Chapter 515

Vincent fixed his eyes on Hannah and said, "It was an entire year after you departed from Dorbarrow that l finally came to fully understand that it had always been I needed you, not the other way around. The sensation became undeniable."

Hannah's gaze drifted away, seemingly wandering through recollections of that year of freedom. "That year, I truly lived a fulfilling life. I journeyed to countless destinations alone and accomplished countless things. Although exhausting, my spirit felt unbound and joyful."

Vincent's mouth curved into a sorrowful grin. "By contrast, that year was the bleakest for me. Each day seemed like I was simply going through routines.The company kept functioning, contracts were signed,profit accumulated... yet inwardly, I felt utterly vacant.Returning from work to a vacant home, the emptiness added to the void inside me." A heavy stillness lingered between them. There came only the sound of waves breaking against the coastline.

"This is the first time I've ever heard you reveal such feelings." Hannah finally broke the silence with a shade of emotion.

"Yeah," Vincent answered, sharing the same weight of emotion and introspection. "We truly lost so much."

Their failed marriage lacked comprehension and effective communication, and worse, was devoid of the proper response and presence when the other needed it the most.

The ocean wind carried a sting as the evening thickened.

Hannah rose, dusting the grains from her trousers."I feel a lot lighter now. Darkness is falling; let's return."

Vincent rose likewise. "What do you plan to do about Claude?"

"Let it settle," Hannah responded evenly. "To me,he's like an elder brother who matured alongside me.Nothing more. Yet, the things he did, especially that video, crossed the line."

"Video? What video?" Vincent swiftly caught the crucial term in her statement, his chest tightening faintly, brows knitting. What even worse things had Claude done?

Plainly reluctant to elaborate, Hannah vaguely said,"Nothing much, just a video he creepily filmed without my consent."

She refused to dwell on the surveillance footage from the dim chamber at that instant, since it sickened her.

As she turned to depart, her wrist was softly held by him.

"Hold on." Vincent's tone carried from behind her.

Hannah paused and faced him. "What is it?"

"I've got something for you." Vincent's tone bore a

trace of nervousness and anticipation.

"What is it?" Hannah inquired, mildly astonished.

Vincent advanced a step, the ocean wind ruffling the strands upon his brow. He gazed at her, his look steady and intent. "Shut your eyes."

Instinctively, Hannah closed her eyes.

Abruptly, there came a crisp snap of fingers and then several shrill bursts tearing through the nocturnal air.

Her eyes shot open instantly. Radiant fireworks blossomed across the meeting line of sea and sky ahead of her. One after another flared, illuminating the profound night.

Her lips parted slightly; she even forgot to inhale for an instant. "When did you prepare this?" she whispered, her voice tinged with the tremor of surprise.

Vincent stood beside her, his gaze never leaving her profile. "On the way here."

He paused and softly asked, "Does this delight you?"Hannah gazed at the fireworks and nodded eagerly."Extremely delighted... I always carried a particular affection for fireworks."

Vincent knew it. Back when they still dated, she had once dragged him through throngs to watch fireworks, laughing more brightly than the fireworks themselves. Yet, after marriage, he'd sunk into endless duties and disregarded her likes, occupied enough to repeatedly forfeit the chance to see fireworks with her.

The magnificent fireworks display before them had been secretly arranged by him a month earlier. Each shape displayed her initials in singular calligraphy, all carefully chosen by him. Initially, it was meant as part of a declaration of his feelings toward her. But at this instant, he just hoped she was happy.

Hannah lifted her eyes to the heavens, while Vincent quietly studied her. Her gaze glittered brighter than the fireworks.

:

It was uncertain how long it lasted before the fireworks concluded. The brilliance yielded to stillness.

Hannah exhaled lightly, her words tinged with soft sorrow, "Each time after watching fireworks, a slight grief remains. Regardless of how stunning anything may be, it is merely a passing instant, unable to be seized or held."

"But what matters is the journey, not the finish. Isn't that true?" Vincent's tone rose beside her, firm and unwavering. "At the very least, the fireworks we observed together were stunning."

Hannah shifted toward him, teasing, "This hardly resembles something you'd say."

"And what do you think I would utter?" Vincent arched his brow.

"For example, you'd remark, what's so impressive about fireworks?" Hannah's eyes gleamed with mischief.

Vincent appeared faintly doubtful. "Would I really be such a downer?"

"You once were." Hannah's grin broadened.

The two carried on with playful teasing, as though some unspoken change had occurred between them.