Chapter 398

Vincent kept refilling his glass, drinking steadily, his expression unreadable. There was no flicker of rage,no trace of feeling-none of the response Bobby anticipated. Instead, à cold, slight curl touched the edge of his lips. That woman couldn't be Hannah.Had to be an imposter.

Vincent knew better than anyone that the true Hannah was never returning. Especially not after what he had done to her. She despised him-despised him enough to flee as far as she could. She would never willingly set foot here again.

Vincent tilted his head back and emptied another drink, letting the sting scorch down his throat and burn like embers in his gut.

Bobby had been absent from Dorbarrow for months,yet stories about Vincent and Hannah had still reached him. He leaned closer, dropping his voice.

"Vincent, you certain you don't wish to verify? Seems like your ex-wife was with Claude."

Vincent swallowed hard and placed his glass aside,his face still frozen like stone. "I'm not interested," he muttered without raising his eyes. "Forget it. Let's just keep going."

Meanwhile, in the adjoining private room, Claude's features were shadowed as he regarded Hannah."Should we leave? Head somewhere else?"

"What's the point?" Hannah's reply was calm,steady, and almost detached. "If this was bound to happen, it will. I came back aware I might see Vincent."

She looked at Claude and gave a faint, firm smile."Besides, you traveled all this way. The meal's already ordered. No sense wasting it."

Claude's tension loosened slightly. He nodded and lifted his fork again, putting on a warm grin. "Taste this crab bisque before it cools. It's best when warm."

The two continued their meal. They kept their voices low, quietly returning to their earlier subject.

Dinner ended soon after, and Hannah and Claude moved toward the exit.

Shortly after, Vincent's group emerged from their private room.

They crossed paths at the entrance of the Gilded Restaurant.

For an instant, the atmosphere itself seemed to freeze.

Vincent strode at the center of his companions, his presence dominating despite the alcohol, his command radiating like a silent tempest.

Hannah stood with Claude, clad in an ivory cashmere sweater, her long hair spilling loosely across her shoulders,black-rimmed glasses softening her face.

Vincent's gaze drifted indifferently across the gathering. When his eyes slid over Hannah, there was no break, as though she wvere merely another

stranger in the throng.

Bobby, however, blinked hard and burst out,shattering the stillness, "Ms. Scott? Damn... It's been a while!"

Hannah lifted her head at the voice, meeting his stare briefly before offering a polite nod.

Vincent didn't spare her even a glance. He kept walking,calm and unhurried. But as he brushed past,his step faltered-barely, almost invisible. He never turned his head. His eyes stayed fixed ahead.And then, in a tone low yet sharp enough to pierce her directly, he said, "Stop shadowing me."

Hannah widened her eyes and froze for a heartbeat.Shadowing him? What nonsense was that? Absurd.

She swallowed back the retort burning in her throat,her face steady as she slid her arm through Claude's and walked straight out.

Claude's mouth curved faintly. He hadn't foreseen that response from Vincent. Fascinating.

The two parties parted without speaking further.

In the dim edge of the lobby, Erica had witnessed every moment. Her brows tightened, fists clenching at her sides. Hannah was back? But Claude had claimed she'd settled abroad...

"Damn it!" Erica hissed under her breath, her eyes sparking with venom. She had endured too much,sacrificed too much, clawed her way too far to allow Hannah's return to wreck everything.She had to act.

At dawn the next morning, Hannah reached the office before the others.

But when she got to her desk, the pile of documents she had left the day before was missing. She frowned lightly bout said nothing.

Rising from her chair, she walked to Leonard's office."Mr. Yates, where are the data files I left on my desk yesterday?"

Leonard lifted his eyes lazily from behind his coffee

mug. "You left early yesterday and slipped behind,"he said, tone slow with apathy. "The project group couldn't wait, so I had Marissa and the rest handle them last night."

Hannah did not argue. It was pointless to argue here."Then what's my task for today?"

Leonard set aside his'mug and reclined in his chair,his heavy frame sinking into the leather. Crossing his arms across his stomach, he said casually, "The urgent work is finished. Nothing much left for you now."

Then, as if reminded of something, he suddenly raised his voice to the entire floor. "Hey, folks! Check if you've got any minor jobs lying around.Hand them over to our new associate, Ms. Preston, so she can get some practice. She must not sit idle!"

His voice scraped through the quiet office like grit.But silence was all that answered him.

Hannah's lips curved faintly. So, he was the one leading the charge in shutting her out.