Chapter 853

The steam from the hot pot still lingered in the air as the trio stepped out of the restaurant, only to be blocked by an unwelcome figure.

Vincent Croix had somehow slipped out of the hospital. He stood under the streetlight in a crisp suit, the bandage covering half his face doing nothing to hide the venom in his eyes.

"Ugh," Vivian Dempsey muttered under her breath, tugging Bianca Langley's arm to steer her away.

Vincent's gaze slithered after them like a serpent. Despite his polished appearance—even his shoes gleamed—an innate coldness radiated from him.

Bianca swiftly slid on her sunglasses and turned her face away.

Evelyn Carter and Alexander Hamilton moved in unison, forming a protective wall between them. Alexander's tall frame cast a long shadow under the streetlight, completely shielding Bianca.

"I need to talk to you," Vincent said, his voice dripping with ice.

The air froze for several seconds.

"She's not interested," Evelyn replied coolly.

Vincent's eyes locked onto Bianca's shadow. "Even if you're sentencing me to death, I deserve to know why. Unless..." His voice dropped to a whisper. "You actually have no proof?"

The words struck like a knife, hitting its mark with precision.

Bianca's nails dug into her palms. Behind the sunglasses, her eyes were bloodshot, but her voice remained eerily calm. "Proof? You're not worth it."

Vincent smirked. He knew her too well—this reaction was exactly what he wanted.

"That hot pot place," he drawled, "was where we had our first date."

"You're mistaken," Bianca scoffed. "I come here every week."

A dead leaf spiraled between them.

Suddenly, Vincent reached for her sunglasses. "Then why won't you look at me?"

Smack!

Vivian slapped his hand away. "Touch her again, and I'm calling the cops!"

Vincent's expression darkened. The humiliation of being hauled away by the police in the capital was still fresh, and that prickling discomfort returned.

"I just wanted a meal," he said, softening his tone. "Consider it repayment for getting hurt because of you."

Vivian trembled with rage. "You shameless bastard! Who was that car really aiming for?" She yanked her collar aside, revealing a scar on her collarbone. "I haven't even settled this score with you yet!"

Bianca stiffened. She hadn't known Vivian had been targeted too.

Vincent narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected these two women to be so close—his plan was unraveling.

"So what if I did it?" He dropped all pretense. "You shouldn't have meddled."

The chilling honesty sent a shiver down their spines.

Alexander's brow furrowed. If Vincent would admit to this so brazenly, could he really be responsible for Adrian Valentine's death...?