Chapter 425

Hannah's hands on the steering wheel faltered for a brief moment. She turned her head slowly, her eyes settling on Vincent's face through the car window.

Her gaze carried a storm of emotions. "Vincent, if you're doing all this to make up for what you've done to me a year ago, don't bother. It only makes me feel troubled. Besides, nothing you do now will undo your actions."

With those words, she looked away. Her foot pressed hard on the gas, and the car sped off.

Vincent remained standing there, clutching the delicate insulated bag so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He stared after the disappearing car, his eyes clouded with bitterness.

...

Instead of heading straight to the company after leaving Sterling Heights, Vincent wandered aimlessly.Hannah's cold, unyielding words from this morning echoed in his mind, her piercing gaze still imprinted on his heart.

The sting of loss, bitterness, and frustration surged within him. Yet, in the end, all of it settled into a steady,determined resolve.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed Erica's number.

"Hello? Mr. Jones?" Erica's voice came through, carrying a deliberate imitation of Hannah's cooI tone.She hadn't expected Vincent to reach out to her.

Vincent spoke evenly,his voice calm and controlled, tinged with polite warmth.′′My/ grandma hasn't been feeling well lately. If you're free, could you come by my family's house this afternoon to keep her company?"

Ecstasy rushed through Erica. Vincent had invited her to the Jones family residence! That meant he trusted she was Hannah. She suppressed her excitement and replied with a voice that retained its coolness, "I'll think about it. If I'm free,I'll come over."

"Alright," Vincent replied flatly and then ended the call.

Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes, the corner of his lips curling into a cold, faint smile. The bait had been set. The fish would surely bite.

Later that afternoon, in the Jones family's house, Sharon reclined comfortably on the soft sofa while Erica sat beside her, fussing over her with warm attentiveness, offering drinks and desserts with practiced affection.

"Hannah, having you here makes me so happy!" Sharon clasped Erica's hand, her face lighting with relief and joy. "Vincent finally realized he should invite you here. This house feels too empty without you."

"Sharon, please don't say that. Just focus on your health, and I'll visit you as often as I can." Erica's tone was sweet, though a flicker of triumph gleamed in her eyes. At that moment, she felt her place in the Jones family was secure.

Around four o'clock, the living room door swung open. Vincent stepped inside. His gaze flicked over Erica,who sat nestled beside his grandmother, a faint chill flashing in his eyes.

"Vincent!" Sharon called out cheerfully, beckoninghim with a smile. "Come and sit beside me! Hannah has been keeping me company."

Vincent moved to the sofa and took a seat, his eyes lingering briefly on Erica. "Grandma needs peace for her recovery andcan't be left alone. Would you consider living here to keep her company? That way, you'll avoid the hassle of commuting."

"What?" Erica froze, her eyes widening in disbelief, though delight flickered just beneath the surface. Was he really asking her to live at the Jones family residence?

She forced herself to keep calm, swallowing down her excitement. She couldn't afford to look too pleased.She had to play the role.

Like Hannah would, she put on an expression that was just the right mix of hesitation and reluctance. "Is this really okay? It feels like imposing on you. Besides, I already have a place to stay."

"Not at all" Sharon clutched her hand warmly, her eyes glowing with anticipation. "Sweetheart, stay! I would be so happy to have you here!"

"But... Erica lowered her gaze, pretending to hesitate once more, sneaking a glance at Vincent as if seeking his opinion.

Watching her carefully staged performance, Vincent smirked internally. His expression, however, remained composed."My grandma likes you. If your living here makes her happy and helps her recover faster, then it's decided."

Sharon nodded eagerly. "Yes, it's settled."

Though Erica tried to decline several more times out of"pOoliteness," she finally agreed under Sharon's gentle insistence.

Sharon's face lit up, her heart clearly put at ease.

Vincent soon mentioned he had other matters to attend to and excused himself from the living room.

Every bit of this was part of his plan. It was far safer to keep a dangerous person within reach until his people unearthed this woman's true identity.

Over the next two days, Vincent visited Hannah daily. Yet, no matter how often he came, she kept her distance,refusing to let him in.

One afternoon, Vincent deliberately gathered some of Hannah's old belongings from the estate she had lived in a year ago. He intended for returning them to be his excuse to get closer to her.

But when he reached her neighborhood, his car was stopped before it could even enter the garage.

A security guard stepped forward, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, sir. We just received a complaint from a resident saying your vehicle poses a security risk to the community. You're not allowed to drive inside.I hope you can understand."

Vincent didn't need to ask who had made the complaint. He knew instantly-it was Hannah.