Chapter 391

"I have no alternative." Hannah's tone was disturbingly steady,her fingertip driving harder into the trigger. "Or do you honestly think I'd hesitate to fire?"

Her finger curled tighter, the muzzle pressing deeper into her own temple, leaving a shallow mark.

Vincent's chest froze solid. There was no uncertainty. She meant it.

"Fine..." Vincent gave in at last, forcing the sound past his clenched jaw as he snapped an order, "Stand down."

None of the men in black dared stall. They dropped their weapons, hauled their bleeding comrades, and rushed back toward the tree line bordering the helipad.

Moments later, the blood-smeared helipad descended into an eerie hush.

Hannah held the gun firmly against her temple, her eyes sharpened to a blade. "Claude! Move your men onto the helicopter!"

"You hop in first." Claude strode up beside her, reaching as if to take the gun from her hand.

Hannah dodged his hand, her voice slicing with absolute finality."I go last. Get them aboard, now."

Claude drew in air sharply, crushing the surge in his chest. With a harsh flick of his hand, he commanded his men, "Go! Follow her lead! Get inside!"

One after another, Claude's men clambered into the cabin.Once the finaL figure vanished inside, Claude set his foot on the Once the final figure vanished inside, Claude set his foot on the ladder. Only then did Hannah's rigid body begin to loosen-if only slightly.

At last, she let the weapon drift down from her head.Without a single glance toward Vincent, she pivoted and walked straight toward the cabin without pause.

She was just about to climb inside when Vincent's voice cut across the thunder of the rotors. "These past days..." His tone was raw, stripped bare. "Did you ever-even for one instant-mean any of it with me?" Just one moment. That was all he asked.

Hannah stilled, but she didn't turn. The rotor wash flung her hair and skirt in violent streams, yet she remained fixed.

Seconds stretched unbearably long

At last, she answered,"No."

A single word. lcy. Absolute.

She didn't stop. Didn't falter. She entered the cabin.

The helicopter lifted, blades shredding the thick air. And then,it vanished into the endless, ashen sky, leaving Vincent rooted there, emptied and broken.

The agony in his abdomen overcame Vincent. He collapsed to one knee, his voice hoarse yet commanding. "Send someone after them. At once."

"Yes."

Inside the helicopter, Hannah's gaze stayed on the clouds tearing past the window as she spoke, her voice low and unwavering. "Claude, Vincent won't drop this. The diversion helicopters... Are they in place?" Claude sat across from her, posture rigid, expression unreadable. "They're in flight," he said. "I readied four private models-same make, same design. Each heading for a separate route. Passenger sheets, flight records, tail codes-we erased everything. Even if Vincent unleashes his entire force, he'll be chasing shadows for days."

A faint chill of triumph edged his tone. "Catching us now will be like scouring a desert for a single grain."

Hannah inclined her head, unsurprised."Good."

Claude hesitated and then voiced the question he'd been holding back, "Hannah, you're not returning to Dorbarrow, are you?"

She turned, composed, answering without hesitation,"No. Not for the near future."。

He searched her features. "This is final?"

"It is." Her words carried quiet fatigue, a heaviness unshakable and final. "For now, the only thing I care about is seeing my mother recover. The injuries from the crash left complications,and I want her where she can heal in safety. And I've already taken an extended leave from the company."

At the memory-the wreck, her father's death, her mother's unending fight through pain-her chest tightened to the point of breaking.

Claude paused and then said with quiet resolve, "Then I'll remain with you. With both you and Margaret."

This time, Hannah didn't resist. Her eyes softened, just slightly,exhaustion laid bare. "All right," she whispered. "It'll help her if you're close. She trusts you."

She wasn't mistaken. Margaret had always placed faith in Claude few others earned. A month later, at a discreet clinic by the quiet coastal city in Cavendria. Margaret was beginning to resemble herself once more.With careful treatment and Hannah's unbroken care, her progress was steady.

That afternoon, Claude came to find Hannah. After a moment's silence, he spoke of Vincent, watching her closely. "I heard after Vincent was shot in the abdomen, things turned dire.Severe infection inside. He lay unconscious in intensive care for weeks."

Hannah lowered her lashes, her expression unreadable, her voice flat. "And?"

"He survived," Claude replied, tone weighted with gravity. "The word is, he regained consciousness recently. Over the past month, his men have been tearing the world apart in their search for you-relentless, obsessive, every lead exhausted,yet nothing. But now that he's awake, even confined to a hospital bed, with his will and command..." He paused, his tone sharpening. "The game shifts. His strategies. His influence. His grip. We need to prepare."

Hannah finally raised her eyes, fixing on the expanse of blue sea outside. Her tone was glacial. "I know."

She was well aware that Vincent had always been relentless.He never stopped until what he got what he wanted.

But even Hannah hadn't foreseen how fast-or how mercilessly -Vincent would strike again.