Chapter 662

Vera's smile widened as she gestured gracefully toward Hannah.

"Everyone, this is Ms. Scott,a new friend of mine."

With theatrical enthusiasm, Vera indicated the sole vacant spot on the lengthy sofa, positioned as far from Vincent as physically possible. She pressed Hannah with exaggerated hospitality. "Ms. Scott, no need to be shy! Please, make yourself comfortable right there!"

Hannah's lips curved in a polite but cool smile as she bypassed Vera's designated seat entirely. Her eyes swept the room with practiced efficiency before she crossed directly to a solitary armchair positioned opposite Vincent. The placement put her in his direct line of sight, perfectly parallel.

"This will do nicely, thank you," Hannah remarked with unruffled composure, smoothly plucking a wine glass from a server's passing tray.

Vera felt no particular concern. Hannah could sit wherever she pleased, provided it wasn't beside Vincent.

"Well, now that we're all gathered, simply drinking seems rather dull, doesn't it?" Vera's friend, Debby Robertson, let out a delighted laugh as she clapped her hands together to capture everyone's attention. "Why don't we play a game? I've brought some rather entertaining cards!"

The proposal met with eager approval from Vera and the rest of their circle. After all, this intimate gathering had been meticulously arranged to engineer interactions between Vera and Vincent.

Vincent reclined in his armchair, wine glass balanced loosely

Vincent reclined in his armchair, wine glass balanced loosely between his fingers, his features betraying neither interest nor objection, as though he were observing from some distant remove.

Hannah occupied her seat across from him with quiet poise,taking measured sips of her wine.

The game's mechanics were straightforward: spin an empty bottle placed at the table's center, and whoever faced the bottle's neck would select a card from the deck and fulfill whatever challenge it contained. These tasks ranged from answering personal questions to executing various dares.

During the initial rounds, the bottle consistently selected Vera's other companions. They pulled innocuous challenges and lighthearted forfeits that generated steady laughter and maintained the party's buoyant energy.

Then, after yet another spin, the bottle's mouth swung decisively toward Vincent. Conversation died immediately,every pair of eyes locking onto him.

Vera especially felt her pulse quicken with anticipation.

Vincent's expression remained utterly neutral as he reached toward the card deck with casualness, extracting a single card.

Debby snatched it eagerly from his fingers and announced in a gleeful voice, "Kiss the first person of the opposite sex sitting to your left!"

"Whoa-" The room exploded with excited whoops and encouraging whistles.

Seated directly to Vincent's left was Vera. Color flooded her cheeks instantly as she ducked her head with shyness, fingers knotting together nervously, though she couldn't resist shooting a victorious glance toward Hannah.

Hannah's grip on her wine glass tightened almost imperceptibly.

Hannah's grip on her wine glass tightened almost imperceptibly.Her expression gave nothing away as she tipped her head back and drained the remaining wine in one smooth motion. Then,she lifted her gaze, letting it settle squarely on Vincent. She wanted to see what he would do.

Vincent raised his eyes, and across the crowded room, his gaze locked with Hannah's with unmistakable intensity.

As the excited chatter swelled around them, Vincent held his silence for several weighted seconds.

What he did next caught everyone off guard. Instead of looking at Vera, he reached for the liquor bottle on the table,filled his empty glass, raised it to the crowd, and said, "I'll drink three shots as a forfeit."

Before anyone could protest, he threw back three consecutive shots of harsh liquor without flinching.

The celebratory noise died instantly, replaced by uncomfortable silence.

The color drained entirely from Vera's face. She'd never imagined Vincent would dismiss her so thoroughly, so publicly.During their high school years, he'd always singled her out for special attention. Humiliation and crushing disappointment tangled inside her chest.

Debby jumped in hastily. "Well then, no sense stopping now!Let's continue!"

The game limped forward with renewed reluctance, the earlier festive energy unmistakably diminished.

Several spins later, the bottle's neck swung toward Hannah,who'd maintained her quiet observation throughout. All attention shifted to her.

Hannah placed her glass aside with deliberate care, extended her hand with unhurried confidence, and selected a card from

her hand with unhurried confidence, and selected a card from the deck.

Before Hannah could examine the card herself, Vera lunged forward and seized it from her fingers.

"Allow me to read Ms. Scott's challenge aloud!" Vera announced with forced brightness, her eyes scanning the text rapidly.

The original question was innocuous enough:′′|there anyone present who makes your heart race?"

Malicious intent flickered across Vera's features as she deliberately rewrote the question on the spot. "Ms. Scott,the card wants to know if you divorced because you'd fallen for another man?"

The inflammatory question detonated like a bomb among the guests.

"Divorce? Wait, shewas married before?"

"Did she actually have an affair?"

Vera's circle erupted into scandalized murmuring, studying Hannah with expressions mixing voyeuristic fascination and open scorn.

Vera fixed Hannah with a triumphant stare, practically savoring the anticipated spectacle of her squirming with humiliation.

Yet, Hannah's response was nothing more than a tranquil,utterly composed smile. She didn't rush to answer. Instead, her eyes found Vincent's across the room first.

Vincent's features hardened visibly, his brow drawing together as his gaze sliced toward Vera with clear disapproval.

Hannah absorbed Vincent's reaction with quiet acknowledgment before turning back to Vera, her tone

acknowledgment before turning back to Vera, her tone remaining measured but cutting like precision steel. "Miss Oliver, you appear remarkably knowledgeable about my personal affairs for someone I only met hours ago."