Chapter 284
Inside the car, Hannah and Claude had just been chatting about the lingerie show when Claude's eyes caught sight of Vincent,standing out in the rain some distance away.
A spark of mischief lit up behind Claude's calm expression."Don't move," he murmured, voice gentle. "You've got a bit of lint in your hair."
He leaned in, closing the space between him and Hannah until only a whisper separated their faces. Instead of focusing on Hannah, he turned his head slightly, his gaze cutting through the rain and locking straight onto Vincent, who stood outside,drenched and motionless.
A faint, mocking smile played at Claude's lips. He lingered there,his breath brushing Hannah's ear with deliberate warmth.
Hannah tensed, caught off guard. "Claude?"
His hand hovered over her hair, never actually making contact.His expression stayed gentle. "All done."
She beamed at him. "Thanks." After a moment, her tone softened, edged with sincerity. "And, for before. You really sold it."
Claude's smile faltered, just for a heartbeat. "You thought I was pretending?"
His eyes locked onto hers, so intense that it made her heart stumble.
A strange feeling stirred inside her. She parted her lips to speak,but nothing came out. The look in his eyes was too much-bare,
but nothing came out. The look in his eyes was too much-bare,unfiltered, impossible to meet. She turned away her head,letting her gaze wander to the hazy streetlights glowing beyond the window. Wasn't it all just an act? The question echoed in her thoughts.
Claude noticed the subtle way she pulled back. He meant those words uttered inside Vincent's office. He longed for Hannah-every part of her. He wanted her to belong to him,and no one else. But that tiny flicker in her eyes? It doused the fire in him like a bucket of ice.
Now wasn't the time, he cautioned himself. He knew her too well. Push her now, and she'd slip right through his fingers. He'd waited this long, watching her slowly slip away from Vincent.He couldn't risk a single careless move. One mistake, and she'd vanish from his life for good. Some pursuits, he reminded himself, demanded patience.
Quickly smoothing over the storm in his gaze, Claude replaced it with his usual gentle smile. "Did I frighten you?"
His tone was mellow, almost comforting.
Hannah misunderstood, thinking he was referring to the impromptu "wedding" line he'd tossed out in front of Vincent.She shook her head, her voice regaining its usual sharp clarity."No,not at all."
The truth was, she hadn't even paid Claude any heed at that time, all her attention on Vincent's reaction to Claude's abrupt appearance.All she could see was Vincent-staggered, furious,for once completely stripped of his composure. She'd seen it all. And for some reason, seeing Vincent unravel-so raw and exposed-made something inside her relax. The breath she'd been holding for so long finally slipped free. And strangely, it felt good.
Claude reached over and gave her head a gentle pat. "Good."
This time, Hannah simply angled her head away-she didn't pull away. After everything, the stiff formality that used to define their relationship had faded away. What remained was a comfortable, almost sibling-like familiarity, filled with the freedom to tease and be at ease.
Claude glanced at her office building. "Heading back upstairs?"
Hannah shook her head instantly. "No." With Vincent,nothing was certain. The contract could fall apart-or worse, spiral into more chaos. Always pragmatic, she made the call without hesitation. "Let's go meet that model you mentioned."
Earlier, Claude had brought up a model whose style fit the upcoming lingerie show perfectly. There was no better moment to set things in motion. No matter what, this show had to go off without a hitch. Backup plans were essential.
"Absolutely," Claude replied, easing the car into traffic as the rain hammered down.
Outside,the storm grew even fiercer. Vincent stayed rooted in place, his gaze fixed on where the car had vanished, fury still smoldering in his eyes.
Meanwhile, in a run-down corner of the city, a subtle black sedan idled at the entrance of a narrow alley.
Erica sat in the back seat, her makeup flawless and her Chanel suit perfectly tailored-an image of sophistication that couldn't have looked more out of place against the backdrop of peeling paint and trash-strewn pavement.
She lounged back, absently spinning her phone between her fingers.
The screen flickered on as a new message flashed. "The target is en route.Fifteen minutes."
A cold, victorious smile curled across Erica's lips. "So that old
A cold, victorious smile curled across Erica's lips. "So that old witch finally took the bait?"
She smirked. Good. Just what she'd been counting on-Sharon scrambling straight to Vincent. Every piece was sliding neatly into place.
She slipped out of the car and disappeared into the rundown building.Navigating the dim hallway with effortless confidence,she settled onto a battered old couch she'd scavenged from a junkyard just for this occasion.
With slow, deliberate motions, she began to dismantle her perfect appearance, smearing lipstick, wiping away the foundation, twisting her hair into a tangled mess.
Footsteps pounded up the stairs, hurried and desperate.
The door burst open, and Sharon appeared, eyes locking on Erica, who was now curled up on the filthy couch, the picture of misery.
"Erica!" Sharon gasped, real distress in her voice.
"Mom," Erica whispered, lifting her head with a trembling sob."I messed up... I swear I'll never do it again."
Even as Erica spoke, her eyes darted anxiously toward the doorway. She asked in a fragile voice, "Where's Vincent?"
She was bracing for Sharon to say, "He's just outside," or maybe, "He'll be here any second."
After all, she'd done everything she could to look completely broken.
But Sharon only replied, "He didn't come."
Erica's head jerked up from Sharon's embrace. All her plotting,all the careful theatrics, and still, Vincent hadn't shown? He wouldn't even spare a single glance her way?