Chapter 340

Hannah's chest swirled with turmoil. To carry out her father's "dying wish," she felt she had no grounds to reject. Besides, with one broken marriage behind her,she had already abandoned any faith or anticipation for wedded life. Thus, marrying Claude to honor that "dying wish" wasn't such a big deal for her. No torment could equal the grief of losing a cherished parent.

"For my parents' sake, of course, I am willing to marry you," Hannah said to Claude, her expression calm and composed.

Upon her consent, Claude was seized by overwhelming elation.

"But Claude," she added, her tone edged with unease, "this is unjust to you. This is surrendering your joy."

"It is not!" he retorted without hesitation. He flung his arms outward and crushed her against his chest."Anna, how could becoming your husband ever be deemed a loss?"

He had yearned for this day through endless years of waiting.

Hannah was clasped so tightly that she could hardly breathe, and she disregarded the hidden weight resting in his words.

Claude, overcome by rapture, eased his hold slightly but kept his hands fixed upon her shoulders. His gaze flared with fervent light, alive with restless urgency. "Anna, let's decide the wedding for three days from now, shall we?"

He spoke in a rush, terrified she might waver. "Let's carry out their wish swiftly, so your father can rest in peace and your mother can devote herself to recovery." He dressed his plea in the noblest of reasons.

Hannah's eyes tightened. It felt too sudden. "Isn't that too hasty? There's hardly enough time to

prepare..."

"No worries!" Claude cut her off with confidence,his face brimming with determination. "Trust me. Leave everything in my hands. I will arrange every last detail and guarantee perfection!"

He cupped her face, his gaze softened. "You need only rest and focus on becoming my wife."

A wave of dizziness coursed through Hannah, and she unconsciously found herself nodding, submitting to this predetermined "arrangement."

Suddenly, a voice echoed from the far end of the hall."| disagree."

It was Vincent, his tone laden with commanding weight.

Both Hannah and Claude jolted at the sound, jerking their heads toward him.

Claude shifted to shield Hannah behind his frame.Dismissing Vincent's remark, Claude smiled and extended an invitation. "Mr. Jones, since you

overheard, you are welcome to attend our wedding."

Vincent disregarded Claude's barb. His stare fastened firmly upon Hannah's face. "Hannah, are you really going to marry him?"

Hannah moved out from behind Claude's shielding stance. She lifted her chin, met Vincent's conflicted eyes, and declared a single word, "Yes."

It was plain and unambiguous.

Vincent strode forward with force. The air thickened around him, his voice weighed down with unrelenting command. "Merely for your parents? For that supposed final wish?"

Hannah's eyes trembled faintly, yet her words stayed unwavering,filled with finality. "Yes. My parents, right now, outweigh everything else. Their wishes are my priority."

Vincent's tone cracked with smothered fury; the edge of his composure threatened collapse. "So you should sac rifice yourself? Sacrifice your own happiness and marriage?"

"Sacrifice? Vincent, you're mistaken. Claude is nothing like you." Hannah seemed to recall something, her lips bending in bitter self-ridicule."Marrying him isn't a sacrifice. Perhaps we might even grow old together."

Vincent's heart wrenched. She declared-Claude was not like him.

Claude, inflamed by her validating words, surged with victorious rapture. He suddenly sensed the instant was flawless, a chance never to return. What moment could serve better for a proposal than this-directly before Vincent?

Abruptly, Claude stepped back half a pace. Under Hannah's startled look and Vincent's narrowing gaze,he dropped onto one knee. He drew out a small velvet case he'd prepared long before and lifted its lid. "Anna! Marry me!" His voice shook with excitement.

Hannah froze."You...When did you prepare this? Claude's answer came sharp and unwavering. "Ages ago!"

He had prepared it centuries ago, intending to propose on her parents' wedding anniversary. He had awaited this moment for countless days.

Claude glanced about the stark hospital corridor and spoke quickly. "Anna, this place is too plain for a proposal. Later, I swear | will give you the most splendid, most romantic proposal ever!"

Hannah stretched her hand forward. Without a pause, she took the ring and slid it onto the ring finger of her left hand. "This suffices," she said,her tone level and stripped of all feeling.

Claude bounded upright, clinging to Hannah's ring-clad hand. As if staking his claim, he pressed a fierce kiss against her hand and vowed, "Anna, I will cherish you! I will devote my life to bringing you joy!"

A faint, nearly invisible curve touched her lips as she inclined her head."Okay." Vincent stood watching. The sight carved through his heart, searing every nerve within him. She had accepted Claude's ring right before his eyes. His footing almost faltered.

As Claude, pulling Hannah along, moved to pass by him, Vincent suddenly reached out and seized her other hand.