Chapter 376

Without a second thought, Vincent shoved his way through the crush of bodies, barreling straight toward that woman.

He reached out, his hand just about to land on her shoulder,when the woman suddenly spun around.

Their eyes locked.

Vincent froze, his hand suspended in midair. All the urgency, all the hope etched across his face, iced over in an instant-as if someone had dumped a bucket of freezing water on him. It wasn't Hannah. Just a stranger who happened to look like her.

A crushing weight of disappointment slammed into his chest.His mind replayed the past few days in brutal flashes. Hannah's sudden tenderness. The way she'd cooked for him every day.The night she'd invited him to join her bed.

Then,the vulnerability-perfectly timed-right when the crisis at Luminara Group had exploded. He'd given in, softened, and even brought her back to the office to help. On the way back,she'd spotted the supermarket and suggested shopping, as if on a whim.

And just earlier, she had looked at that box of ice cream with what appeared to be longing. Every glance. Every word. It all lined up too perfectly. That wasn't coincidence. That wasn't affection. It was a plan. A carefully crafted one.

She had played him-exploited his weakness, taken advantage of the rare tenderness he allowed himself, and leveraged the feelings he couldn't even bring himself to admit.

Step by step, she'd slipped past his defenses, earned his trust,and made him believe, if only for a second, that maybe-just maybe-she had begun to truly rely on him. And then, right when he finally lowered his guard and stood there queuing for that damn ice cream for her, she had vanished. Without hesitation.

A low, dangerous laugh slipped past Vincent's lips, simmering with fury. Very well, she was patient. She was clever. And she was one hell of an actress.

The air around him seemed to drop in temperature, the pressure radiating from him suffocating. He yanked out his phone, voice sharp as steel. "Mobilize everyone. Turn this place inside out if you have to-l want Hannah found. Now."

"Yes!" came the clipped response. The two bodyguards at his side instantly reached for their radios, barking urgent orders and calling in every resource at their disposal. Mrs. Jones had slipped away again. This was going to be a problem.

Hannah carried the grouper in a shopping bag, looking for all the world like an ordinary shopper blending seamlessly into the bustling crowd. Her steps were unhurried, her ears sharply tuned to every sound around her.

It didn't take long before she picked up on it-a sudden surge of men in black suits flooding in from the supermarket entrance.They fanned out quickly, efficient and precise, splitting into teams to launch a coordinated sweep.

She knew instantly who they were. Vincent's men. Fast response. She almost had to give him credit.

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. She wasn't surprised.

She deliberately lingered in several blind spots along the way,letting the cameras miss her. Yes, her mother was still in Vincent's hands, and she had already decided she would go back. But that didn't mean she had to let herself be found so back. But that didn't mean she had to let herself be found so easily.Let Vincent stew for a while. Freedom didn't come often,and even if it was only temporary, it deserved to besavored.

Meanwhile, the seach closed in with ruthless precision.

At last, the head bodyguard rushed over, his shirt sticking to him with sweat, and braced himself as he delivered the report. "Mr.Jones, we've checked every section thoroughly. Surveillance has been pulled, but with the heavy crowd and all the blind spots, there's still no trace of Mrs. Jones. She must've slipped out during the commotion."

"Clear the place!" Vincent's voice was raw, hoarse with fury and finality. "Search again! Every corner! Leave nothing unchecked!"

His gaze hardened as he added, "Notify the team outside! Lock down every intersection. Expand the perimeter-five kilometers out! I want every car, every pedestrian searched!"

"Yes, Mr. Jones!" the head bodyguard snapped, immediately getting on to carry out the orders.

Minute by minute, time bled away.

The supermarket's loudspeakers crackled and then blared an emergency announcement on repeat. "Dear customers, due to an unexpected equipment malfunction, the store is undergoing urgent maintenance. Please collect your belongings and proceed to the nearest exits as directed by staff. We apologize for the inconvenience."

The crowd grew restless, voices rising in complaint and frustration, yet under the firm direction of security staff and the men in black, they had no choice but to shuffle slowly toward the exits.

Hannah understood exactly what was happening-the sweep had begun. Vincent couldn't track her down, so he was taking Hrastic measures. A faint, sardonic smile touched her lips. Now drastic measures. A faint, sardonic smile touched her lips. Now,she should show up.

Instead of following the flow, she slipped against the tide of bodies, pressing forward toward Vincent.

And then, she spotted him-that tall, commanding figure standing in the middle of the chaos.

"Vincent!" she called out, her voice carrying above the noise.He turned slowly, his eyes locking on her. "There you are!l′Vbeen looking everywhere for you."

She flashed a poised smile, flipping the story on its head as if she had been the one desperately searching all along.