Chapter 524

From that night on, Hannah and Vincent started spending time as a couple.

Fortune seemed to favor Hannah since then. Both her personal life and her career flourished unexpectedly.

Driven by her unwavering and strategic leadership, the Luminara Group's performance skyrocketed,continuously shattering revenue records. Her seat as CEO grew ever more unshakable, her reputation increasingly respected across the industry.

On this particular afternoon, Hannah wrapped up her tasks with brisk efficiency and made her way to the underground garage, her steps light with cheer.

While making her way toward the car, she slipped on a hands-free device, her lips curving into a relaxed smile while chatting with Vincent. "Alright, I know you're tied up. Aren't you working overtime for a meeting?No need to pick me up. I drove today-I can head home on my own."

From the other end came Vincent's voice, tinged with a hint of playful accusation."We're still in the early days of our relationship, aren't we? Why are you treating your boyfriend so coldly, not even giving me a chance to pick you up?"

Amused by his sudden clinginess, Hannah let out a laugh and flicked her eyes to her watch. "Let me remind you that it's been less than eight hours since we parted this morning."

With a drop in tone, Vincent spoke in sudden solemnity. "Is that so? It feels like forever."

With a soft giggle, she remarked, "Wow, I don't expect you to be this clingy."

"Clingy?" Vincent shot back with faint indignation. "All I want is a little more time with you by my side."

"Alright, alright." Hannah laughed, trying to soothe him. "Now go on. You've got a meeting to run. I'm on my way to meet a client for business discussions."

"A client?" His voice sharpened, tinged with jealousy. "So, in your eyes, that client matters more than I do?" With a light lilt in her tone, Hannah teased,′′Of course. Clients bring me business deals. What about you-can you?"

Her carefree jab left Vincent briefly speechless before he muttered with a trace of exasperation,"A∥you can think about is money."

"Exactly," Hannah replied, cheerful and unbothered. "You nailed it perfectly."

Unable to argue with her, Vincent let out a sot sigh. His tone steadied into something earnest. "My meeting's about to begin. Go see your client, but if you need anything at all, reach out. I'll be there."

Warmth flickered in her chest, though she chose to keep teasing. "Since when did you become so agreeable? You're practically turning into my personal hotline."

"For you," Vincent replied, his voice low and unwavering through the receiver."Only for you."

He had more to say, but before the words could leave him, the line broke into a busy signal.

Suddenly, Vincent's gentle look hardened, his brow drawing into a sharp crease. Something was off.Hannah would never cut the call like that.

He backed out of the call screen and swiftly pulled up her location through the wristband linked to his phone. The upgraded model required no manual input-just the connection to his device was enough to pinpoint her whereabouts.

On the map, her signal hovered in the company's underground garage, then began to drift-but not toward the restaurant she'd mentioned. Instead, it moved steadily toward the city's edge.

A cold weight settled in Vincent's chest. His gut tightened with the certainty that something had gone wrong.

At that moment, Derek stepped into the office, ready to remind Vincent of the upcoming meeting.

Vincent's tone was clipped and urgent. "Push it back. I'm heading out."

Without sparing another word of explanation, Vincent seized his car keys and strode from the office. Inside the underground garage, Hannah had barely touched her car door when a hand ripped her phone from her grasp. Her heart jolted-before she could react, another hand clamped a damp cloth over her nose and mouth. The cloth reeked of a sharp, chemical stench that burned her throat.

She thrashed instinctively, but her strength bled away in seconds. Her vision swam, the world spinning into a haze.

Through the fog, she dimly registered being hauled off the ground, cradled like a parcel, and shoved into the backseat of a wide, leather-lined vehicle.

The engine purred to life, and the car rolled out of the garage with unnerving smoothness.

A hand grazed over her cheek, fingers lingering in a way that made her stomach twist, but she no longer had the strength to fight it. Her eyelids grew impossibly heavy, her consciousness slipping deeper into darkness.

The black limousine slid soundlessly onto the road, carrying her away toward the desolate outskirts.

From the back seat, Claude kept Hannah's head nestled gently on his lap. His gaze clung obsessively to her sleeping face, fingertips gliding over the soft arcs of her brows, brushing her closed eyes, tracing the bridge of her nose before finally pausing at her lips.

Bending closer, he breathed in the delicate fragrance of her hair, his expression twisting with a sickly blend of satisfaction and possessive hunger.

"Mr.Hobbes, we're nearly there," the bodyguard murmured from the front seat.

Claude straightened reluctantly, a flicker of irritation and regret darkening his eyes. The drive was too fast. If only this road could stretch into eternity-just Hannah and him, without any interruptions.

"Fine," Claude said at last, his tone calm, his hand pulling back as his usual mask of composure returned."Go straight to the dressing room. Have everything ready."