My Deceased Wife Wants a Divorce (Hannah) novel Chapter 24

Hate me enough to hurt the people around me?

She instinctively walked toward the master bedroom. The sight of the empty picture frames on the wall was a punch to the gut. She turned away and went into the guest room instead.

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The next morning, as Hannah came downstairs, Lily told her that Lionel had left for work in a hurry, skipping breakfast.

Hannah paid it no mind. She ate with Mrs. Rosenberg Sr. in the dining room and then drove to her new job at the Keystone Group.

She had barely settled at her desk when her new, friendly colleagues pulled her into the break room for some gossip.

“I heard a while ago that Mr. Lionel Rosenberg was married, but did you see the headlines a couple of nights ago? I’m telling you, that woman has to be his wife!” a woman named Anna Laurier declared.

A male colleague holding a mug scoffed. “You’re that sure? Be careful what you say. You could get sued. I heard the reporter who broke that story is about to lose her job.”

“Of course I’m sure! She was discharged from the hospital today, and a man as busy as him went to pick her up personally.” Anna pulled out her phone. “Look, but no pictures!”

In the photo, Lionel was dressed in a sharp, three-piece black suit, carrying a bag in one hand while helping Sandra with the other. Owen followed behind them, laden with two more bags. As Sandra got into the car, Lionel carefully shielded her head from the doorframe—a gesture so practiced and gentle it could only have come from doing it a thousand times.

Hannah stared at the photos, her eyelashes fluttering. She clutched her mug, taking a long drink of water to quell the unease churning in her stomach.

“Ouch!”

“Did you burn yourself?” Anna asked, watching her stick her tongue out. She quickly poured a glass of cold water. “Ms. Green, you’re well-informed. Do you think they’re the real deal?”

Whether it was the sting of the photos or the sight of the shop, she didn’t know, but a new resolve hardened within her. She wanted to sell the jewelry and bags Lionel had given her and convert them into cash.

Her original plan had been to walk away with nothing. But why should she? Lionel was the one who had cheated, who had broken their vows. After all the years she had devoted to him, the one necklace she had ever truly wanted he had given to someone else. What was wrong with securing a little something for herself?

“I do! I’ll send you her contact on WhatsApp,” Anna said, tapping away at her phone.

Hannah added the contact. That evening, back home, she went into her walk-in closet and took photos of several pieces of jewelry and handbags, sending them to the manager for an appraisal. Once they’d agreed on a price, she packed a few jewelry sets and headed out.

She ran into Lionel on the stairs as he was coming up.

He glanced at her attire. “Where are you going this late at night?” he asked coolly.