Chapter 81
“Instead of wondering who’s behind this, you should be asking yourself why you abandoned Hannah that day. You took the call but never went to help her. You feel absolutely no remorse, do you, Lionel? And don’t think I don’t know about you giving that project to your little friend. I’ve already taken it back p>
For a moment, Lionel didn’t know which accusation to be angry about first. He could only glare at his brother, his jaw tight.
“These are Rosenberg family projects, not toys for you to placate your mistress with!” Quennel set down his cup and stood, looking down at Lionel. “If you dare hurt Hannah again, I’ll make the Woods family your next big problem p>
Upstairs, Hannah finished her call checking on Mrs. Rosenberg Sr.. She couldn’t bear to wait until morning, so she decided to head downstairs.
“Quennel’s gone p>
She saw Lionel sitting alone on the sofa, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. A thin veil of smoke shrouded his handsome face, and she knew he only ever smoked in front of her when he was deeply troubled.
“Lionel, come with me to see Grandma later,” she said.
He acted as if he hadn’t heard her.
“I’m talking to you. Did you hear me?” Hannah stepped forward, waving her hand through the smoke hanging in the air.
Lionel took a final, deep drag from the cigarette before crushing it into the ashtray. “For Grandma’s sake, we’ll keep the divorce quiet for now. I’ll keep up the act with you in front of her after we sign the papers p>
“Are you done?” he asked, his voice low and heavy.
Hannah clutched her phone, her knuckles white. She had no idea what Quennel had said to him, but it had clearly triggered a dark shift in his mood.
“Is it my fault Grandma’s in the hospital? You can be angry, but you can’t blame me for that! You were the one standing at the door with Sandra in your arms. Now that something’s happened, you’re blaming me? Lionel, are you even a man p>
The words had barely left her mouth when Lionel shot to his feet. Startled, she stumbled back, but he caught her wrist, pulling her hard against his chest.
“Have you forgotten what kind of man I am p>
Sandra’s words from the elevator echoed in his mind as he looked
નોટ
down at the in his arms. She was started her shoulders hunched in a way that would make anyone’s heart ache.
“Hannah, has it been so long since I held you that you’ve forgotten I’m your husband?” Lionel’s large, powerful hand slipped under the hem of her shirt.
“You saw me with Sandra, but what about you?” he growled, his teeth clenched. “First it was Yves, now it’s
Quennel. How many men are yo
going to line up before you
satisfied p>
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! Let me go p>
Hannah tried to wrench his hand away, but he silenced her with a brutal kiss.
“Mmph p>
She balled her fists and hammered them against his shoulders, but it was useless. Tears welled in her
eyes, and a wave of fury washeet
over her She opened her mouth and bit down hard on his lip, the metallic taste of blood instantly flooding her senses.
Lionel released her, his thumb brushing away the blood from the corner of his mouth. A shadow of pain flickered in his eyes.
Hannah gasped for breath, scrambling back a few steps, her eyes wide with fear and vigilance. When she saw him take a step toward her, a raw scream tore from her throat.
“Get away from me p>
She frantically scanned the room for something-anything-to use as a weapon, but there was nothing. Tears streamed down her face.
“You hate me that much?” Instead of leaving, he closed the distance between them, pulling her back into his embrace. “Hannah, you used to love it when I held you p>