Chapter 537

A chilling notion seized Vincent, wrapping around his chest like an iron chain and nearly choking the breath out of him.

Vincent shoved Derek aside, straining to surge past the police barricade, yet several officers held him back with unyielding force. "Sir, this is a crime scene! You can't cross!"

Vincent's eyes blazed with desperation, his breath coming in frantic bursts. Gripping one officer's arm with trembling hands, he pleaded, his voice quaking, "Officer, among the dead... Tell me, is there... Is there a woman? A woman named Hannah? Is she there?"

The officer, shaken by the raw heartbreak in Vincent's tone, hesitated before giving a grave nod. "There is a female victim. The scene... It is quite tragic."

Darkness clouded Vincent's sight; his knees almost gave way, but Derek caught him in time.

The officer, with practiced calm, gestured toward the row of white-shrouded forms nearby. "The bodies are there. If you need to identify someone, please go there to confirm."

Breaking free from Derek's support, Vincent staggered toward the place pointed out.

Summoning what little strength he had left, he lifted the sheet covering a woman's form-his hands shaking like leaves in the wind. A stranger's unfamiliar face stared back at him. It wasn't her.

A single tear slipped from the corner of Vincent's eye. His chest heaved, a sheen of cold sweat covering him. Thank heaven-it wasn't her.

But relief was quickly eclipsed by an even sharper terror. If Hannah wasn't among the dead, then where was she? All five bodyguards lay slain. What had she endured?

Forcing himself to think, Vincent pulled out his phnone, opening the tracking program linked to Hannah's security wristband. But her signal had vanished into a void, smothered as though by some powerful interference. Just as panic threatened to overtake him, his phone chimed with a new message. The sender was Erica."Shall we meet,Vincent?"

Attached was a location.

Vincent recognized the address immediately. It was the abandoned factory where Erica had once staged her own death, setting fire to her escape.

His eyes narrowed like blades. Erica had set a trap to ensnare Hannah. But the real prey was him.

Vincent turned sharply to Derek. "Gather everyone at our disposal. Follow me!"

"Yes,Mr.Jones!"

Inside the deserted factory, Erica glanced at her watch, a sly smile tugging at her lips as Vincent arrived."Faster than I expected, Vincent."

Vincent stormed in with Derek and several guards, his voice thunderous. "Where's Hannah? What have you done to her?"

Erica laughed, savoring his frantic edge. "Why get so worked up, Vincent? I'm still your aunt in name, aren't I? Shouldn't we catch up first?"

"Catching up?" His eyes burned with fire. Striding forward, he seized Erica by the throat, slamming her against the cold wall. His voice was low and lethal. "I'll ask you once more-where is Hannah?"

Erica gasped for air, her face reddening, yet her eyes glittered with defiance. Through strained breaths,she forced words out. "Go ahead. Strangle me. Kill me if you dare. But if I die, you'll never find her. She'll never...return to your side.."

Her words struck like icy water, dousing the blaze of his fury. His grip slackened, and she collapsed into a fit of violent coughing.

When she finally steadied herself, she leaned against the wall and erupted into a bitter laugh-shrill,haunting, and hollow. "Ha-ha, Vincent! So it's true-you care for her to the very marrow of your bones!" The laughter cut off, and venom replaced it. Her eyes burned with jealousy and bitterness as she gestured to her face. "But look at me! I became her reflection, wearing a face almost identical to hers. Why can't you see me for once? Do you have any idea what I sacrificed to wear this face? Do you know how I suffered through that endless year-my face hidden in bandages, sleepless nights gnawed by fear and pain, unable even to face a mirror?"

Pausing, she added, "I endured it all, believing that once healed, this face would mean you might treat me better. But no! You remain colder than stone,despising me still!"

Her words cracked into a desperate wail. "I love you... I've loved you for more than ten years, and yet you and Hannah intend to cast me into prison? Tell me, what sin have I committed? What crime deserves this cruelty?"