Chapter 171

Hannah turned her head, wanting to wipe her tears,but when she noticed the IV line in her hand, she simply lowered it. "I wasn't crying," she said awkwardly.

Vincent turned his head, catching her expression. He leaned in slightly. "Your eyes are red. Still denying it?You were worried about me." It was a quiet, confident observation, delivered with a faint smile.

"I was just worried you'd drop dead in a foreign country and I'd be the one stuck claiming the body,"Hannah replied flatly, stepping back a few paces."Your grandmother would've been heartbroken."

"So you were indeed worried," Vincent said, the cloud hanging over him the past few days lifting in an instant. That stab wound? Totally worth it. His voice turned playful. "Doesn't that mean I still hold a place in your heart?"

Hannah's brows drew together as she shot him a look. "Sounds more like the knife missed your stomach and scrambled your brain. That's the only way you'd come up with something so ridiculous."

Vincent didn't argue. He was in far too good a mood to be bothered.

Still, Hannah hadn't forgotten the scare earlier."Why weren't you resting? Why were you wandering around?"

"I didn't like the bed in that room," Vincent answered without hesitation, like it was the most reasonable explanation in the world. His gaze remained fixed on her. "So I had them move me to another room."

"You're completely spoiled," she muttered.

Vincent pointed to the bandage on his abdomen."The injury makes it hard to sleep. I figured a better bed might help."

Hannah narrowed her eyes. "And why exactly are you telling me this?"

"I just didn't want any more misunderstandings between us," he replied, eyes locked on hers, his tone serious. "From now on, if there's anything unclear, I'll explain it."

His voice was so sincere that it gave her goosebumps. She grabbed the IV bag from his hand."No need. I'm just your ex-wife. You don't owe me explanations."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked back to her hospital room.

Vincent followed her, grinning. Then, without warning, he scooped her up into his arms.

Startled, Hannah squirmed as curious eyes from hospital staff and patients followed them.

"What are you doing?" Hannah squirmed, and Vincent winced with a hiss.

Hannah stopped struggling the moment she saw the pain flicker across his face. "Put me down," she whispered, voice trembling with urgency.

"Don't move. It hurts," Vincent said, his face pale.

"Then why on earth are you still carrying me?"

"I wanted to carry you back," he replied.

Faced with his stubbornness, Hannah had no choice but to let him.

Inside the hospital room, Vincent gently placed her on the bed and hooked up the IV bag.

The television was on, playing a news segment-Paige's face appeared on the screen. Mist Bar had been raided, and she was now a wanted fugitive.

Vincent's expression turned cold. His people had already alerted the authorities, but to him, the consequences still felt too lenient. Worried the broadcast might bring up painful memories for Hannah,he stepped over and turned off the TV.

When he didn't leave, Hannah gave him a look. "Why are you still here? Do you need something?" "I just tore my wound open again because of you,and now you want to kick me out?" Vincent said with a wounded expression.

.Hannah stared at him blankly. "Don't act like it was for me. You were just showing off."

Vincent had no comeback-but he didn't leave,either.

Seeing how stubborn he was being, Hannah decisively pressed the call button.

Vincent looked at her IV, assuming she must be feeling unwell.

A moment later, a nurse walked in with a new IV bag.She glanced up, clearly annoyed. "This bag's still half full. Why'd you press the button?"

Vincent opened his mouth, but Hannah cut in and pointed at him. "It wasn't me. He moved too suddenly earlier and reopened his wound.Can you take a look?"

Vincent blinked. So, Hannah had called the nurse for

him. If she cared that much, didn't that mean he still mattered to her? A small smile tugged at his lips.

The nurse walked over and lifted his shirt. "Tsk. This much bleeding-and you didn't feel it?"

Hannah looked over, frowning when she saw the gauze soaked through with blood.

The nurse chided gently, "Bet you wouldn't have kept toughing it out if your girlfriend were not around.Don't be so stubborn-your health comes first."

Vincent thoroughly enjoyed hearing the nurse referring to Hannah as "his girlfriend."

Hannah quickly corrected, "Ex-wife. I'm his ex-wife,not his girlfriend."

But before the last syllable had fully escaped her mouth, the door creaked open, and in walked a familiar figure.