Chapter 576

Scorpio's brows knitted in confusion. "Mr. Ward,is this truly necessary? Perhaps the sea has already swallowed Ms. Scott whole..."

Brixton cut in, his voice sliding back into its usual,measured calm. "We have a scheduled meefing with Vincent, haven't we? Suppose Hannah was indeed gone, and we find her body. If Vincent doesn't believe the corpse we sent was Hannah, then we'll show him her true corpse. That is a sharper card to play in this negotiation."

Enlightenment struck Scorpio like a light switching on. "I'll take care of it right away!"

He departed briskly, his footsteps echoing determination.

Brixton lingered alone, silence draping itself over him

like a heavy cloak. After a long moment, he moved as if guided by impulse, drifting into the kitchen below deck.

Kayce, elbows deep in breakfast preparations,straightened respectfully. "Mr. Ward, what brings you here? Do you need something?"

Fixing his gaze on the barren stove, Brixton murmured, almost absently, "Prepare me a bowl of beef pasta."

Kayce blinked in surprise and then quickly responded, "Of course."

His hands worked swiftly, familiar as clockwork,chopping and stirring with practiced rhythm.

Soon, a steaming plate of beef pasta sat before Brixton,fragrant with warmth.

Brixton took a bite, chewed slowly, and set the fork down with quiet finality. "This isn't the same taste,"he whispered, an unfamiliar note of loss threading through his voice. It lacked the flavor Hannah used to

bring to life.

Without another glance, Brixton turned and walked out. He knew Scorpio spoke the bitter truth: once cast into the sea,how could Hannah still be alive?

A sharp, piercing ache surged within him-alien,unwelcome, yet undeniable. It was the strange discomfort of grief. He finally understood the weight of death, not as an abstract notion but as a blade drawn across his own chest. For the first time,someone else's absence had carved real pain into him.

Meanwhile, aboard the Windchaser, Vincent and Hannah had finalized their rescue plan.

The core idea was simple: Vincent would meet Brixton as scheduled the next day to draw attention away, while Hannah would lead the team Vincent left behind to slip aboard the Odin and carry out the rescue.

If that failed, they had a fallback. They would wait for the "division of spoils" banquet in a few days, sow discord over how the spoils were split, and use the ensuing chaos as cover-Vincent's people either launching an external attack or slipping in amid the confusion for the rescue.

"Tomorrow, I'll meet him as planned," Vincent said,studying the nautical chart with a calm face.

Hannah watched the handful of men preparing to accompany him and worried aloud. "You're taking too few people. Brixton's side will be heavily guarded.What if-"

Vincent took her hand and stopped her. "I'm the decoy. I only need enough to draw their focus. Your team is the key. Penetrating deep into enemy territory for a rescue requires enough men and enough firepower. Don't worry. I'll read the situation and adapt."

Hannah knew the plan made sense, but her heart still tightened. "Promise me you won't get hurt."

"All right," Vincent said, looking at her with depth."You too. Protect yourself first. Safety comes before

everything."

He pulled her into a tight embrace, reluctance in his voice. "It took so much effort to finally be reunited,yet we have so little time together."

Hannah buried her face against his steady chest."Once this is over and we're safe, we'll have time-plenty of it."

A pause, and then Vincent spoke quietly,the words heavy. "Hannah, when we get back safely,-will you remarry me?"

She lifted her head,surprised."Hm?"

His gaze was earnest. "Being apart this time made me realize how close I came to losing you forever."

He hesitated, voice thickening. "If... If something happens to me and we aren't remarried, I fear I won't be able to die in peace. Even in death, I want to be known as 'Hannah's husband'" His eyes did not waver from hers.

Hannah's chest tightened. She covered his mouth with her hand. "Don't say that. Nothing will happen to us. We'll return safely, and after that we'll be together forever-never to be separated again."

Vincent's eyes flared with emotion. "Is that a promise?"

She met his look and nodded solemnly. "Yes. I promise."

Joy broke over Vincent's face, and he pulled her into his arms once more.