My Deceased Wife Wants a Divorce (Hannah) novel Chapter 29

Anna cleared her throat, setting her tray down. “Sorry, that’s my seat. Can’t give it up.”

A flush of embarrassment crossed Sandra’s face as she looked at Hannah, but Hannah was calmly eating her food, seemingly oblivious. The exchange, however, had not gone unnoticed by others in the crowded dining room.

“How strange,” someone whispered nearby. “They came from the same firm. One gets fired, and the other gets into the Rosenberg Group.”

“Just goes to show she wasn’t good enough. No wonder she’s so hostile.”

“Right? If I were her, I’d be too embarrassed to even show my face.”

Hannah tried to ignore the chatter, but one of the gossipers decided to approach her directly.

“Ms. Green, why did you get fired from your old firm? I heard they rarely let anyone go.”

Hannah put down her fork and turned to the woman. “As a fellow lawyer, you should know the consequences of slander. I resigned. I have no idea where you heard that I was fired.”

Her tone was calm, but it held an edge that instantly silenced the woman, who averted her gaze and said no more.

“Or perhaps you think the Keystone Group’s legal department is inferior to the Rosenberg Group’s?” Hannah continued, her voice even. “I resigned through the proper channels and was hired based on my merits. If any of you have an issue with that, you’re welcome to file a formal complaint with the Keystone Group.”

The surrounding tables fell silent. The legal community was small; everyone knew everything. But no one had expected the usually quiet and reserved Hannah to be so formidable. They had intended to belittle her to flatter Sandra, but they had clearly misjudged their target.

After lunch, Anna stepped away to call her boyfriend, and Hannah decided to get some fresh air on the balcony. As she reached the door, she heard a soft, sobbing voice.

“Lionel, I know you mean well, but if I don’t go through the proper channels, people will talk. Maybe it’s better if I just stay at my old firm.”

Hannah leaned against the wall, her eyes fixed on the floor.

“No one is saying anything, I just… I want to get in on my own merit. You’ve already done so much for me,” Sandra sniffled. “My brother is gone, but I’m not so fragile that I can’t stand on my own two feet. Lionel, I know you’ve done a lot for my sake, but… Hannah?”

Not wanting to listen to their drama any longer, Hannah started to walk away, but Sandra had already spotted her.