Chapter 107

A piercing voice echoed from the entrance. "What are you doing?"

Felix gradually lowered his extended arm upon spotting the pair looming in the doorway.

Vincent's features grew grim. Hannah had ended up in the hospital after a vehicle collision, yet she chose not to inform him and instead informed Felix.

Brinley's chest tightened. She'd assumed the car incident was life-threatening, but witnessing Hannah alert and conscious ignited fury within her. Why hadn't the car crash finished Hannah off?

Hannah glanced over at Vincent and Brinley, visibly shocked for a split second, before swiftly averting her eyes. She had zero interest in acknowledging either of them.

Felix raised the water cup once more and offered softly to Hannah,"Would you like another sip?"

Hannah declined with a gentle shake of her head.

Vincent advanced to her bedside, livid. He clutched her wrist with such force that she winced. "You got into a wreck and thought I didn't need to know?"

The scent of perfume on him hit her, and with it came the memory of his frantic cries for Brinley just before she lost consciousness. Revulsion curled in her gut. She jerked away and spoke icily. "Inform you? Weren't you busy with Brinley? |wouldn't dream of interrupting." Vincent's jaw clenched. "I'm concerned about your condition."

"I don't need your concern," Hannah responded with a faint scoff,turning her head aside.

Brinley moved a step closer, affecting the softest tone she could manage. "Please don't misunderstand, Hannah. I abruptly felt unwell, and Vincent stayed by my side out of concern. But once he got the news about your car crash, he rushed here."

With false sympathy, Brinley asked, "Are you doing okay now?"

"Still alive," Hannah replied flatly. "If that's all, everyone can leave. I need quiet." Her eyelids shut firmly, signaling them to go.

Vincent leaned forward to adjust her sheet, suppressing the churning storm inside. "I'll arrange another ride for your parents.Just focus on recovery."

Hannah's lashes flew open. "No need. They won't be showing up."

He froze. Words hovered on the tip of his tongue, but her weary expression silenced him. She was still healing. He turned toward Felix. "Why are you still here?"

Felix held his gaze without flinching. "I'm not done talking to her."

"She's my wife!" Vincent hissed, voice like steel. "Don't forget where you stand. Stay away."

Brinley visibly recoiled at the phrase. Wife. One word alone scorched her with envy.

Felix's eyes turned icy. "Now you acknowledge her as your wife?Where were you when she got hit? Or when she came to?" His gaze shifted to Brinley, who stood firmly beside Vincent."Funny. I thought Miss Gilbert was your wife since you two seem almost inseparable." Vincent's expression darkened, the air around him turning frigid.His voice dropped into a chilling threat. "If you still want your firm to stay afloat, stay far from Hannah. She's not yours to approach."

"I've had it. Leave-every one of you!" Hannah shot upright,her tolerance gone. Though her face was drained of color, she powered through the pain, shoving each of them toward the hallway,one by one.

At last, silence reclaimed the hospital room.

Hannah spent seventy-two hours recovering. Through it all, she declined every attempt Vincent made to visit. She remained in steady communication with Felix, who provided updates on the wristband redesign. The upgraded edition now featured a distress mode: pressing the side button triggered a voice recorder and shared the wearer's coordinates with their emergency contact.

Hannah thought the enhancement was ingenious and offered more upgrade ideas.

Around the same time, an email arrived from SKY Philharmonic,the classical group Sharon adored. Hannah's persistent heartfelt emails had touched the agency-at last, they confirmed they would play at Sharon's seventieth birthday soirée.

It felt like a dream, and Hannah beamed. She quickly composed a formal invite, listed Sharon's favorite compositions, and penned a sincere note of appreciation.

For the first time in weeks, anticipation had stirred inside Hannah. She wanted everything to be magical for Sharon's birthday.

On Sharon's seventieth birthday, Hannah checked out of the hospital with her prescriptions in hand. Though reluctant, the nurses and doctors allowed her release-today mattered far nurses and doctors allowed her release-today mattered far too much for her to miss. Her voice had mostly returned,though her face remained pallid.

Hannah headed to a beauty parlor, hoping to regain some glow.If she appeared frail, Sharon would only grow anxious. She kept her cosmetics minimal-it took half an hour.

Following a stylist's suggestion, she selected a graceful gown in champagne tones and stepped into the fitting booth.

But before the curtain even closed, a shadow surged in, and a cloth clamped over her mouth and nostrils.