Chapter 95

Messages flooded the group chat, each more inflammatory than the last.

Vincent scrolled through them, his face unreadable but for the sharp line of his jaw and a muscle ticking in his cheek. Without a word, he summoned the legal team and thrust his phone at the nearest attorney.

The company attorney accepted it with clammy hands, nerves spiking-why would the CEO hand over his phone?

Vincent's voice cut through the tension, cold and absolute. "File lawsuits against everyone in that group chat for spreading rumors."

The attorney tensed, curious what messages in a group chat could rattle the CEO so badly. Leaning in,he scanned the group members and immediately felt cold sweat trickle down his spine. Those weren't nobodies but heirs to Dorbarrow's most powerful families.

The attorney cleared his throat, voice wavering."Mr.Jones,are you absolutely certain?"

Vincent slammed his pen onto the contract, leaned back in his leather chair, and shot the attorney a razor-sharp look. "Yeah. Is that going to be an issue?"

A glacial look swept across Vincent's face, slicing through the air like a blade.

A bead of cold sweat rolled down the attorney's temple. "Not at all.I am on it."

Vincent offered no further instructions, so the attorney quickly made his exit, moving with the caution of someone tiptoeing past a sleeping predator.

All afternoon, Vincent remained in a foul mood.Anyone unlucky enough to enter his office found themselves on the receiving end of his wrath.

By four, he'd had enough. Lingering in the office wouldn't change much since his mind always wandered to Hannah, his efficiency affected. Leaving work early, he drove straight home-only to find no sign of Hannah.

He loosened his subtly patterned tie, barely masking his irritation, and called out to the housekeeper,"Where is my wife?"

"She still hasn't returned," Aubrey replied, her voice careful.

His expression darkened further, the tension in the foyer ratcheting up another notch.

She hurried to add, "Your mother set off shopping with Miss Gilbert and ought to be home shortly.Meanwhile, your grandmother went out to play chess with a few friends."

Vincent's gaze stayed heavy. "Alright."

"If that's everything, I'll go back to work," she said slipping away as quietly as possible.

Aubrey had barely taken a step before Vincent's voice cut through the quiet once more. "Has my wife been returning home late recently?"

He drifted toward the sofa, dropped into its cushions,and started undoing his cuffs, each motion deliberate, his features set in a frosty mask.

Aubrey hesitated and then answered honestly, "Yes.But only a little earlier than you each time."

The temperature in the air seemed to plummet.Vincent's glare sharpened, and a chill settled over the whole place.

Trying to ease the tension, Aubrey brought over a glass of juice, placing it within easy reach.

Vincent ignored it, perching on the living room sofa as he stared at the door.

Brinley and Danica were the first to return.

Brinley, spotting Vincent home early for once,

brightened instantly and slipped onto the sofa beside him, launching into breezy small talk.

By seven o'clock, as dinner beckoned, Sharon strolled back through the door.

Vincent claimed his lack of appetite and skipped the meal, crossing his arms on the sofa and keeping his gaze on the doorway.

By eight o'clock, Danica wNas deep in conversation with Brinley, while Vincent remained anchored to the same spot, eyes unwavering, waiting for Hannah.

When Sharon had gone to bed at nine, Brinley lingered, offering to keep Vincent company. But he waved her off with a sharp, impatient gesture,sending her upstairs.

It was five past ten when the door finally opened and Hannah stepped inside.

Vincent had been waiting on the living room sofa all this time, a storm brewing in his eyes as she finally came back. "Do you even know what time it is? You still remember this is your home?"

Hannah's mind had spun with details about Nova Tech's product line, so absorbed that she didn't register Vincent's presence in the living room.The unexpected sound of his voice jolted her out of her thoughts.

And honestly, she couldn't fathom what right he had to question her like this. It was just ten o'clock-what was the big deal? And she'd already let Sharon know she'd be back. And hadn't he himself stayed out all night before?

Her irritation flared. "It's just after ten. Don't act like I've been out all night. And since when do you clock my curfew?"

His scowl deepened, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

Refusing to indulge him, Hannah turned toward the stairs, but Vincent moved first, planting himself in front of her, blocking her path with silent, simmering anger.

A brittle sigh escaped her lips as her irritation edged into her voice. "Now what do,you want from me?"

He leaned in, eyes narrowing. "So you've been with Felix all this time?"

Truthfully, she had. The hormone-monitoring wristband design was at a critical phase-there couldn't be any room for error.

Meeting his glare head-on, Hannah didn't even blink."Yes. I was with him the whole time. Satisfied?"

Vincent's face clouded over, his jaw flexing as he tried to hold back something sharper. "Is this all just to rile me up?"

She frowned, completely thrown. "What are you even talking about?"

His frustration boiled over. "First, you accepted the bracelet he picked out for you. Then, you go out and buy him a suit. What's next, candlelit dinners? Aren't you just deliberately trying to make me jealous?Maybe try acting your age." He grabbed her wrist with a sudden, angry movement, turning it until the bracelet flashed in the light. "Do you have any idea what people are saying? The rumor mill thinks you've bagged yourself a new benefactor."