Chapter 251

In the auction house's delivery hall, Vincent was moments away from stepping into the private elevator when a familiar voice brought him to a sudden stop.

Across the polished floor, Claude led Hannah by the hand toward a glass display. "Come on. Let me show you what l snagged tonight."

Inside the case gleamed the treasures Claude had acquired-a diamond-and-enamel brooch and a rare art deco desk seal,both catching the light.

Claude turned to her, tone easy and inviting. "What do you think?"

Hannah's answer was coolly precise. "Investment-wise, the brooch's diamonds aren't particularly large, and the style is a bit too vintage for mass appeal. Still, its rarity makes it a real prize."

Her evaluation was quick, confident, a mark of someone who knew exactly what she was looking at.

Yet, even among all these finds, she found nothing came close to the emerald crystal Vincent had claimed earlier-The Tear of Andara.

Claude, catching sight of movement behind them, shifted closer to Hannah and dropped his voice into an easy warmth."I actually thought of gifting these to your parents. How does that sound?"

Hannah's immediate reaction was a shake of her head. "They're far too lavish."

"Too lavish?" Claude chuckled softly, lowering his voice to

"Too lavish?" Claude chuckled softly, lowering his voice to playful reproach. "What are you talking about? After all your parents did for me? Treating me like family when I had nowhere else to go? No present could possibly make up for that."

A beat passed. He studied her expression, letting a trace of vulnerability show. "Or... Could it be that I'm no longer considered part of the Scott family?"

Hannah caught the shadow of disappointment settling in his eyes. "Claude, you've got it wrong..."

Her gaze fell to the thoughtfully chosen gifts."It's just-"

"Just what, Hannah?" Claude pressed, gentle but insistent, his look searching. "All those years spent under the same roof mean nothing now?"

His voice was soft, but each word carried the gravity of something deeply personal.

After a quiet moment, Hannah relented. "Thank you," she murmured, sincerity woven through her tone. "No matter what,my parents will always see you as family. That's something no one can ever change."

A flicker of wild hope sparked in Claude's eyes-almost feverish in its intensity. But he wasn't satisfied. "And what about you, Hannah?" His next words trembled, barely masking the nerves beneath his calm exterior. "Who am I to you?"

Her thoughts wandered back in time-he'd once asked her that same question, long ago, when they were just kids growing up side by side. Time and distance hadn't erased that bond. Life had pulled them apart, but here they stood again. In her heart,he would always be family-a brother, steadfast and irreplaceable.

"You'll always be a brother to me," she replied, her voice calm and unwavering.

A wave of emotion broke over Claude, leaving him trembling.Without thinking, he drew her into a tight embrace. It was as if,for a heartbeat, he wished he could fuse her into his bones-never letting go.

"Hannah, not a day's gone by that I haven't thought of you,"he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He'd dreamed of giving her "The Tear of Andara," a gift worthy of everything she meant to him. But Vincent had taken it with a single,crushing bid.

That didn't matter. Claude was determined-he would keep searching,keep offering her the world, one piece at a time.And when the storms came, he'd be the one standing in front of her. Just as she had stood between him and the world all those years ago.

Hannah stiffened for a moment in Claude's embrace,her body instinctively going rigid-but in the end, she let herself remain there. After a small pause, she tentatively lifted her hand and offered a gentle pat to his back, her words barely above a whisper, laced with warmth. "Welcome back."

A short distance away, Vincent saw the whole exchange. A sharp pang twisted inside his chest, cutting deep.

Claude noticed Vincent out of the corner of his eye, and a subtle, self-satisfied smile played at the edges of his lips. He gradually released his hold, yet kept one hand gently at the small of her back-as if keeping close to her came as naturally as breathing.

"Mr. Jones?" Claude called out with feigned surprise. "What are the odds?"

Vincent didn't acknowledge Claude, his gaze fixed on Hannah as he closed the gap between them. His eyes, intense and searching,never left hers. "Didn't you always say midnight blue was your favorite?"

A flicker of astonishment crossed Hannah's face. He remembered that?

Before she could respond, Vincent's tone hardened, brimming with pain he could no longer hide. "So why did you toss the shawl I gave you aside, like it was nothing?"

A faint blush crept up Hannah's neck. She had completely forgotten about it. She drew a breath to explain, but Claude was quicker, stepping in with his usual, courteous composure."Women always know which gifts are worth keeping and which ones to return. It's never without meaning-there are boundaries."

He let his words hang, subtle but pointed. "Isn't it a bit much to interfere with a woman's choices, Mr. Jones?"

"Shut your mouth!" Vincent's voice came out borittle and raw.The anger in his eyes burned, unmasked and fierce.