Chapter 236

The indigo suit, with its distinctive platinum buttons,hit Vincent like a bolt from the blue.

That suit triggered a flood of memories. He could picture it vividly, as if it were yesterday. Hannah had bought that suit.

For the longest time, Vincent had believed she'd chosen it for him. But all the constant arguments and their eventual split had turned everything upside down.

After their divorce, he'd spent ages searching their home for that suit in vain. Once, he'd even wondered if Hannah had taken it with her out of spite during one of their blowups. After all, so much had happened between them, and somewhere along the way, he'd convinced himself she just didn't want him to have it anymore. Still, he never expected to see Miles wearing it. Now that suit's familiar color and fabric felt almost glaring.

A wave of chill swept over Vincent. Was that suit never meant for him? Did Hannah intend it for someone else this entire time?

The thought pierced Vincent's carefully built armor of control, shattering the illusion that any lingering warmth from her was his to claim.

Vincent's hands curled into fists, his knuckles turning pale. Across the room, Hannah and Miles shared an easy conversation, her smile for Miles open and sincere.

Vincent's bitterness mounted. Had Hannah ever looked at hm with that kind of radiant smile? Even back when she'd lost her sight and he devoted himself to her care, that sort of warmth had never been reserved for him.

A shadow passed over Vincent's features as Connor quietly ushered him toward the VIP area.

A server offered Vincent a glass of wine. He knocked it back, chased it with another, and then went for a third, each gulp an attempt to wash away the ache in his chest.

A cluster of business heavyweights, intent on a toast,stopped short, unsettled by the storm brewing in Vincent's eyes.

Erica picked up on the tension radiating from Vincent and chose to remain silently at his side. She hadn't a clue what had triggered him, but one thing was clear.He wasn't looking for conversation.

A full twenty minutes passed before Connor took the microphone, delivering a brief speech before calling out, "Let the dancing begin!"

With a graceful melody flowing from the band,couples drifted onto the dance floor.

Hannah, now a rising name in the business world,became the center of attention almost instantly.

She glided through the crowd in a velvet gown the color of midnight seas, a single diamond necklace catching the light and drawing admiring glances.

A mix of accomplished men, young and old,approached Hannah as her conversation drew to an end.

Felix, standing close, ignored them and flashed her a hopeful grin. "Would you honor me with a dance?"

The air grew thick with tension.

The men hesitated, momentarily thrown off guard.

Felix's hopeful invitation pulled Hannah back to the day he'd confessed his feelings toward her months ago. At that time, she'd turned him down clearly, and now, she didn't want to give him false hope.

That was when Hannah caught movement in her peripheral vision.

Miles stood nearby, deep in conversation with a board member and swirling a glass of champagne.Despite the distance between him and Hannah, when his eyes met hers, a faint, knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Felix reached out, hoping for her hand, but Hannah pivoted away with effortless poise. "I'm sorry, Felix."

The disbelief on Felix's face lingered as Hannah moved right past him, his disappointment sinking in with each step she took toward Miles.

Without missing a beat, Hannah stopped in front of Miles. Her tone was even, her intent clear. "Mr.Whitaker,would you care to join me for this dance?"

Miles didn't miss a beat. He handed off his champagne, dipped his head in a polite bow, and extended his hand toward her. He bowed slightly,offering his hand. "It would be my honor, Ms. Scott."

Hannah slipped her hand into Miles's, and together they swept across the dance floor, capturing the attention of everyone around them.

Felix's defeat couldn't have been clearer. His smile faded, and he tightened his hold on the glass before gulping down what was left and storming out of the hall. Meanwhile, Vincent stood apart on the terrace,surrounded by top-tier executives engaged in weighty discussions.

He looked the part of a composed mogul, wine glass in hand, until his eyes landed on Hannah and Miles spinning across the floor. In an instant, his grip on the glass tightened, knuckles blanching.

Conversations around him blurred into background noise as his stare grew colder, a hint of bitterness taking over.

Elsewhere, a group of socialites traded hushed gossip."Did you see the way Ms. Scott turned down Mr.Wade? Guess they really are just colleagues."

"And Mr. Whitaker? He stepped in right on cue. If it were me, I'd have picked him, too."

"No chance for the rest of us. My gut says Ms. Scott and Mr. Whitakerare totally an item."

Vincent gulped down his wine, set the empty glass aside, and walked purposefully toward the dance