Chapter 332

Claude half-carried a tipsy Hannah out of the hall,steadying her as she leaned on him, her steps unsteady and light.

Suddenly, Vincent stepped in, barring their way.

Claude instinctively tightened his hold around Hannah, offering Vincent a courteous but cold smnile."Mr. Jones? Is there something you need?"

Vincent didn't so much as glance at Claude. His attention was fixed entirely on Hannah. When he spoke, his tone was low, almost gentle."Congratulations. Luminara-it's a beautiful name."

Hannah, despite her tipsiness, recognized his voice immediately. She straightened, pulling herself slightly away from Claude. With a nod, her voice husky from the alcohol, she answered, "Thank you."

Still distant-but no hostility. Vincent's gaze held steady. "Could you come with me for a minute?"

"She couldn't." Claude cut in, his voice taut, arm drawing her in protectively, almost possessively. He turned to gaze at Hannah, softening his tone. "She's had too much to drink. She needs rest. Whatever you have to say, Mr. Jones, it can wait."

There was no room for argument.

A flash of annoyance crossed Vincent's face. HHis eyes dropped to Claude's hand clamped around Hannah's waist, and a wave of heat-part jealousy,part something darker-rose inside him. For a moment, it threatened to break free.

But in the end, Vincent restrained himself, looking at Hannah, his voice controlled, almost clipped. "I'm asking her."

The tension thickened.

Vincent braced himself for refusal.

But Hannah didn't look at Claude, nor did she immediately turn Vincent down. She hesitated,clearly weighing something in her mind.

After a moment, she looked up and met Vincent's eyes-steady, clear."All right."

Claude stared, taken aback. "Hannah, I thought we were going home together?"

Claude couldn't believe it, especially after she'd just left the party on his arm.

She turned to Claude, a flicker of embarrassment passing through her expression-briefly.Something else had already taken hold. "Claude, go back without me. I've got something to handle first. I'll come home later."

She slipped free of his arms, gently but with finality.

Claude was left standing there, arms empty, frozen in disbelief as she walked away with Vincent-without so much as a backward glance. Jealousy rolled over him, sharp and heavy.

Vincent was flooded with an overwhelming, dizzying sense of joy-so much that for a moment, he forgot how to react. He simply stood there, watching her approach with unguarded greed, as if she might vanish if he blinked.

Hannah stopped in front of him, wine brightening her eyes and loosening her words. She raised an eyebrow, a hint of teasing in her voice. "Have a drink with me?"

She wanted a better place for a talk.

Vincent's voice came out soft, barely steady, with a faint tremor he couldn't quite mask. "Of course."

Anything, as long as it meant being alone with her.

Behind them, Claude remained rooted in place,watching helplessly as she walked away. It had to be those two days. Whatever had happened duringthat period had changed everything. Something he didn't know. That was the only plausible explanation for why Hannah's demeanor toward Vincent had shifted.The way she looked at Vincent had changed. No longer cold, but something else. From rejecting Vincent outright to this-drinks, alone, together? No.This couldn't go on!

Claude's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. He couldn't afford to take things slow anymore.He had waited long enough. He had to move his plan forward.Now.

Meanwhile, Vincent didn't take Hannah to a bar.Instead, he drove her to a quiet, secluded club high above the city.

The view was breathtaking.Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the lights below, and soft jazz played in the background.

"It's quiet here," Vincent said, pulling out a chair for her.

Hannah nodded, settling by the window. A cool breeze brushed her cheeks, clearing some of the haze.

Vincent sat across from her. A waiter arrived silently,setting down two glasses of rum on ice. Vincent picked up his glass, but didn't drink. Instead,he slid a small, deep-blue velvet box across the table. "A little something. Congratulations."

Hannah immediately understood-it was a gift to celebrate the merger. She looked at the box, but left it untouched. Instead, she picked up her glass, giving the rum a slow swirl. "Thank you. And for what you did at Doreline Chemical Factory."

She paused, as though searching for the right words."You really helped me.A lot."

A warmth flickered in Vincent's eyes, but what she said next hit him hard. "Vincent... let's just be friends from now on."