Chapter 209

Vincent caught the implication instantly-Hannah hadn't come up to the rooftop by choice. "Someone led you up here on purpose?"

Hannah nodded, brow furrowed in thought. "That person claimed to be a nurse from the hospital, but something didn't feel right. The voice sounded like a man's, but when I tried to break free, I could tell it was a woman."

Earlier, as Hannah grappled with the figure, the contact had made one thing certain-it was a woman. But whoever it was had likely slipped away by now.

Vincent's jaw tightened, his tone deadly grim. "I'll find out who's behind this." Every instinct of his screamed that this had Hoffman's fingerprints all over it-a loyalist making their move.

He stepped forward, offering his arm. "Let's get you downstairs." He bet her parents were probably panicked with worry by now.

Hannah didn't argue-she wanted out of this place just as badly as he did.

With no elevator up to the rooftop, they were forced to take a narrow, winding stairwell.

Vincent steadied her with one arm, his steps uneven from his injured leg, while Hannah-unable to see a thing-clung to his sleeve, the two of them inching cautiously down, relying on each other to keep from falling.

Trying to ease her worries, Vincent shared some hopeful news. "I've arranged for an ophthalmology specialist to fly in. She'll be here in two days to examine you."

At that, Hannah came to a halt, brow creased. "You don't need to go out of your way and do this."

Vincent stepped in front of her, blocking her path with quiet resolve. "It's my responsibility."

She shook her head, her tone stripped of emotion. "It isn't. My temporary loss of eyesight is my own burden -you don't owe me anything."

Since the divorce, Hannah had turned down his favors time and again. Vincent's jaw tensed as he stated,

"Fine. Then consider it a favor between friends."

"I don't keep ex-husbands as friends." Hannah shot back, her tone flat.

He had no answer for that-her words left him standing in silence.

"My eyes are my problem. You don't need to get involved," she added, her voice clipped.

He pressed his lips into a thin line. "I've already set up an appointment with the specialist. She'll see you in a few days. By then, I'll arrange for someone to pick you up. That's all there is to it."

Without waiting for her protest, he slipped his hand into hers and quietly guided her down the rest of the stairs.

Hannah didn't want to drag out the conversation. Whether or not she saw the doctor was her own business -Vincent had no say in it.

They walked the rest of the way in strained silence, neither willing to break it until they finally reached the elevator.

Without warning, Vincent broke the quiet. "Your marksmanship... It was impressive."

She froze, caught off guard.

His voice softened, barely above a whisper. "And I don't want things between us to just end."

She heard every word. Her lips parted, as if 'searching for a response, but nothing came out.

Meanwhile, Hannah's parents had been panicking to the point of nearly calling the police. When spotting Vincent leading Hannah back, Margaret's relief melted away, replaced by fury. She strode over and slapped Vincent hard across the face. "So, it was you who took her away! Haven't you done enough damage to her already?"

A bright red mark instantly bloomed on Vincent's cheek. He didn't say a word-just pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

Raymond stood off to the side, arms folded, his face carved from ice.

Margaret, cheeks still flushed with rage, looked seconds away from lashing out again, but Hannah stepped in before she could. "Mom, stop-this isn't what you think. Some stranger dragged me up to the roof.Vincent's the one who brought me back."

Margaret paused, her anger faltering just enough to let doubt flicker across her face. But she was still displeased with Vincent. "That doesn't change anything. Every time he's around, you end up getting hurt."

Vincent's jaw clenched. Shadows flickered in his eyes.

Raymond gave a silent nod in agreement, his expression grim.

Hannah steered her parents into her hospital room. The door slammed shut behind them, right in Vincent's face.

Meanwhile,Erica had already peeled off her disguise as the nurse, all costume tossed into a dumpster. Not wasting a second, she'd slipped seamlessly back into her own clothes and returned to Vincent's ward to fetch the wheelchair. She'd pushed the wheelchair toward Hannah's room, silently watching as Vincent was scolded.

Once she decided the moment was right, she rolled over, putting on a breathless, worried act. "Vincent,there you are! I've been searching for you everywhere. WNhy didn't you rest in your room? Your mom brought food-she was worried sick when she couldn't find you."

Vincent didn't have much of an appetite. He was barely holding himself up, his body slumped heavily against the wheelchair. The reckless way he'd been moving had split his wound wide open, fresh blood trickling down his leg.

Erica,noticing the fresh bleeding, couldn't help but scold, "Seriously, Vincent? Do you really want to bind yourself to a wheelchair forever?"

He rubbed his forehead, not bothering to answer. Erica wheeled him back toward his ward. A short while later, a nurse carefully rebandaged his leg with practiced efficiency. Holding nothing back, she issued a blunt warning. "If you tear this wound open again, you could do permanent damage. Starting today,you're not allowed to move it at all. Wheelchair only, understood?"

Hearing that,Danica immediately nodded in agreement.

Once the nurse stepped out, Danica pulled Erica into the hallway under the pretense of fetching water.She pressed for details and quickly learned that Vincent had dragged himself around the hospital, risking his injury just to track down Hannah.

Irritation simmering beneath the surface, Danica walked back into Vincent's ward. She spoke softly, forcing calm into her voice. "If you want to thank Hannah, there are a thousand other ways. You didn't have to put your leg at risk for this."

Erica folded her arms and shot Vincent a disapproving look. "Exactly. You need to take this seriously. You two aren't married anymore-there's no sense in putting your life on the line for someone who's moved on."

Danica jumped in with a quick, "That's right!"

Their words grated on Vincent's nerves. He ordered both women out. The moment he was alone, his expression turned icy. He picked up his phone and issued orders for a full security sweep of the hospital staff. Until they caught the culprit, he wouldn't let himself relax.

···

Hannah had spent nearly three days confined to her hospital bed.

Felix and Rena had both stopped by, each bringing business cards for top ophthalmologists they'd managed to track down.

Hannah had taken the contacts with a grateful smile, promising she'd follow up and do everything she could to regain her sight.

What gutted Hannah most wasn't the darkness itself-it was the helplessness, the constant need to depend on others for even the smallest things. Her parents tried to be there as much as possible, but they couldn't stay glued to her side every second.

Just then, a sudden knock jolted Hannah from her thoughts. Heart racing, she slowly straightened. "Who's there?"

A voice she knew all too well broke the silence, oozing with contempt. "Hannah, what's the deal? Are you really blind or just putting on a show?"

It was none other than Daphne.