Chapter 359

Hannah's frame quaked on its own accord. This wasn't the Vincent she remembered. The man who always seemed to have everything under control, whose fury never diminished his aura of invincibility-the head of the Jones Group-now felt utterly alien to her. Vincent appeared transformed, his stare frenzied, his aura disturbingly foreign. When had he shifted into this? Was she the cause? Was it worth it?

"Don't dare think of escaping from me again." Vincent's tone snapped her awareness back in place. "If it happens a third time, I might really do something crazy to you."

His hand moved,reaching to brush the rain from her cheeks.

But Hannah, alarmed, flinched her head aside, her body recoiling without thought.

That abrupt recoil struck Vincent like a jolt. His arm stalled mid-motion, his gaze sharpening into something darker,more threatening. "Are you afraid of me?"

"Yes," Hannah confessed, bewilderment filling her expression. "I feel like I don't even know you anymore."

Her voice sliced through him like a dull blade. She spoke the truth-he had never been like this. He had always been logical, assured, and in control of every detail. Yet, when it came to things involving Hannah,control always slipped away. It all started with their divorce. Afterward, she was surrounded by other exceptional men, forcing him to take notice. Her choice to wed Claude had driven him to the edge.

At the wedding, he'd finally realized he couldn't accept losing her. Therefore, he'd seized her and bound her to him.

And he didn't regret taking her away. He knew she hated him with every fiber of her being. Even if her hatred lasted a lifetime, as long as she stayed with him, as long as he was the only one she lay eyes on, it was sufficient.

Vincent brushed aside his turmoil, his stare hard and immovable, beraying nothing frail. He clutched Hannah's chilled wrist. "You're coming back with me."

"I can move myself!" Hannah resisted, shooting a desperate glance toward her mother in the wheelchair."My mom's still here!"

"I'll have her rushed to the hospital-the finest doctors!" Vincent barked, shooting a silent order at the advancing bodyguards with his eyes alone.

Just then, Claude rushed over, flanked by a few bodyguards. "Vincent, release her!"

Claude's brow was gashed, one eye nearly swollen shut, and his mouth torn and bleeding

Hannah saw Claude's battered state clearly, and a rush of self-reproach and alarm made her cry out,"Claude,are you hurt?"

Her heartfelt concern for another man pierced Vincent's heart. His grip on her wrist clamped harder,drawing a pained gasp from her lips.

"I'm fine!" Claude smeared the blood away. As he'd expected, she felt sorry for him.

Claude steadied himself, glaring at Vincent with a bold challenge. "Vincent! Do you dare face me one-on-one? The defeated man walks away from Hannah forever and never appears before her again."

Vincent's furious mask instantly shifted into mocking contempt. He didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.His reply was cutting, frigid, and dismissive. "I don't parade my woman as if she's a prize." His tone carried iron, as if the world bent to his will. "And as for challenging me? You're not even qualified."

With that, Vincent ignored Claude's furious shouts, disregarded Hannah's thrashing, and hauled her toward his convoy without a backward glance.

"Vincent Jones! You coward!" Claude, livid at the raw disdain Vincent threw him, tried charging forward.

But Vincent's bodyguards barred his path once more. "Mr. Hobbes, please restrain yourself," one of them stated flatly.

"Move aside!" Claude lunged again, nearly frantic.

A violent clash erupted immediately. Claude was soon subdued by the trained bodyguards, left to watch helplessly as Vincent dragged Hannah away.

Shielded by the bodyguards, the convoy dlissolved into the downpour.

"Mr. Hobbes, should we pursue?" one of Claude's people asked anxiously.

Claude lifted his battered face, a faint, eerie smile touching his mouth. He raised a hand, ordering them to hold back. "No need."

Claude's grin deepened. His plan had succeeded-Hannah had witnessed exactly what he wanted her to witness.