Chapter 117

Vincent didn't budge, his expression unchanging, as though Brinley's words had vanished into thin air.

Brinley's eyes flickered for a second, and the next second,her breaths grew ragged and shallow, her hand fluttering to her chest in a dramatic display.

Danica rushed to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Brinley, are you okay?"

Hannah arched a brow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Not feeling well again, Brinley? It's alright. This time, I went ahead and called an entire medical team for you."

The color drained from Brinley's face as three doctors strode purposefully into the hall, their white coats unmistakable.

Hannah's laughter rang out, low and cutting. "Relax, they're the best in town. You'll get five-star care-even while you're being questioned."

Brinley's face changed drastically. Hannah, that vile woman,had her cornered with no way out. Pretending to faint was no longer an option.

Chaos erupted the instant uniformed police officers swept into the hall. "Who here is Brinley Gilbert?"

Danica instinctively moved to shield Brinley, but Hannah stepped in, shoving Brinley forward with an icy glare. "She's the one you're looking for."

Brinley stumbled straight into the police officers'path "You're under suspicion of disseminating explicit material and "You're under suspicion of disseminating explicit material and inciting violence. Come with us," one officer commanded,his voice sharp and unyielding. "Cuff her and escort her out!"

Brinley twisted in their grasp, desperately craning her neck toward Vincent, calling his name again and again.

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But Vincent never looked up. He just stood there, transfixed by the divorce agreement trembling in his hands.

All around them, the guests whispered in shock as Brinley was led away in handcuffs, the spectacle searing itself into everyone's memory.

The Jones name had taken a vicious hit this day, the family's reputation in tatters.

All around the banquet hall, guests eyed Danica with barely disguised interest, their whispers slicing through her like knives.

Mortified, Danica let her humiliation morph into rage. She rounded on Hannah, shoving her hard. "This is all your fault!You ruined everything. Leave. You're not welcome here."

Her chest rose and fell with frantic anger as she snatched up a glass of wine, poised to drench Hannah.

But Hannah moved fast, seizing Danica's wrist and turning her hand with practiced ease. The wine sloshed out, splattering across Danica's dress and face, streaking her foundation and leaving her hair hanging in sticky clumps.

With a cool, razor-edged smile, Hannah clamped down on Danica's wrist, wringing a sharp yelp from her.

"In a hurry to make a scene, are you? Too bad-I'm not done with you." Hannah's gaze cut into Danica, voice dropping to a dangerous hush. "Tell me-did Brinley give you a document with my fingerprint on it? Something connected to those ten properties?"Danica's eyes darted away, but she tried to sound defiant, even as Hannah's grip tightened. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Let me go!"

Hannah tightened her grip just a little more, voice crisp and cold. "Playing dumb, are you? Let me spell it out for you.The document Brinley had me fingerprint has no legal standing-those ten properties still belong to me."

With a sudden shove, Hannah let go, sending Danica staggering into the edge of a side table, rattling the glassware.

Danica, flustered, fired back without thinking, "Impossible! It's all right there-black and white-the ten properties you signed over are mine again!"

A slow, dangerous smile crept onto Hannah's lips.′′SOyou finally admit it. You were in on Brinley's scheme to abduct me,weren't you?"

Danica's bravado faded, her eyes flickering with panic. She'd only wanted her properties back-maybe she'd heard Brinley had shady ideas, but she'd never asked for details and never thought it would go this far.

Her voice wobbled as she tried to deflect. "I swear, I didn't know. Brinley kept me in the dark-this was all her plan!"

Hannah shot her a frosty, disdainful smile. "You are such a moron. How could a contract signed while | was unconscious be valid? After all your plotting with Brinley, those ten properties you gifted me still belong to me."

Danica faltered, her words drying up mid-sentence.

Vincent's voice sliced through the tension. "What properties are you talking about?"

Hannah flicked a contemptuous glance his way. "The compensation your mother provided for me to leave you." Vincent's gaze swung to Danica, catching her as she quickly looked away, unease painted across her face.

Hannah was done. The ache in her body had grown unbearable,and her patience was gone. She turned to leave, determined to escape the toxic scene.

But Vincent stepped in front of her, cutting off her escape."You're only divorcing me because my mother forced you, isn't that right?"

Hannah didn't hesitate. "That's not it."

His confident mask slipped for a moment.

She moved to brush past him, but Vincent refused to let her go,blocking her way with tense, stubborn shoulders. "How are you planning to explain this to my grandma?" His tone was clipped,demanding.

Hannah's gaze was unreadable, her voice cold and flat. "I'll just tell her the truth."

Vincent's lips curled with a bitter sneer. "The truth? That you cheated? She'd be livid." His voice was edged with a dangerous bite.

Exasperated, Hannah pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. "Then I'll tell her we simply grew tired of each other.That we both fell for someone else."

Vincent shot back instantly, a raw edge in his voice, "I haven't fallen for anyone else."

Hannah gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "Oh, come on,Vincent. I know all about you and Brinley. What's the point in pretending, when you're practically engaged to her already?"

Vincent advanced, his features shadowed with frustration."Who told you I'm getting engaged to Brinley?" She edged away, every muscle tense. "Your mother didn't exactly keep it a secret-she announced it to the whole party.Don't tell me you had no clue."

A flicker of barely-contained fury crossed Vincent's face as he shot Danica a glare. "No one told me. There's nothing between Brinley and me, and I've told you that again and again."

Hannah's lips curled into a cold smile. "I believe what I see.I saw those cozy photos of you and Brinley myself. Don't tell me those were photoshopped." She scoffed, a spark of bitter amusement in her eyes. "You spend all your time accusing me of cheating, but it was you who'd strayed first."

Vincent's chest tightened, words catching in his throat.

"I'll explain everything to Sharon myself," Hannah said, stepping cleanly around him, refusing to meet his eyes. She strode toward the doors where Rena stood waiting, her posture unyielding. "We'll finalize the divorce tomorrow."