My Deceased Wife Wants a Divorce (Hannah) novel 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.”

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.”

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?”

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.”

“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?”

She balled her fists and hammered them against his shoulders, but it was useless. Tears welled in her eyes, and a wave of fury washed 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!”

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.”