Chapter 228

Rocking gently in the chair, Hannah let herself soak up the sunlight with her eyes closed. A soothing comfort settled over her, putting her at ease.

The sound of Vincent's voice, rougher than usual,drifted across the room."You're back."

Blinking open her eyes, Hannah repolied in a quiet tone, "Yes. Dr. Heidemann wanted me to come for a follow-up."

All the medical equipment required for her checkup was here, which prompted her visit.

Instead of speaking, Vincent simply watched her,silent and attentive.

Time passed before he finally broke the silence."How have things been for you lately?"

With a casual shrug, Hannah said, "Things have been

Lewis & Clark Grad School alright."

Behind that simple answer, plenty of worries had piled up. Her parents had struggled to tend to her daily needs, and while she'd wanted to hire some help, they'd been determined not to spend extra money. A lifetime spent saving every penny had convinced them they could handle everything themselves.

That stubbornness had led to arguments, leaving Hannah hurt and frustrated more than once. Her parents' way of seeing things was very different from hers.

She hadn't cared much for public opinion, but her father always had. His pride had kept him from letting others know his daughter had lost her sight, even though she would restore her sight after the upcoming surgery. Because of that, he'd refused to let her go out, insisting it was for her own good.She'd understood where he was coming from.

Just to get permission to see the doctor at the villa,she'd had to convince her father for quite some time. Finally reaching the villa, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Vincent swallowed hard before he spoke. "You know you'll be having surgery soon, right?"

Hannah gave a small nod. "I know." She followed it up with a quiet. "Thank you."

Her appreciation came from the heart.

A slight crease formed on Vincent's brow. "You've said 'thank you' many timnes." To him, her politeness was her way of putting distance between them.

Hannah kept her tone calm. "It's only fair to express my gratitude. You've done a lot for me."

Vincent's gaze was fixed on her. "Your surgery is just a few days away. Stay here and get plenty of rest."

Hoping to soften the impact of his words, he added,"Does that sound alright to you?" He wanted to make sure there were no complications before the surgery. Hannah thought for a moment, recalling the conflicts with her parents, and finally agreed. "Alright, but l have one condition-I want my independence respected."

A slight crease formed between Vincent's brows."just want you to be safe."

No response came from Hannah. She stood her ground in silence.

Vincent noticed the stubborn set of her jaw, so he finally gave in. "'If that's what you want, I'll respect it."

Over the following two days, Vincent took care of every detail. He instructed Derek to book his flight,and all his trusted employees at the company were informed of his plan to flee abroad.

Every night, Vincent made a point of sleeping at the Jones estate so his grandmother would not worry and suspect a thing.

The last day before the surgery, as the evening settled in, Vincent caught sight of a caregiver

bringing medication toward Hannah's door.

The clock on the wall read just past seven.

On impulse, he stopped the caregiver. "Let me bring it to her this time."

"Of course."

Tomorrow marked the day for her retinal transplant.Post-surgery, he would leave the country, and she would return to her old life dynamics. There wouldn't be any more chances to talk after tonight.

Raising his hand, Vincent knocked lightly on Hannah's door. "It's time for your medicine," he announced.

The sound of his voice, low and calm, made Hannah pause."Why are you bringing the medicine today?"

With a casual air, Vincent offered an explanation."The caregiver got tied up for a bit."

Hannah wasn't convinced. There were plenty of staff,but she let it go without saying more.

Vincent's hand reached for hers, guiding her fingers carefully so she could feel the cup and the small pill in his palm."Take the pill with water."

Following his guidance, Hannah took the pill and then sipped the water, the water chasing away the pill's bitterness.

Finished with the medicine, she returned the cup.Vincent took it from her with care, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against hers, leaving a lingering warmth.

Vincent remained rooted to the spot, not making any move to leave.

A sudden hush settled over the room, as if the air itself held its breath.

Hannah could feel his gaze fixed on her for quite a while, the weight of his attention impossible to ignore.

Breaking the silence, Vincent finally said,"Everything's in place for your surgery tomorrow." A quiet "mm" escaped Hannah as she nodded, yet her heart started to pound faster at the thought of what awaited her. Uneasiness lingered, nerves tightening in her chest.

Taking a deep breath, Vincent's words came slower and heavier than usual. "Dr. Heidemann is among the best. The entire surgical team is top-notch, and she's confident the chances for a good result are high."

With her fingers wrapped tighter around the cane,Hannah whispered, "Alright."

She understood his omission of the risks, all for calming her nerves.

Silence returned, and Hannah sensed Vincent getting closer.When she furrowed her brow, ready to voice a question, Vincent acted. No hesitation marked his movement. There was nothing uncertain about it.

In a sudden rush, Vincent bent down, his hand closing firmly around the back of her neck, the grip unyielding, while his other hand clamped over her wrist, the one that had just dropped, his knuckles pale from the force he'd used.

A moment later, his lips crashed against hers with undeniable force