Chapter 278

Vincent's words hit like a strike of iron, and Hannah's eyes widened instantly. "Absolutely not!" she snapped without the slightest pause.

She drew her sharpest weapon without hesitation."Mr. Jones, have you forgotten? I'm currently Claude's officially acknowledged girlfriend. You make a request like that-so blatantly-aren't you worried the Jones Group will be plastered across every financial headline by morning, dragging your stock price down with the scandal?"

A flash of ice-cold anger flickered through Vincent's eyes. But instead of backing off, he suddenly leaned forward, planting both hands firmly on the desk,bracketing her in.

His presence surged over her-intense,commanding, and inescapably dominant. "I don't

give a damn," he hissed, voice low and simmering with control on the edge of a storm.

Their faces were just inches apart. His breath grazed her forehead; their exhales collided in a tightly wound current. "You think I give a damn what tomorrow's headlines say?" he added.

Hannah's spine met the edge of the desk with a sharp jolt. Every nerve in her body was on high alert.Before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out. "Vincent, are you trying to make me your hidden lover again?"

The question landed like a blade drawn clean.

"No," he shot back-fast, sharp,absolute.

But then, with a slow curve of his lips, he added,"If that's your concern, I can announce you as my girlfriend right now. That way, no one will ever call you a hidden lover."

His gaze was unflinching, every word deliberate and weighted. "But answer me honestly-are you willing

to break up with Claude this instant?"

The challenge struck like thunder, splitting the fraught silence. Hannah's breath stuttered, anger snuffed out in a heartbeat. That was when she felt it -a flash of unmistakable jealousy. The realization sliced through the haze in her mind, lightning-fast and bright. All at once, every odd behavior and the "coincidence" made perfect sense.

The fury faded from her eyes, replaced by a glint of clarity-and unmistakable amusement. Rather than retreat, she let out a soft, knowing laugh and stepped closer. "So that's what all this is really about.Vincent, are you seriously jealous and still pretending you're not?"

Her words teased and challenged him, edged and light at the same time.

Vincent's reaction was instinctive. His voice snapped out, cold and defensive,"I am not jealous."

He denied it with such haste that it only made his inner turmoil more obvious.

"Not jealous?" Hannah echoed, her voice rising,slicing through the distance. Her eyes flashed as she closed in, driving Vincent backwards-until he hit the wall,trapped.

They were close enough to feel every unsteady breath between them.

She locked onto his eyes-eyes that instinctively flickered away before trying to regain composure-and fired off a barrage of pointed questions. "NJot jealous? Then why do you care so much about Claude being my boyfriend? Why are you so intent on making me cut him off? And why are you so desperate to keep me,your ex-wife, by your side?"

Each word landed hard.

Vincent stood immobilized, caught in her crosshairs.His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "I just needed to be sure."

"Sure?" Hannah arched a brow, leaning closer. "Sure of what,exactly?"

"Sure of what you said that night," Vincent replied instantly, eyes fixed on her face, now just inches away.

Hannah's gaze sharpened, everything clicking into place. She remembered that night in his hospital room-her hand on his chest, her voice cutting and merciless as she'd declared, "You've fallen in love with me." And now, this precise, self-controlled man had orchestrated everything-every scheme, every thread pulled-just to keep her near. All for what? To confirm his feelings?

Her voice dropped, edged with incredulity. "So you went to all this trouble-set the whole stage,cornered me, pushed me to break up with Claude-"She stepped in, eyes unyielding. "All just to make sure you really loved me?"

His jaw locked, his gaze darkening with the storm brewing inside. "It's the most effective way. If you stay by my side for a month, I'll-"

"You're wrong, Mr. Jones." Hannah cut him off, her voice ringing clear, unwavering. "This is not the most