Chapter 436

Hannah received the message just as her workday wrapped up. With hurried steps, she made her way straight to the police station.

Inside the interrogation room, Leonard sat handcuffed in the chair.

The moment she stepped through the door, Leonard lurched forward, only to be yanked back by the handcuffs. His face twisted with rage as he bellowed, "Natalie, how did you even survive a car with failed brakes? This is unfair!"

Hannah moved to stand in front of him, her eyes cold and unflinching. "Was it you who tried to kill me,or did someone else order you to do the dirty work?"

Her sharp presence made Leonard instinctively recoil, though he quickly jutted his chin up. Panic flickered in his eyes as he shouted, "O-Of course, it was only me! Who else was involved? You messed with my life!Because of you, I lost my job, and my wife threatens divorce every single day! I hate you-l wish you were fucking dead already!"

Hannah let him rant, her silence pressing down heavier than his words. When he finally ran out of breath,she spoke slowly, every word deliberate. "You strutted around work acting invincible, and you never once bothered to learn if I even owned a car. So tell me-how could you possibly know which car I was driving after you were fired? And I have more thanone car. How did you know which one I took that day or where it was parked?"

Letting out a low,cunning laugh,Leonard retorted,"Trail you a few times and I figure out everything.I've had my eye on you for a long while."

Hannah arched a brow, her lips curling into a razor-edged smile. "Stalking me, huh? Well, congratulations-you just added another charge. Illegal surveillance and attempted murder.®With that record, you'll rot in prison for the rest of your pathetic life."

"You set me up!" Leonard's face twisted as he caught his mistake. Rage kindledin his eyes, sharp and burning. Snatching up the steaming enamel coffee mug, he hurled it at her with a roar. "You damn bitch! Go straight to hell!"

Hannah jerked back instinctively, but before the cup struck, a figure burst through the doorway and threw himself in front of her.

A hiss of liquid followed by a sharp splash-the scalding coffee splattered across Vincent's back.

Gavin moved in quickly to restrain Leonard and then straightened, concern sharp in his voice. "That coffee was boiling! Mr. Jones, any burns?"

Still rattled, Hannah turned wide eyes toward Vincent. "Why are you here?"

Vincent held her gaze,voice low and scoffed.′′Are you hurt?"

Their words overlapped, tumbling out almost together.

Hannah gave a faint shake of her head.

Vincent had been monitoring the case closely ever since he learned she filed the report. The moment Gavin's message reached him, he dropped everything and rushed over.

Gavin stepped forward, his tone brisk. "Mr. Jones, Ms. Scott, there's nothing else to handle here. You'd better go now. That burn isn't minor-it needs immediate treatment."

Vincent nodded slightly, saying no more.

Having signed off on her statement, Hannah walked out of the police station with him at her side.

Vincent's car waited quietly at the curb outside the station, the glossy black vehicle catching faint reflections from the streetlights.

Derek stepped forward quickly, opening the rear door with practiced respect. "Ms. Scott, it's been a while,"he greeted warmly.

Hannah gave him a polite nod before turning toward Vincent. "You should let Derek drive you straight to the hospital." Vincent ignored her suggestion, his eyes fixed on her instead. "You didn't bring your car, did you? I'll take you home first."

His hand reached out naturally, fingers brushing her wrist.

She instinctively tried to slip away, her wrist twisting just slightly-when a sharp breath escaped him, his brow knitting in pain.

Hannah's movements stilled. "It's that serious?" Her voice carried the concern she did not realize was there.

"Just a little," he murmured, though his gaze lingered on her. "Get in the car."

Faced with his unyielding insistence, Hannah finally gave in and slipped into the back seat without a word.

Vincent slid in beside her while Derek eased the car smoothly toward Sterling Heights.

When they arrived and the car rolled to a stop, Hannah pushed the door open and stepped out,Vincent following close behind.

"Shouldn't you be heading to the hospital?" Hannah asked, her brow furrowed.

"It's nothing more than a minor burn," Vincent replied evenly, as if the man who had winced so sharply outside the police station had been someone else.

Hannah's gaze lingered on him in silence. A minor burn? Then why the wince was so loud earlier? She chose not to challenge him further and headed home without another word.

Vincent trailed after her, the two stepping into the elevator one after the other.

Inside the confined space, the air grew still, the closeness between them carrying an unspoken tension.

The elevator doors slid open on the twenty-second floor, and Hannah made her way down the quiet corridor toward her apartment. Vincent lingered a step behind, his presence shadowing her.

She unlocked her door and then glanced back at him with a cool reminder.RJOur place is one floor down."The message was clear-he could leave now.

Vincent gave a short nod as if he were about to turn away. Then, as though something suddenly came to

mind, he pivoted back, his expression troubled. "I just realized my water's out. Mind if I borrow your shower?"

Her refusal came without hesitation. "That's not possible."

He frowned, his voice carrying a trace of grievance. "But I got myself burned and my clothes wet only because of you."

"That's not my fault," she countered, irritation flickering in her eyes. "I never asked you to throw yourself in front of me. I could've dodged on my own-you were just being overbearing."

With that, she moved to shut the door, her hand pressing the edge to swing it closed.

Vincent reached out instinctively. The heavy door clipped across his fingers with a sharp thud.

A stifled groan escaped him, his face tightening as his knuckles reddened and swelled against the frame.