, hoping to appeal to her sense of decency.