Chapter 106

Not even half a plea escaped Derek's lips before Vincent ended the call without a hint of sympathy.

Hannah felt bitterness consume her. No concern, no patience -Vincent didn't even bother pretending when it came to her.There had been a foolish, fleeting second when she'd thought maybe, just maybe, he would fetch help for her. What a joke.

Aik caught painfully in Hannah's chest. The blow left her reeling,the world tilting around her. Shapes blurred as her eyelids fluttered. Doctors and nurses moved in, carefully transferring her to a stretcher.

After that, blackness swallowed everything.

Rushed into Dorbarrow Hospital, Hannah underwent test after test while Derek prowled the hallway, nerves wound tight with dread and guilt.

All he had to show for the crash was a shallow cut on his forehead. Hannah, though, looked far worse off.

Eventually, the exams ended, and a physician stepped out to deliver the news: she'd suffered a concussion and several scrapes, but nothing life-threatening if she got proper rest.Derek felt some of his worry lift at last.

For hours, Hannah remained unconscious, lost to the world until morning. When her eyes finally opened, the first thing she registered was that Derek was safe. Relief, faint but real, eased the tension in her heart.

"You're finally awake, Mrs. Jones," Derek said, his voice raw and guilt-ridden, eyes rimmed red. "I'm so sorry. If I hadn't been so guilt-ridden, eyes rimmed red "I'm so sorry if I hadn't been so careless, none of this would've happened The police say it's just a regular accident"

"It isn't on you," Hanmah replied, forcing steadimess into her tone despite the sharp ache in her belly and the colorless look on her face."I'll be fine."

Without another word, Derek bowed his head, the silence heavy between them.

Seeing the exhaustion etched on his face, Hannah encouraged him to go home and try to get some sleep.

Darkness eventually blanketed the city, and Hannah,propped up against her pillow, requested a phone from the attending nurse. She dialed her parents' number.

No mention was made of the crash-she simply told them that work had suddenly come up and she couldn't meet them at the station. Predictably, her parents scolded her through the phone.At least they hadn't wasted the whole evening waiting around at the terminal.

Raymond's voice sounded tired. "If work's got you tied up, then let Vincent come fetch us. This banquet is important, and we should really be there."

Margaret's agreement followed swiftly. "Exactly. They invited us, after all."

An uneasy silence lingered on Hannah's end before she finally admitted, "Mom, Dad, please don't go through the trouble.Vincent and I-we're getting a divorce. You won't need to meet him anymore."

"Divorce?" Margaret's voice broke with shock.

Raymond took control, speaking firmly into the receiver. "It's for the best. That family never fit us anyway. Let's not force something that doesn't belong. We'll skip the banquet and just something that doesn't belong. We'll skip the banquet and just head home. After everything's settled, your mother and I will come to get you."

A simple "Alright," was all Hannah managed. Once the call ended, she let the quiet settle over her, staring into the stillness until a shadow filled the doorway.

Felix burst in, breathless and anxious. "Hannah-are you okay?"

Her lips lifted in a weary smile, pale but genuine. "What brings

you here,Felix?”

"The app for your hormone-tracking wristband pinged your location at the hospital. The moment | saw it, I rushed straight here," Felix replied, anxiety lacing his words.

Settling into the chair at her bedside, he studied her closely."What happened,Hannah? Why did you end up in the hospital?"

With a gentle tone, she offered reassurance. "It was just a car accident. Nothing serious."

Actually, the whole ordeal had sparked fresh ideas about the wristband project they'd been pouring their efforts into. She gazed at Felix, sharing her thoughts. "Felix, I realized there's a flaw in the design-right now, the wristband can't pick up on emergencies-"

He didn't let her finish. "Let's talk shop after you're out of here.For now,you need to rest and heal."

That gentle rebuke brought a silent nod from Hannah,who let the topic drop.

Meanwhile,in another ward of the same hospital, Brinley faded in and out of awareness after "accidentally" taking something she was allergic to. Thankfully, a few hours of rest brought her color and strength back.

News from the doctor finally gave Vincent hope: she was out of danger.

He hadn't left her side all night, fatigue etched deeply on his face.

Right then, Vincent's phone vibrated with an incoming call When he looked, Derek's name showed up-along with a string of missed calls. Vincent answered right away.

Relief and urgency poured out as Derek spoke. "Finally! I've been trying to reach you-your wife was in a car accident!"

"How bad is it? Was she seriously injured?" Vincent's voice came out strained, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Fortunately, it wasn't too serious. She woke up earlier today."

A quiet "Alright," was all Vincent said before hanging up.

Eyes dropping to Derek's message with the ward number,Vincent wasted no time. He turned to Brinley. "I have to step out for a bit. I'll be back soon."

He barely got the words out before Brinley swung her legs off the bed, stepping in front of him to block his path.′′Vncent-was that about Hannah? Did something happen?"

"She was in a car accident."

Mock alarm widened Brinley's eyes. "Oh my! Is she okay? Let me come with you."

Feigned worry painted her face, but inside, her thoughts churned with anticipation-a twisted hope that Hannah's injuries might be worse than her expectation,ideally fatal.

In just a few minutes, Vincent and Brinley reached Hannah's hospital room. Through the open doorway, they caught sight of Felix seated at the bedside, carefully pressing a tissue to Hannah's lips. The scene between them was intimate, almost Hannah's lips. The scene between them was intimate, almost wordless-two people so attuned to each other that they seemed to fit naturally together.