Chapter 497

Hannah stiffened briefly, startled by Vincent's sudden outburst and rough movements. She replied evenly, "These aren't birth control pils."

Only at that point did Vincent calm down a bit, lowering his gaze to inspect the bottle clutched in his hand-it was vitamins.His rigid frame eased faintly, yet his voice stayed sharp. "Still,don't take birth control pills."

Fixing his stare on hers, he stressed each syllable. "If a child exists, you'll deliver it.I'll accept responsibility."

Hannah took the bottle back, her voice light. "Calm down.I won't use birth control pills."

He studied her composed, steady expression, assuming it signaled a new silent accord, proof their bond was progressing.His severe features softened, his taut nerves loosening,and he was ready to suggest driving her to work.

Yet before he could, she remarked softly, "Because I can't conceive."

The room froze,

Every gesture, everyline of Vincent's face turned stiff. It was as if the words had passed unheard, and at once as if they had slammed directly into him-his breath faltered. His pupils contracted as he searched her eerily placid features, hunting for even the faintest sign of mockery or malice.

After a long silence, he forced out sound from deep within,his tone nearly cracking. "What did you just say?"

Hannah averted her gaze, her voice calm as though naming something minor. "Exactly what it sounds like."

She paused, her lashes quivering faintly, then added, "I was pregnant once. During the miscarriage, the bleeding was so severe that the doctors declared my uterus too damaged-l can never conceive again."

"You miscarried?" Vincent lunged forward suddenly, his voice trembling. "When did that happen? Why didn't I know? Why hide it from me?"

Hannah finally turned toward him, a faint smile curving her lips."Do you truly think I never tried to tell you? Back then, you never gave me the chance, did you?"

Those wounds hidden by time, though never closed,seemed to tear wide again, spilling raw pain.

She drew a steadying breath. "Even the day I miscarried-when the bleeding began suddenly and terror shook me-I dialed you twenty-nine times, and not a single one connected."

Vincent's chest tightened. He recalled those twenty-nine calls.At the time, he had been overseas, consumed by a critical merger,rushing between unending conferences under crushing demands. When he noticed calls from her, he'd assumed they were trivial, even despised her for disturbing him at such a vital stage-and dismissed them repeatedly in annoyance.

When the calls kept coming, unsettlig him to the core, he'd even powered his phone off. When the deal concluded and he switched it back on, the twenty-nine missed calls had stirred a flicker of unease, but it had drowned quickly in endless banquets and obligations.

He'd only called back once. When she failed to answer, he'd dismissed it, assuming she was pouting.

He'd never considered that, at that moment, she was enduring

He'd never considered that, at that moment, she was enduring such torment alone. A surge of shame and regret clamped around his heart like an unseen grip, suffocating every breath.He was nothing but a bastard. A complete piece of trash.

"I'm sorry." Of all the words available, only those three surfaced-feeble,hollow, and far too late.

A faint curve brushed Hannah's mouth, though her eyes remained cold. "Not being able to conceive isn't such a great burden,honestly. For me, everything-pleasant or painful-I've already made peace with."

Vincent's stare was a storm of turmoil-shock, guilt, and deep sorrow.

Hannah shifted uneasily beneath his heavy gaze. Reflexively,she braced herself, covering it with a joking tone to shatter the oppressive air. "Why keep watching me like that? Want another round?"

Vincent abruptly seized her slender fingers, clasping them tightly in his grip. His eyes glistened with anguish and regret."I mean it-I'm truly sorry."

Hannah tore her hand back, her voice turning frosty,sharp with unmistakable detachment. "Enough. Honestly, Vincent, your apology now is meaningless. I can't return to the woman I was then, whisper'it's fine'-and accept it."