Chapter 47

"Go home." Vincent's tone was as cold as ever.

Derek grumbled silently to himself. Vincent practically lived at the hospital these days, and people might start thinking he'd moved in for good.

Right then, Vincent's phone buzzed. Brinley's name flashed on the screen. He picked up without delay."Vincent..." Her voice shook, barely holding it together. "Everyone online is tearing me apart. I can't handle this. I'm not the villain they make me out to be."

Vincent could hear her quick, shallow breaths through the line. His voice grew gentler. "Try to stay calm.I'll handle it."

A tiny, broken plea slipped out. "Will you still visit me?"

"I'll see you tomorrow." He offered a few more comforting words before ending the call. He then pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, trying to focus. "Derek, leak some juicy celebrity news to the press. Distract them from Brinley. And start filing lawsuits against anyone posting defamatory comments."

Unable to read Vincent's expression, Derek quietly responded, "Got it."

Vincent cracked the window, letting the wind in. The breeze cleared his head, if only a little.

Back at the Jones estate, Hannah finished up her work around ten and slipped away to the bathroom for a shower.

Stepping out of the bathroom wrapped in just a towel, Hannah froze, her heart skipped a beat.Vincent stood there, leaning against the doorframe,as silent as a shadow.

"So, you finally decided to leave the hospital?" she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. She hadn't seenI him at home for three days, but she'd seen his face plastered all over Brinley's social media every single day.

"I camne straight from work," Vincent replied, his tone as chilly as ever.

Hannah just shrugged, her words flat. "Oh." She couldn't care less where he returned from.

Vincent's gaze sharpened. "What's with those comments online?"

Hannah blinked. So, he'd shown up just to confront her over the screenshot she'd shared of Brinley's private message. Naturally, he showed up to defend Brinley.

Hannah's jaw tightened. "You've seen it. Was there any point coming all this way just to ask?"

Yes, she'd posted that screenshot deliberately.Making Brinley feel utterly humiliated was exactly what she wanted. So what if it was petty?

Vincent's hand shot out, catching her at the waist,

his expression impossible to read. "You were serious?"

She tried to break herself free, knee flying up in a sharp warning, but he dodged and trapped her,pressing his leg between hers.

"Damn right I was." Hannah shot back, refusing to back down. It seemed Brinley had him completely wrapped around her finger. All it took was one post,and he was storming back, ready to pick a fight on her behalf.

The longer Hannah stared at Vincent, the more she felt sick to her stomach.

"Young, energetic, won't let you down in any department?' Is that really your type? You'd really dump me for someone like that?" Vincent's jaw clenched as his mind flashed back to the top comment he'd seen online.

"What are you talking about?" Hannah blinked in confusion.Then it hit her-he must've seen the top comment she'd liked on that post. So he wasn't here to defend Brinley afer all?

Hannah's mind whirled, her irritation momentarily replaced by confusion.

While she was still piecing things together, Vincent suddenly leaned down and bit her on the collarbone,almost as if to punish her. "You're trying to drive me insane," he said, voice low and rough.

"Ow!" Hannah hissed, pressing her hands against his chest to create some distance. "Are you insane?"

She fought to break free, twisting in his embrace.

But Vincent wasn't about to let her go. With one swift motion, he pinned her wrists above her head,the cool metal of his cufflinks pressing into her skin.

She jerked back instinctively, trying to put space between them.

But Vincent wasn't finished. Hle grabbed her by the waist and lifted her, setting her down on the vanity. "Vincent, what do you think you're-" Her protest was cut short as he crashed his mouth onto hers, the kiss hard and possessive.

He bit down on her lower lip until shetasted blood,the sharp tang spreading between them.

That was enough. Hannah shoved him off with all her strength, wiping her lips and shooting him a look of disgust. "If you want sex, go crawl back to Brinley.Get the hell away from me!"