Chapter 252

Vincent's eyes bore into Hannah. "Hannah. I want to hear it from you."

He was desperate for her to speak, anything at all. Even a distant, cutting explanation would have been better than silence.

Hannah drew in a measured breath, fully aware of the weight of his stare-so intense that it threatened to swallow her whole.But Claude had a point. There should've always been boundaries between them.

Her gaze didn't waver as she answered Vincent, calm and direct, "It wasn't my intention to leave the shawl behind like that. I should've taken better care of it. But I didn't throw it away."

For a split second, something in Vincent's face relaxed. Deep down, he'd known she'd never be that heartless.

But her next words landed cool and precise, each one steady and impersonal.

"Claude was right. Considering where things stand between us,that kind of gift shouldn't have been exchanged."

Vincent's entire face went still, every muscle tensing as if turned to stone.

She continued, "That was a lapse in judgment on my part-l shouldn't have accepted it in the first place." Her gaze held Vincent's, calm and unyielding. "I'll have it cleaned and properly repackaged. It'll be returned-exactly as it was."

Standing beside Hannah, Claude wNore the look of a man who'd just claimed victory, his smile widening.

A hollow laugh escaped Vincent, all bitterness and no humor."That won't be necessary." Her words had just severed the last hope he'd managed to hold on to. His hand clenched at his side,trembling ever so slightly. "Just throw it out." Whatever softness had lingered in his eyes vanished. He looked away,gaze distant.

Hannah glimpsed something hidden beneath the surface-a flicker of emotion she couldn't quite figure out.

A heavy silence blanketed the space.

Breaking the tension, Claude rested a hand on her shoulder, his tone warm. "Hannah, could you pick up my items from the staff? They should be ready by now."

Still lost in thought, she answered with a quiet,"Of course."

Following the staff member away, Hannah didn't notice Claude's eyes trailing after her every step.

Vincent moved to leave, but Claude blocked his path without warning.

"Leaving already?" Claude's voice rang out tauntingly. "That hand of yours-looks like you're bleeding right through those bandages."

He leaned in close, dropping his voice to a venomous whisper."Hurts, doesn't it? Not so easy to ignore, is it?" Then, with a manic glint and a voice that carried, he added, "And still-she stood right there and didn't even spare a glance."

Claude's grin was all teeth. "She walked right past."

Vincent flinched, the pain raw and visible.

"Want to know what I did when I heard you two split?"

"Want to know what I did when I heard you two split?"Claude's eyes sparkled with unhinged delight. "I popped open the best bottle I had and celebrated her freedom until sunrise."He let the words build, each louder than the last. "Five months.That's all it took for me to be welcomed back into her life. And pretty soon, she'll belong to me."

That was the final straw. Vincent snapped. His fist lashed out,sending Claude crashing to the floor, streaks of blood from Vincent's hand wounds painting Claude's face.

Vincent didn't hesitate. He pulled Claude back up by the jacket,his voice a barely controlled snarl. "Don't you dare set your sights on her."

Catching sight of Hannah rushing over, Claude's lips twisted into a wicked smile. "How about we bet on it? Let's see who she really chooses."

He let his body slump back with a dramatic groan, making it look for all the world like Vincent had thrown him.

"Stop, Vincent!" Hannah's voice rang out as she rushed forward,shoving Vincent away from Claude. "What is wrong with you?"

She wasn't strong, but the force was enough to make Vincent stumble back. He locked eyes with her but didn't utter a word.

Hannah dropped to her knees beside Claude, urgency lacing her voice. "Claude! Talk to me. Are you alright?"

Claude slumped into her arms, feigning weakness, eyelids fluttering as he whispered, barely above a whisper, "I'm okay.Just a little lightheaded."

"Don't talk. I'm getting you to the hospital." Wasting no time,Hannah scrambled up, struggling to steady Claude as they half -staggered,half-limped away

Vincent watched in silence as she walked off, her full attention on another man. His own hand continued to bleed, but she

on another man. His own hand continued to bleed, but she hadn't spared it a single glance.

Meanwhile, Claude,eyes glazed,head drooping against Hannah,slowly twisted just enough to face Vincent. Through the blood smeared across his cheek, he flashed a triumphant, crooked smile. With blood at the edge of his mouth, he silently mouthed two unmistakable words: "I... Won."

Then, as if surrendering the last trace of awareness, Claude let his head drop onto Hannah's shoulder, slipping fully intothe part of the helpless victim.

Vincent caught every detail. Every syllable, every taunt. She had chosen-without hesitation-to shield another man.

A wave of fury crashed through Vincent. He drove his fist into the nearest glass display. A violent crash split the air as the glass burst into shards, scattering in every direction.

Blood continued to trickle down his knuckles, leaving crimson trails across his skin.