Chapter 118

One by one, the guests trickled out afer Hannah's departure, their curiosity barely masked behind polite farewells. What they'd witnessed tonight would keep tongues wagging for weeks.

Inside the house, staff swept through the rooms, clearing glasses and quieting chaos, while Vincent stood motionless, as if turned to stone.

Danica stepped closer and tugged gently at his sleeve. "Vincent, they took Brinley in. She's at the police station. Don't you think you should check on her? She's completely alone."

He turned on her, his tone sharp and cold. "Is this what you wanted? Hannah and l-it's over. The divorce is coming."

Danica faltered, her voice catching before she found it again. "Everything I did was for your own good.Hannah was never a match. Her background is just too ordinary. You deserve better."

With each word, her confidence swelled, justifying her choices."|fyour grandmother hadn't insisted on that marriage, I would've never let someone like Hannah marry into our family."

Vincent said nothing.

She softened her voice, hoping it would reach him. "Divorcing Hannah is the right choice. There are plenty of women out there better than her. Brinley, for one-you two go way back."

Vincent gave her a look that made her take a step back. "How many times do I have to say it? I don't like Brinley. You seem so fond of her. Maybe you should marry her instead of urging me to."

Danica stared at him, stunned. "Vincent, how can you speak to me like that..."

Vincent didn't let her finish. "Stay out of my business from now on."

Danica opened her mouth to argue, but he was already moving, taking the stairstwo at a time and vanishing from view before she could say a word. Left behind with her thoughts, she called out after him, "The police took Brinley. You need to do something about it-fast."

Vincent offered no reply.

Hannah was escorted back to her apartment in Sterling Heights by Rena.

Throwing a party had been Rena's original plan, a celebration of single life, but Hannah's injuries changed her mind.

Stepping into the elevator, Rena filled the silence with grumbles about Vincent, her words sharp with resentment.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Heated in their conversation, they stepped out, clueless about the wrong floor, and stopped cold at the sight greeting them.

Miles stood at his door, which was ajar, with his cat batting at the threshold. A young woman leaned in close, rising on her toes, trying to steal a kiss.

Miles pulled back, which sent her-off balance and nearly into his chest. He caught her with one hand-not gently-and held her back. "It's late. You should go."

"But can't I stay the night?" she asked, tilting her head. "If I go now, your sister's going to blame you."

"Please leave," Miles said, his tone turning to ice.

With a huff and a sharp stomp, the woman spun on her heel and walked off.

That was when Hannah blinked out of her daze and reached for Rena's arm, urging her back toward the elevator.

Just then, the cat looked their way, let out a high-pitched meow, and darted straight for them.

Miles had already noticed them. His voice carried across the hallway. "Didn't know you took up spying, Ms.Scott." Caught off guard, Hannah stumbled over her words. "I... I didn't mean to.I got off on the wrong floor."

His expression clouded. "Snowball, get over here."

The cat, completely ignoring him, rubbed affectionately against Hannah's legs.

Recalling his allergy to cat fur, Hannah gently picked the cat up and started toward the door with careful steps, placing the white cat at the doorway.

Once the kitten walked back inside the house, the door slammed shut in her face, making her flinch.

Without missing a beat, Rena tugged Hannah into apartment 2201 and shut the door behind them.

Once inside, Rena exhaled and leaned back against the wall. "That was intense. What are the odds Miles lives in the same building?"

"Didn't see that coming, either," Hannah murmured, sinking onto the couch andrubbing her temple."1"m meeting with Vincent tomorrow to finalize the divorce. I want it clean-no last-minute drama."

Without another word, she unlocked her phone and tapped out a message to Vincent.

Propping her chin in her palm, Rena studied Hannah with narrowed eyes. "You seem to have changed these days."

That made Hannah glance up, curious. "What do you mean?"

"There was a time when your whole world orbited around Vincent. I'm serious-you were completely wrapped up in him. I came over thinking I'd need to pick up the pieces, but here you are, not a trace of heartbreak."

Although the banquet incident lingered in the back of her mind, Rena kept her questions to herself, not wanting to reopen any fresh wounds. Hannah's composure, though, settled her nerves.

A soft smile touched Hannah's lips. "I've outgrown all that. I'm not all about love anymore. Ending things with Vincent isn't the end of me-it's the start of something better."

"That's the spirit. I'm truly happy for you," Rena said as she pulled Hannah into a hug, warmthvoice.