Chapter 494

Hannah studied Vincent's face, forcing lightness into her voice."So, where shall we head next? Perhaps we could find somewhere to eat? I'm actually quite hungry."

Vincent's stare pierced through her like a blade. "That's your response? After everything that just unfolded back there, food is what occupies your thoughts?"

Hannah held his blazing gaze without flinching. "What else do you expect me to say? The matter is concluded, isn't it?"

Vincent nearly erupted with bitter laughter at her casual dismissal. He planted his hands on either side of her seat,trapping her completely. "You dragged me into your elaborate game today, manipulated me like some chess piece, exploited every ounce of trust I offered you-and now you believe you can simply wave it all away? Just casually suggest we 'find somewhere to eat' and pretend nothing happened?"

Hannah's composure wavered for just an instant before settling back into place. She averted her gaze, her tone growing distant. "Game? I don't follow. You're seething with anger right now,too agitated for rational thought. We both need space to regain our composure."

She moved to unfasten her seatbelt, preparing to exit the vehicle.

"You're not walking away!" Vincent's fingers closed around her wrist like a vise, leaning even closer. "Look at me! Wasn't today all a setup for Erica? You planned every detail from the instant you suggested this weekend outing, didn't you? You exploited my emotions, my vulnerability, and turned me into the perfect weapon for your revenge plot, didn't you?"

Hannah found herself pinned beneath his scorching gaze, his grip cutting painfully into her delicate wrist.

Silence stretched between them for several heartbeats, her lashes trembling almost imperceptibly. "Yes. It was absolutely my scheme-calculated from the very instant I suggested this outing."

She abandoned all pretense. "But you care for me, don't you?Why are you so unwilling to do me this small favor? You lost nothing in the process-merely played your part alongside me.I achieved what I wanted... I was happy... Weren't you?"

Her tone suggested she was discussing something perfectly ordinary, utterly inconsequential.

Crushing disappointment and rage swirled in Vincent's dark eyes. "If you intended to orchestrate this entire charade,couldn't you have at least confided in me? Do you have any idea how much I valued today? I crammed every ounce of work into weekdays, burned through countless late nights-all to free this single day for you. And what about you? Nothing but deception! Did my feelings ever cross your mind?"

Witnessing the rawv anguish in his expression, Hannah felt something sharp pierce her chest. She turned away, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "Can't we simply consider what transpired a minor detour? There's still plenty of time-we can still go on our date."

She was deflecting desperately, attempting to salvage the situation by proposing they proceed with their date.

Vincent watched her frantic efforts to dismiss everything, his fury gradually dissolving into profound exhaustion. He released her wrist and sank back against the leather seat, weariness coating every word. "You're missing the entire point. What l crave is transparency-genuine openness between us. I need you to understand that I'll always stand in your corner.Whatever battles you choose to fight, I'll support you

Whatever battles you choose to fight, I'll support you completely. But you consistently keep shutting me out."

Hannah maintained her silence, her gaze fixed on the world beyond the glass.

Vincent shifted toward her, his eyes searching hers as he spoke with deliberate care. "The next time you devise a strategy,will you include me in the conversation rather than treating me like some chess piece you can manipulate at your convenience?"

After an extended pause, Hannah finally broke her silence."I apologize... I did exploit you. But... "

Her tone transformed as she locked eyes with him. "I cannot bring myself to share everything with you at this moment.These are personal vendettas, private wars I must wage alone.There's no reason to entangle you in such darkness. You don't belong to me."

Her frigid, detached declaration cut through Vincent's chest like a blade, flooding him with overwhelming despair and powerlessness. He turned away wordlessly, directing his attention back toward the window, offering no response.

Hannah observed his rigid, silent silhouette, complex emotions stirring within her chest. She shifted closer, her voice growing uncertain. "Didn't we establish boundaries earlier? No questions asked, yet you persist in your interrogations."

He remained silent.

She leaned even nearer, pressing a gentle kiss against his firmly sealed lips. "Stop overthinking. Isn't what we have now good enough?"