Chapter 374

After the meeting ended, Hannah was surrounded by a cluster of shareholders. Their expressions brimmed with awe and eagerness, their words drenched in flattery and overflowing with hope for the future.

In sharp contrast to the arrogance he had flaunted moments earlier, Harvey now stood utterly isolated. Not a single person approached him. Even his so-called allies-Brendan and Travis -kept their distance, unwilling to be associated with his failure.

Across the room, Vincent remained composed, a quiet center of gravity for the ambitious business elites hovering nearby,each one eager to catch his attention. He simply lifted his hand,a subtle gesture that was enough to silence every advance and scatter the would-be sycophants.

Vincent's eyes slipped past the restless crowd until they found Hannah. There it was-the spark in her gaze, the unmistakable brilliance of triumph she couldn't conceal, no matter how hard she tried.

Tilting his head slightly, Vincent leaned toward the head of his security team and spoke in a low, clipped tone. "Dig into everything. Granite Capital, Harvey Langston-every hidden deal,every offshore account, every piece of leverage. I want him to learn a lesson. The harsh way."

"Yes, Mr. Jones." The head of the security team gave a respectful nod before quietly moving off to carry out the order.

Breaking away from the shareholders, Hannah crossed the room toward Vincent. Her steps were light, her face unguarded and aglow with rare delight. "Let's return," she murmured. Vincent studied her for a long moment, his gaze deep and unreadable. At last, he gave a faint nod. "Alright."

Soon, the limousine eased away from Luminara Group headquarters and slipped seamlessly into the stream of evening traffic.

Inside the car, Hannah leaned back against the plush leather seat. The smile tugging at her lips lingered, refusing to fade.

Vincent's gaze lingered on her profile, intrigued by the seldom softness he saw in her. "It's the first time I've ever seen you this happy," he murmured, breaking the quiet that filled the vehicle.

Hannah turned to him at his words, her eyes bright. "Yeah," she admitted without hesitation. "I really enjoy this feeling."

"What feeling?" Vincent leaned forward slightly, hiscuriosity sharpening, almost captivated by the glow she carried.

"Being in control." Confidence laced her tone, steady and unapologetic. "Watching my enemies walk straight into checkmate. Taking back what's mine with my own hands."She gave a soft laugh. "It feels incredible."

There was no attempt to hide the ambition in her voice, no mask to soften the edge of satisfaction. This Hannah-sharp,unapologetic, openly powerful-was worlds apart from the gentle facade she had once shown Vincent. Yet, it was this very version of her that he found dangerously irresistible.

He sat in silence, watching every flicker of emotion play across her face. The faint irritation he had carried earlier-resentment that she was slipping from his grasp-slowly shifted. In its place rose something stronger, darker. A tangled pull of admiration and a possessiveness that ran deep enough to consume. He liked her like this-liked the unapologetic sharpness that cut through every word and gesture. Hannah kept her eyes fixed out of the window, though her thoughts churned restlessly. She didn't want to return just yet.Then, something caught her attention-a bustling supermarket teeming with shoppers. If she could just slip inside that crowd,maybe she'd find a way to escape.

The thought seized her suddenly, urgent and impossible to ignore. "Stop the car!" she burst out, her voice sharp with excitement.

Vincent turned his head slightly, one brow arching. "What is it?"

The limousine hadn't stopped, but the driver considerably eased off the gas.

Hannah forced her tone into something light, almost playful."Let's go grocery shopping," she said with casual ease.

Tilting her head, she let a trace of measured expectation color her expression. "It's been ages since we went to the supermarket together."

For a moment, her words painted a fragile illusion-that they were nothing more than an ordinary couple, fresh from work with a sudden whim to buy ingredients for dinner.

Vincent's silence stretched on, unreadable.

The brightness in Hannah's eyes dimmed under the weight of it.She lowered her gaze and softened her voice to showcase her disappointment in this way. "Alright then, forget it."

Just as she leaned back against the seat, ready to abandon the plan, he finally spoke up. "Fine. Stop the car."

The driver pulled over smoothly by the supermarket entrance.

Hannah's head snapped up, her eyes flashing with surprise before joy quickly followed. "You're really agreeing?"

Vincent pushed the car door open, answering with nothing Vincent pushed the car door open, answering with nothing more than a faint, "Yeah."

Inside, the supermarket was overflowing with people, a tide of shoppers rushing in for the sale session. The promotional event had turned the aisles into a frenzy of movement and noise.

Vincent's bodyguards pushed forward, attempting to carve out a small pocket of space around Vincent and Hannah, shielding them from the press of shoppers.

But the effort was futile. The crowd was far too dense, a restless tide of bodies moving in every direction.

The two bodyguards kept close, trailing only a few steps behind,yet their view was constantly swallowed by the shifting throng.

A faint crease formed between Vincent's brows. The noise, the crush of people-it grated on his nerves, each second wearing at his patience. He instinctively reached out and firmly grasped Hannah's wrist. It felt icy to touch her skin.