Lily looked at Heather. Despite Heather's mask during their earlier altercation, Lily sensed a change; the oppressive feeling was gone. Ralph misinterpreted Lily's gaze as hostility, shouting, "Hey, I'm talking to you! Did you hear me? Alex, is this how you teach her to behave?"

"Well, I don't know how," Alexander replied, preempting Ralph's mockery. "Why don't you show me?"

Ralph was speechless. Teach Heather how to behave? Are you kidding me? I'm lucky she doesn't beat me to death. How am I supposed to tell her what to do? Instead of admitting his fear, he coughed. "You know Heather was injured because of you, and yet you're playing games? Apologize now!"

Alexander glanced at him, then at Hannah. "Sure," he said, taking two steps toward her.

Hannah felt overwhelmed by his imposing presence, goosebumps rising as she tensed, clenched her fists, and took a step back, her lips pursed. She avoided his eyes, her gaze drifting to the ascending elevator, wishing for its faster arrival. She was accustomed to emulating Heather in public, but her fear was uncontainable.

Fixing her gaze on the elevator's ascending numbers, she said casually, "Ralphy, why waste our time with these uncouth people? I don't want to see them. Let's go."

Ralph, eager to impress Hannah and relieved at her suggestion, cleared his throat. "Heard that? My woman is far more cultured than yours! Take my advice: don't bring just anyone home. Not everyone's Russell family material, got it?"

"Since Heather says to let it go, I won't hold it against you, nephew. But remember, I won't go easy on you if you bully my woman again!"

The elevator arrived, and Hannah quickly retreated to Ralph's side, who pressed the parking lot button. Alexander and Lily watched them leave.

With cold sweat beading on his back, Ralph breathed a sigh of relief. Despite his earlier threat, he knew he couldn't handle Alexander's defiance. Straightening his back, he tried to appear less defeated to Hannah. "Hea—Annie, are you all right?"

Hannah, her back to him, remained tense, her knuckles white from the tightness of her fists, though concealed. She was unnerved, finding Alexander as intimidating as her sister. She resolved to avoid him in the future.

The encounter extinguished Hannah's desire to continue their outing. Facing Alexander, she realized she could never truly be like Heather. No matter how much we look alike, or how I try to act like Heather, we're different. Heather would never have been scared of him!