Chapter 385

Hannah's words made Clarissa and Gareth snap their heads up,a flicker of desperate hope flashing in their eyes.

But Hannah's voice remained flat, glacial, utterly stripped of mercy. "However, you still need to take responsibility for spreading rumors and slandering me."

Clarissa bobbed her head frantically. "Yes, yes-we'll take responsibility! Mrs. Jones, whatever you want us to do, we'll do it!"

Hannah's gaze lingered on Clarissa and Gareth, cool and unblinking. Then, the corner of her lips curled into a razor-sharp smile. "Alright then. Since the two of you seem so inseparable-such a loving couple-why don't you prove it?Slap each other. Right here."

The blood drained from Clarissa's and Gareth's faces in an instant. Slapping each other? In front of this many people?

Hannah tilted her head, her tone laced with biting mockery."What's wrong? Not willing? Then I suppose your apology isn't all that sincere."

She shifted slightly, as if ready to walk away.

"We'll do it! We'll doit!" Clarissa shrieked, panic cracking her voice. She shot to her feet and, without a second's hesitation,swung her arm back. Her palm cracked against Gareth's cheek with every ounce of strength she could muster.

The sharp smack echoed through the room. Caught completely off guard, Gareth's head snapped to the side.He staggered, clutching his stinging cheek, eyes wide with disbelief."Clarissa! Are you out of your damn mind? You actually hit me?" "What-you think I wanted to?" Clarissa fired back, her voice trembling with fury and humiliation.

Gareth's eyes went blood-red. He roared, raised his hand, and slapped her across the face just as hard.

"Gareth! You dare hit me?" Clarissa screamed, launching herself at him like a wildcat.

"Damn right I dare! You bitch!" Gareth bellowed, losing what little self-control he had left.

The two of them erupted into an all-out brawl-slaps flying,nails scratching, curses ripping through the air. The room exploded into chaos.

Even the hospital security guards and the director froze, too stunned by the sheer absurdity of the scene to step in.

And through it all, Hannah watched in silence, her expression perfectly calm, as if none of it touched her in the slightest.She'd seen enough.

Turning away, Hannah glanced at Vincent and murmured,"1′S too noisy. Let's go."

"Alright." He reached for her hand and led her out.

The car wound its way back to the estate.

When Hannah stepped into the main hall, she stopped dead in her tracks.

The place was unrecognizable. What had once been cold and austere now shimmered with warmth and romance.

Golden roses-her favorite-covered every corner, their petals catching the soft candlelight. On the marble floor, candles had been arranged in the shape of a heart, flickering gently.

Servants stood in perfect rows on either side, each holding an elegantly wrapped gift box. All these presents were for Hannah.

Hannah moved forward quietly, accepting the gifts one by one.

Vincent didn't take his eyes off Hannah. He studied every flicker of emotion across her face, every hesitation in her step.His voice carried a trace of anticipation."Do you like it? I had all of this prepared for you."

Hannah finally lifted her head, meeting his gaze. Her tone was cool,puzzled. "This is where you're planning to propose? Just here,inside the estate?"

Vincent's brows drew together."Yes."

He hesitated and then asked again, his voice lower, heavier,"Do you like it?"

"No." The word fell from her lips without a moment's pause.

The air seemed to crack. Vincent's face darkened, his deep-set eyes clouded with raw frustration. "Hannah, is there nothing I can do that will ever satisfy you?"

"That's not it." Her voice was quiet, tinged with disappointment as she held his gaze. "I thought I made myself clear last time ... I want you to value me, just like the way I once valued you.At the very least, do not propose right here. Not at home.Doing it here makes me feel like I'm not important enough to you."

"I do value you!" Vincent's voice rose, rough with frustration.He couldn't understand. He had spared no expense-world-class florists, designers, all working around the clock to transform this place for her. He thought she'd be touched,overwhelmed,convinced of his devotion. But she wasn't. "I can't feel it." Hannah's tone softened, her eyes refiecting a measured longing he had never been able to grasp. "Vincent,what I want is simple. A proposal somewhere outside,somewhere alive. Balloons, a green lawn, fireworks... just you and me. That would be enough."

"Outside?" Vincent's hands shot up, gripping her shoulders.His hold was a shade too tight, his voice low but edged with suspicion. "Do you really want a sense of ceremony...or are you just looking for a chance to escape in the middle of the proposal?" Otherwise, it didn't make sense. Why did she keep rejecting him?

Hannah flinched under the pressure of his grip. Lifting her gaze,she met his eyes with a look so raw that it cut through the air between them. "You still think I want to run away?" Her voice trembled with hurt. "Vincent, I gathered all my courage just to even consider remarrying you. All I want is a proposal with a little magic-something that fulfills the small dreams I've carried since I was a girl. But in your eyes, I'm always calculating Always ready to run..."

Her words lingered, heavy and accusing, sinking into the silence.

But Vincent's unease didn't loosen its grip on him.

They stood there, locked in a taut silence that threatened to snap at any second.

As if resisting the temptation to throw up, Hannah suddenly put a palm to her lips and hurried into the bathroom.