Chapter 516

Several days passed before Erica's flight touched down. The moment she cleared customs, the comprehensive documentation Vincent had arranged to collect was already in his possession.

Vincent wasted no time scheduling a private meeting with Hannah at an inconspicuous café. Placing a substantial envelope on the table between them, he slid it toward Hannah with unmistakable gravity etched across his features. "I've already reviewed everything inside. Brace yourself before you check it out."

Hannah caught the unusual seriousness in his demeanor, immediately sensing something was terribly wrong. Carefully opening the envelope, she extracted the enclosed documents.

Initially, she encountered a series of before-and-after surgical photographs. Her eyes widened in stunned

recognition as she studied the familiar features captured in the images. This wasn't Erica at all. The person documented in these photos was unmistakably Brinley.

A slight tremor ran through Hannah's hands. Yet, she steadied herself, forcing analytical clarity to override her shock. "So Erica's sudden overseas departure wasn't merely for revision surgeries. Her true objective was to seize the opportunity to substitute authentic records linked to 'Erica' at the surgical facility. She's completely assumed Brinley's identity.What an ingenious strategy."

She couldn't deny the sophisticated cunning behind Erica's maneuver.

"Indeed." Vincent's response carried an icy edge."She's committed substantial resources to this endeavor, requiring considerable financial investment."

His fingers drummed against the table surface as his expression darkened. "What intrigues me more is the source of such enormous funding. This amount

exceeds anything she could have accessed independently. Something far more complex lies beneath the surface, and we need to uncover the truth."

Hannah put the documents down on the table and massaged her temples thoughtfully. "Perhaps we should abandon our focus on determining 'her actual identity.' Since she's done such a thorough job, she's probably already erased most traceable evidence.We need to pursue a different approach."

"Agreed." Vincent nodded decisively. "I'll deploy my team to investigate her financial networks and every social connection she maintains. We'll find a way."

Without delay, he dispatched instructions to mobilize every available resource for a comprehensive investigation into all domestic and international assets, plus account transactions linked to Erica's name or potentially connected aliases.

After wrapping up their discussion, Hannah paused uncertainly before speaking. "Vincent, there's something I need to ask..,"

"Go ahead." Vincent immediately turned his attention to her.

"Would it be possible to lend me one of your bodyguards? Just one would suffice." Pauusing,she added, "While I could arrange private security myself, I don't really trust the people from those security companies. Their backgrounds remain unclear. Your bodyguards are both professional and dependable."

Vincent's agreement came instantly. "Absolutely.Take however many you require. I'll make the arrangements immediately."

However, something in her request triggered his concern, causing his brow to furrow. "What's prompted this sudden need for protection? Has something happened?"

Tension crept into his voice immediately.

Not wanting him to overreact, Hannah kept her voice calm. "It's nothing major. Lately, I just have this feeling that someone may be tracking my

movements. Perhaps it's merely paranoia, though it could be illegitimate surveillance. Regardless, the uncertainty makes me uncomfortable."

Vincent's expression grew thunderous. "Is Claude responsible?"

"I'm not sure." Hannah shook her head. "There's no concrete evidence, just a feeling."

"I'm going to confront him!" Vincent began rising from his seat, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Stop!" Hannah's hand shot out to grasp his wrist."Don't act rashly. Right now, my priority is simply ensuring my personal security remains intact.Besides, if someone is genuinely following me, I want to discover their ultimate intentions."

Throughout it all, she maintained her composure.

Vincent grasped her hand in return. "I'm assigning my elite protection team to you!"

"There's no reason to create such a spectacle."Hannah's smile held resigned amusement, "One bodyguard suffices. One bodyguard draws less attention and won't tip off potential observers."

"Two at minimum!" Vincent's tone brooked no argument. "One operating openly, another working covertly,providing mutual backup."

"Just one will do." Hannah shook her head.

Vincent didn't budge. "Trust my judgment. Two."

Recognizing the genuine concern and stubborn determination reflected in his gaze, Hannah eventually exhaled in surrender. "Fine, go with your decision.Just ensure they remain inconspicuous."

Only then did Vincent's tension ease slightly, though his voice carried a stern caution. "The moment anything feels amiss, press the emergency button on your wristband immediately, and I'll reach you in no time."

"Understood. I will." Hannah acknowledged with a nod.

Throughout the following days, two discrete

bodyguards seamlessly wove themselves into Hannah's daily routine, maintaining precisely the right distance to guarantee her protection.

Normalcy appeared to return, and that unsettling sensation of being monitored vanished entirely.Everything felt blissfully peaceful.

Yet, that particular afternoon, Hannah's phone erupted suddenly, the name illuminating her screen causing her pulse to stutter. Claude was calling. She wrestled with uncertainty for several moments before answering, her response deliberately distant and frigid."Hello?"

Claude's voice flowed through the line with its characteristic warmth. "Are you available for dinner this evening? There's a matter I need to discuss with you face to face."