Chapter 276
Lionel, caught completely off guard, stumbled back, his head snapping to the side. He stared at Hannah, his eyes wide with disbelief.
SMACK!
A second slap, just as sudden and just as hard.
The sharp sounds echoed in the quiet room.
Hannah shook her stinging hand.
“Lionel, we’ve known each other for years, and we were married for three. I know what you’re going to say and do before you even do it p>
She pointed to the computer screen. “I heard your entire conversation in the living room. I was trying to work, but I forgot to close the security feed. Your soap opera was too compelling to turn off p>
She had almost laughed watching it unfold: Lionel’s feigned impartiality, Sandra’s dramatic remorse, her final, desperate gambit of regretting ever having saved him. Every word had been a calculated blow.
Hannah knew that Sandra’s history with Lionel-saving him, funding his education -was his weak spot. He had always felt indebted to her. Hearing those words would have felt like the world was collapsing around him.
So, she had known he would come upstairs to talk to her. And she knew that, ultimately, he would have tried to threaten or force her to make amends with Sandra. Rather than waste her breath arguing, she had simply cut to the chase.
“Lionel, you can drop the act. It’s disgusting. Your heart has always been with her. I was the one who shouldn’t have gotten in the way. But I’m leaving now, so for the last few days we have together, you and your sweetheart can do whatever you want p>
“You could have sex right here in front of me, and I’d hand you a condom. Just, for the love of God, stop bothering me. Now get out p>
Lionel’s face darkened, and he clenched his jaw at her crude words.
“Hannah, what are you trying to say? That’s completely out of p>
SMACK!
Another slap cut him off before he could finish.
“Out of line? Search your nonexistent conscience and tell me what you really came up here to say. That you were going to threaten Sandra inte apologizing un forgave her
Lionel, we’re not children. Let’s not
lieto
ourselves p>
“Or are you going to swear that’s all you wanted to say?” She sneered, grabbing his arm and dragging him toward the door.
“Lionel, you are the most spineless man I have ever met. To call you a failure would be a compliment Now go call your precious girlfriend and comfort her. And don’t interrupt my work again p>
She shoved him out of the room and slammed the door, locking it behind her. She returned to her desk, closed the security feed, and went back to work, her
emotions already back in check.
Lionel stood in the hallway, taking deep breaths. He turned to look at the closed door, a sharp, twisting pain in his chest.
She was right. He had come up here to convince her to forgive Sandra But the moment he saw that she had been watching, he had panicked and led, a reflex so ingrained that it frightened him.
When had he become this person?