"I''m not sure how to exin it," Quennel said, looking at Hannah with a troubled expression.


    "Lionel came to me and told me about it himself, but he didn''t show it to me, so I don''t know what it is exactly."


    Quennel sighed deeply, looking at Hannah with great difficulty as he continued.


    "I''ve also considered that it might be Lionel trying to deceive me. He could be bluffing, especially since the elders bluffed him before. He might be holding a grudge and trying to do the same to me."


    He ced his hands on the table, his long fingers intertwined tightly, his brow furrowed as he spoke earnestly.


    "Honestly, I wasn''t going to tell you. If it''s just a lie Lionel made up, telling you would only make you paranoid and scared, and you might postpone the divorce proceedings, which would be bad."


    "But then I worried... what if Lionel is telling the truth? In that case, we could try to investigate beforehand and find a way to destroy the evidence."


    Hannah listened intently to Quennel the entire time, not interrupting him once.


    Only after Quennel finished and looked at her expectantly did Hannah finally speak.


    But she opened her mouth, then closed it again, hesitating several times before taking a deep, resigned breath.


    Seeing Hannah''s hesitation, as if she were worried about something, Quennel couldn''t help but ask.


    "What is it? Was it something I said?"


    Hannah pressed her lips together and shook her head, then said thoughtfully, "No, it''s just... I can''t figure out what evidence Lionel could possibly have. He probably is just bluffing you."


    Hearing this, a dark, unreadable glint flickered in Quennel''s eyes, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile yed on his lips.


    "Yes, that''s what I thought too.


    That''s why I was so torn about


    whether to tell you. I was afraid


    youd overthink things but I was also


    afraid not to tell you in case was reat and we weren''t prepared."


    "But whether it''s real or not, thank you. It''s better to be prepared than not. I''ll also do some digging to see if it''s true."


    Quennel picked up the teapot again, refilled her cup, and continued, "Yes, it''s best to investigate regardless. I already sent someone to look into it right after Lionel told me


    "You''re seeing him in court next week. We can''t afford any mistakes right now. We have to be careful."


    Quennel poured himself another cup of tea, his gaze fixed on Hannah as he lifted it.


    Just as Hannah picked up her tea and set it back down, a waiter came in with their food.


    "Take a look, is there anything else you''d like?" Quennel asked.


    Hannah shook her head. "This is more than enough. Two people can''t eat that much."


    "Let me know if you change your mind."


    "Okay."


    Hannah picked up her fork, but a sudden chill ran through her. A strange, unsettling feeling crept over her.


    Ever since she realized Quennel had


    ulterior motives, every conversation, every private meeting wil


    incredibly strange and


    felt


    ufortable.


    Like right now. This forced politeness was unbearable.