Chapter 197

Under Vincent's forceful grip, Daphne cried out in pain, pleading for help from her brother and mother.

Miles, however, didn't intervene. He believed his sister needed this lesson. "We should've taught her better manners," he said to Vincent.

Irene felt distressed watching her daughter suffer, but knew deep down Daphne was in the wrong. Resorting to violence was unacceptable.

Hannah had been on her way out when she heard the thud. She turned to find Vincent with a visible red mark on his forehead.

Hannah's face clouded over. Daphne's hostility toward her wasn't new. She approached, gently freed Daphne's wrist from Vincent's grip, and waved her own hand in front of Daphne's eyes.

Nursing her sore wrist, Daphne snapped, "What are you doing?"

"Oh, so you can see after all," Hannah remarked, lips briefly curving upward before turning ice-cold."If you can see, why are you blind to the truth?"

"Are you insulting me now?" Daphne retorted loudly.

"No, just giving you a necessary lesson," Hannah replied without hesitation."Use your judgment instead of blindly trusting others. How foolish of you to buy whatever Brinley tells you. You're an adult-maybe start using your brain!"

Daphne stubbornly pouted. "Stop trying to drive a wedge between me and Brinley. She's nothing like you."

"Indeed, she's different from me." Hannah raised an eyebrow. "After all, she's currently serving time overseas.I certainly can't match her."

"What?" Daphne froze in shock. Brinley hadn't been reachable for days. Though online rumors about Brinley had surfaced, she'd dismissed them and even defended Brinley.

"You're lying," Daphne instinctively fired back.

"Brinley is in prison. Check it yourself if you doubt me,"Hannah stated plainly. "And one more thing-I put Brinley there myself. If you'd like to experience prison life personally, keep spreading slander. I'm quite familiar with the legal process."

Hannah's mocking smile intensified as she picked up a glass of red wine, splashing it unceremoniously onto Daphne's face. "Keep your apologies. Consider this drink a lesson for your reckless mouth," she said coldly turning sharply and striding away with Vincent following closely behind.

Daphne wiped her face furiously, turning to Miles, tears welling in her eyes. "Miles, why didn't you help me when Hannah humiliated me?"

Miles pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperation evident. "Haven't you caused enough trouble already?"

Irene sighed deeply, genuinely disheartened by the meal's unpleasant end. She liked Hannah, who had barely eaten anything before leaving.

Hannah reached the parking lot.

Vincent caught up swiftly, blocking her path to the driver's side. "Gunter Kirby is dead-beaten by loan sharks," he said.

"Oh." Hannah lowered her gaze, considering that scum deserved it.

She attempted to open the car door, but Vincent stubbornly remained in her way.

Frustration evident, Hannah sighed. "You've said your piece. Let me leave."

Vincent pressed on. "You hardly ate anything. How about we visit your favorite restaurant? They've got a new truffle foie gras dish.Interested?"

"Move!" Hannah replied curtly. "I have no interestin dining with my ex-husband."

Noticing her eagerness to escape, Vincent's irritation flared slightly. "You'd gladly have dinner with a date

Date? Hannah paused briefly, realizing Daphne's careless remarks had led to a misunderstanding.Without bothering to clarify, she calmly responded, "Ten minutes? Two years ago, I called you twenty-nine times while hemorrhaging. Where were my ten minutes then?"

Vincent's pupils shrank, visibly shaken. "What hemorrhage?"

"Don't act concerned now." Hannah scoffed bitterly.""It's far too late." Her eyes were cold with indifference as she uttered those final words.

Vincent's voice softened, complicated emotions evident."I'm sorry."

"If you truly mean it, step aside," Hannah stated firmly, attempting to push past him again.

Vincent remained unmoving. Unwilling to continue arguing, Hannah turned around sharply, heading back toward the restaurant. If he was determined to block her car door, he could stand there all night!

But Vincent quickly followed.

Suddenly, a black car raced wildly toward Hannah.

Before she could react, strongarms pulled her forcefully aside.

They crashed heavily onto the ground, the speeding vehicle narrowly missing them.

Shaken, Hannah tried to rise, but Vincent's grip tightened around her. "Don't move-it hurts," he murmured.

Uncomfortable with their proximity, Hannah struggled, but VVincent pulled her closer, leaving their faces mere inches apart.

Anger flickered in her eyes, but Vincent spoke first, his voice muffled and vulnerable."Can't you stop going on dates with other people?"