After hanging up, Quennel let out a long, weary sigh.


    Something was wrong. Very wrong.


    First the kidnapping, and now this. Both incidents had spiraled far beyond his control, not following his script at all.


    Why?


    Could it be that Hannah had figured out he was behind it all?


    What was going on?


    Quennel rubbed his temples. The more he thought, the more his head ached. Ever since she started the divorce proceedings with Lionel, Hannah seemed like a different person.


    She used to be so simple, so easy to read, but now he felt like he couldn''t see through her at all. He had no idea what she was nning.


    Hannah... do you really know everything and are just pretending not to?


    Back at the Temple residence, on the second-floor balcony.


    Hannah had put the call on speaker, so Cherry and Samuel had heard every word of their conversation.


    "Haha, that Quennel is cut from the same cloth as Lionel. He''s just better at hiding it. Good thing we saw through him!"


    Cherryughed, sitting back in her chair with her legs crossed.


    She used to think Quennel was a perfect gentleman, the kind, sunny, ideal older brother. Now she saw his dark side.


    "He''s just scared the elders will follow the clues to the source, find those people, and have them point the finger at him. Then he''d be in real trouble!"


    Samuel stood by the balcony railing, leaning against it as he stared at the spot where the car had long since disappeared. He scoffed.


    "We really can''t underestimate Quennel. It''s a good thing we figured out what he''s really like. Otherwise, we''d still bepletely fooled by him!"


    Samuel felt a wave of bted fear. If


    Lionel hadn''t sent that message from the hospital out of boredom, causing all that unnecessary drama, they never would have started suspecting Quernel in the first ce.


    "Anyway, Quennel is no saint. We can''t let him deceive us." Samuel finished, then looked at Hannah with a serious expression. "I know he was very good to you before, but he''s starting to show his true ambitions. So Hannah, don''t you dare feel sorry for him."


    Samuel was genuinely worried that one day, Quennel would say or do something to


    move Hannah, and she would lose her resolve. That would be a disaster.


    "Don''t worry, I''m not that kind of person," Hannah said, seeing his concern and offering a solemn promise.


    "Since you say so, I''ll believe you. But I''m still going to keep an eye on you," Samuel stated bluntly.


    Cherry chimed in, saying she would too.


    "Who knows what Quennel will do


    when he gets back. We should be careful and prepare ourselves.


    bent on the same lever


    as


    Lionel. That man is terrifying! Samuel said.


    Cherry nodded in vehement agreement. At first, she had been genuinely afraid of Quennel''s retaliation.


    But after Hannah''s phone call, her fear had subsided. Quennel was smart enough to weigh the pros and cons.


    He wouldn''t be foolish enough to make a move like that. He''d have to bepletely insane toe after her now.