Chapter 473

Hannah halted mid-step, her tone still frosty as she spoke without glancing back. "What more could you possibly seek, Mr. Jones?"

Vincent fixed his gaze on her uncaring figure, a wave of irritation surging uncontrollably within him. "Share a meal with me," he murmured after drawing in a long breath, the request slipping out gradually.

Hannah angled her head ever so slightly, as though considering. After a brief pause of silence, she pivoted,her expression carrying a hint of aloofness. "Alright."

Vincent hadn't imagined she would accept so easily. He pulled a crooked twist at the edge of his lips, his voice tinged with derision. "I assumed you'd reject me."

Hannah regarded him, her stare composed and unwavering."It's merely dinner, after all. You're not about to devour me whole."

Then, she diverted the subject, her voice unhurried. "It's been ages since I saw your grandmother. Why don't we go and have dinner with her?"

Vincent warned, "Erica might be there. Grandma has mistaken her for you."

"Even better. A moment to clear the confusion with her,"Hannah mused.

Elsewhere,Erica barged into Claude's office early in the morning, rage carved across her features. Her pitch was harsh and piercing as she snapped, "Hannah and Vincent have met, and Vincent has recognized I was the imitation! You were aware of all this, weren't you? Why didn't you alert me? You left me unprepared. Are you deliberately making a fool out of me?"

Claude had been seated behind his expansive desk, immersed in documents, when her abrupt entry and flood of accusations interrupted him. He knitted his brows slightly and lifted his gaze, a flicker of annoyance flashing across his features. "Didn't I mention it? Odd... I thought I had."

His inflection was dismissive, as if he were speaking of something utterly meaningless. Erica was driven into fury by his unconcerned demeanor. She struck both palms onto the desk and leaned forward,her stare burning into him, her voice trembling with rage. "Claude Hobbes! How can you remain so careless? Don't you fear Hannah and Vincent might get back together? What will you do then?"

Claude's eyes hardened in an instant, his tone leaving no space for debate. "She will never reconcile with him!

Yet, even as he declared it, his grip tightened on the armrest, betraying the uncertainty buried deep inside him.

Just then, Erica's device suddenly vibrated. Annoyed, she snatched it up and unlocked the screen-only to be met by the image Hannah had sent, showing her entwined with Vincent in bed.

Erica's pupils shrank abruptly. She released a piercing shriek, "That witch-she's provoking me!"

Claude recoiled at her sudden cry, his brows tightening as his voice sliced with warning."Control yourself!This is an office, not a bazaar!"

Erica disregarded decorum. The image had shattered her restraint. She slammed the phone onto Claude's desk, the photo glaring up from the display. "See! Your Hannah is already sharing a bed with Vincent-she even sent me the photo to boast. Aren't you unsettled,Mr.Hobbes?"

Claude's gaze lowered to the device. The instant he absorbed the image, his features darkened into something nearly dreadful. "So what if they lay together once-what does that indicate?" His tone carried dismissal, but simmering wrath pulsed underneath. It sounded less like he was questioning Erica and more like he was trying to convince himself.

He smothered the storm within, a spark of determination flickering in his stare. He could delay no further-he had to secure Hannah at his side, and swiftly. A thought struck him-it was time to have Hannah formally meet his family.

Erica let out a derisive laugh."SC(one night together means nothing? How many times would make it matter?"

Claude pushed to his feet, his towering figure radiating an oppressive force. He shot a glare at Erica,his stare glacial. "Look at you. How pathetic! You transformed your face to Hannah's through countless plastic

surgeries and still failed to make Vincent fall for you!" "You..." Erica's complexion reddened at the insult. "You aren't any better! You haven't won over Hannah either.What grounds do you have to taunt me?"

The air in the office went taut with tension.

Finally, Erica cast Claude a venomous glare. As she departed, she flung back a warning. "They got laid once,and they might do it again. Keep your Hannah on a tighter chain, or after all your plotting, you'll be left with nothing."

Claude smirked. Left with nothing? No-he was not Erica. He would never let that occur.