Chapter 178

Brinley went back to the Jones family home by herself. She sat motionless at the dressing table, her expression hollow, eyes void of life. Vincent didn't believe her anymore-not even a little.

She couldn't just sit by and let everything collapse.

She couldn't go to jail. Her eyes drifted downward to a razor blade lying on the table.

With trembling fingers, Brinley picked it up and gently dragged it across her wrist. The pressure was faint, barely nicking the skin.

It wasn't enough-not nearly enough. If she wanted Vincent to pity her, she needed to bleed.

Clenching her jaw, she pressed down harder, carving a deeper cut into her wrist.

The blade bit into her flesh, sending a sharp jolt of pain through her arm as blood began to trickle down,staining her wrist before dripping to the floor.

She grabbed her phone, took a photo of the wound,and sent it to Vincent. "Vincent, I really messed up.lf my death can make things right, then I'm willing. My only regret is letting you down."

Afterward, she messaged Danica as well, thanking her for everything, and attached the same photo.

To make sure nothing went wrong, Brinley set a timer to alert emergency services. Hannah didn't die, so she couldn't die either.

In the mirror, her gaze turned cold-steeled with resolve.

Hearing footsteps echoing upstairs, she quickly collapsed beside the bed, letting her body go limp,feigning unconsciousness.

Danica had just arrived home when the message came through. Heart pounding, she raced upstairs,calling Brinley's name again and again. But Brinley didn't move. Panic surged through Danica's voice as she ordered the house staff to call an ambulance.

At the hospital, Vincent stood in the hallway,motionless, his thoughts in disarray. Hannah had rejected him twice. With Brinley and Felix no longer obstacles to their remarriage, Hannah still persistently refused him. Fine. So be it. It wasn't the end of the world.

He was the CEO of Jones Group. Surely, he could find a woman more suitable than Hannah. Other women could also win his grandmother's approval.

But still, why did it feel so hard to breathe? What exactly was he so upset about?

Later, he returned to Sharon's hospital room.She had just woken up.

Seeing how pale he looked, Sharon frowned in concern. "You look awful. Are you not feeling well?"

"I asked Hannah to remarry me," Vincent said quietly, voice dull.

Sharon's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful news."

Vincent sank into the sofa, gaze downcast. "She turned me down.Twice."

Sharon didn't look surprised. She had expected it.

"Grandma... Was I really that terrible to her?" Vincent asked,his voice distant.

Sharon met his eyes with a steady look. "It's not about that, Vincent. But you neglected her. You failed her as a husband. After she married you,her smile had faded little by little."

Vincent fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in.

Sharon added gently, "If you're serious about winning her back, don't just say it. Show her. Do the things people do when they're courting-bring her flowers, ask her out to a movie, take an interest in what matters to her. Woo her."

Vincent furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "Forgetit. She's already made up her mind. I won't force her."It almost sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

"You're just being stubborn," Sharon sighed, shaking her head.

Vincent instinctively picked up his phone to check his messages. The moment Brinley's photo appeared on the screen, his expression shifted. But then, he saw Danica's message and exhaled in relief.

His grip on the phone tightened. He suddenly stood up. "Grandma, if you need anything, let Aubrey know.I need to head back to the office."

He felt there was no reason to tell Sharon about Brinley's suicidal attempt.

Sharon waved him off. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Go do what you need to."

Vincent left the room and made his way to the ICU, a heavy regret settling over him. He shouldn't have spoken so harshly to Brinley earlier. If anything happened to Brinley now, how could he live with that,especially after her father and brother had passed away partly because of him?

The same paralyzing dread that had gripped him as a child-the one he felt at seven years old-rose in his chest again,suffocating and cold.