diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts
index 165b379d95..f28a58d939 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/contracts/src/index.ts
@@ -1568,6 +1568,14 @@ export type ParagraphAttrs = {
   trackedChangesEnabled?: boolean;
   /** Marks an empty paragraph that only exists to carry section properties. */
   sectPrMarker?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * w:specVanish on the paragraph-mark rPr (ECMA-376 §17.3.2.36):
+   * "a paragraph mark shall never be used to break the end of a paragraph for display".
+   * The pm-adapter post-process fuses the next paragraph's runs into this block and
+   * drops the successor; the successor's auto-generated list marker disappears with
+   * it. Numbering counters on subsequent paragraphs are unchanged, matching Word.
+   */
+  specVanish?: boolean;
   /**
    * Resolved direction context for the paragraph (inline direction + writing mode).
    * Single source of truth for paragraph direction-aware rendering decisions.
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.test.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.test.ts
index e985738314..7a706c2089 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.test.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.test.ts
@@ -312,6 +312,106 @@ describe('computeParagraphAttrs', () => {
     expect(markerRun?.fontSize).toBe(11);
   });
 
+  // SD-3269: w:vanish / w:specVanish on the paragraph-mark rPr (w:pPr/w:rPr)
+  // apply to the paragraph-mark glyph only (ECMA-376 §17.3.2.36/§17.3.2.41).
+  // They must not leak into the auto-generated list marker's run properties,
+  // or the renderer drops the marker (e.g. "Section 2.01" disappears).
+  it('does not leak paragraph-mark vanish/specVanish into the list marker run', () => {
+    const paragraph: PMNode = {
+      type: { name: 'paragraph' },
+      attrs: {
+        paragraphProperties: {
+          numberingProperties: { numId: 1, ilvl: 0 },
+          runProperties: {
+            vanish: true,
+            specVanish: true,
+          },
+        },
+        listRendering: {
+          markerText: 'Section 1.01',
+          justification: 'left',
+          path: [0],
+          numberingType: 'decimalZero',
+          suffix: 'tab',
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    const minimalContext = {
+      translatedNumbering: {
+        definitions: { '1': { numId: 1, abstractNumId: 1 } },
+        abstracts: {
+          '1': {
+            abstractNumId: 1,
+            levels: {
+              '0': {
+                ilvl: 0,
+                runProperties: {},
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      translatedLinkedStyles: { docDefaults: {}, styles: {} },
+      tableInfo: null,
+    };
+
+    const { paragraphAttrs } = computeParagraphAttrs(paragraph as never, minimalContext as never);
+    const markerRun = (
+      paragraphAttrs as {
+        wordLayout?: { marker?: { run?: { vanish?: boolean; specVanish?: boolean } } };
+      }
+    )?.wordLayout?.marker?.run;
+
+    expect(markerRun?.vanish).not.toBe(true);
+    expect(markerRun?.specVanish).not.toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  // Vanish defined on the numbering definition itself is still honoured.
+  // That is the supported way to hide an auto-generated list marker.
+  it('honours w:vanish defined on the numbering definition rPr for the marker', () => {
+    const paragraph: PMNode = {
+      type: { name: 'paragraph' },
+      attrs: {
+        paragraphProperties: {
+          numberingProperties: { numId: 1, ilvl: 0 },
+        },
+        listRendering: {
+          markerText: '1.',
+          justification: 'left',
+          path: [0],
+          numberingType: 'decimal',
+          suffix: 'tab',
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    const minimalContext = {
+      translatedNumbering: {
+        definitions: { '1': { numId: 1, abstractNumId: 1 } },
+        abstracts: {
+          '1': {
+            abstractNumId: 1,
+            levels: {
+              '0': {
+                ilvl: 0,
+                runProperties: { vanish: true },
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      translatedLinkedStyles: { docDefaults: {}, styles: {} },
+      tableInfo: null,
+    };
+
+    const { paragraphAttrs } = computeParagraphAttrs(paragraph as never, minimalContext as never);
+    const markerRun = (paragraphAttrs as { wordLayout?: { marker?: { run?: { vanish?: boolean } } } })?.wordLayout
+      ?.marker?.run;
+
+    expect(markerRun?.vanish).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('preserves explicit paragraph bidi direction', () => {
     const paragraph: PMNode = {
       type: { name: 'paragraph' },
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts
index f20e7967d5..c7b9dc8eb2 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/attributes/paragraph.ts
@@ -391,6 +391,17 @@ export const computeParagraphAttrs = (
     directionContext,
   };
 
+  // SD-3269: w:specVanish on the paragraph-mark rPr suppresses the paragraph
+  // break for display per ECMA-376 §17.3.2.36. The pm-adapter post-process
+  // fuses the next paragraph's runs into this block and drops the successor;
+  // numbering counters on subsequent paragraphs are unchanged, matching Word.
+  if (
+    resolvedParagraphProperties.runProperties?.specVanish === true ||
+    paragraphProperties.runProperties?.specVanish === true
+  ) {
+    paragraphAttrs.specVanish = true;
+  }
+
   if (normalizedNumberingProperties && normalizedListRendering) {
     const markerRunProperties = resolveRunProperties(
       converterContext!,
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/integration.test.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/integration.test.ts
index d723b6eb45..af15729449 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/integration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/integration.test.ts
@@ -527,6 +527,95 @@ describe('PM → FlowBlock → Measure integration', () => {
     expect(xPositions.size).toBeGreaterThan(1);
   });
 
+  // SD-3269 follow-up: w:specVanish on the paragraph-mark rPr suppresses the
+  // paragraph break for display (ECMA-376 §17.3.2.36). Word renders the next
+  // paragraph as a continuation of the specVanish paragraph; the next
+  // paragraph's auto-generated marker is dropped along with its block.
+  it('fuses a specVanish paragraph forward into the next paragraph block', () => {
+    const fixture = {
+      type: 'doc',
+      content: [
+        {
+          type: 'paragraph',
+          attrs: {
+            paragraphProperties: {
+              runProperties: { vanish: true, specVanish: true },
+            },
+          },
+          content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'Head ' }],
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'paragraph',
+          attrs: {},
+          content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'Tail' }],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    const { blocks } = toFlowBlocks(fixture);
+
+    expect(blocks).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(blocks[0].kind).toBe('paragraph');
+    const merged = blocks[0] as { runs: Array<{ text?: string }>; attrs?: { specVanish?: boolean } };
+    expect(merged.attrs?.specVanish).toBeUndefined();
+    const text = merged.runs.map((r) => r.text ?? '').join('');
+    expect(text).toBe('Head Tail');
+  });
+
+  it('chains multiple specVanish paragraphs into a single block', () => {
+    const fixture = {
+      type: 'doc',
+      content: [
+        {
+          type: 'paragraph',
+          attrs: { paragraphProperties: { runProperties: { vanish: true, specVanish: true } } },
+          content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'A ' }],
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'paragraph',
+          attrs: { paragraphProperties: { runProperties: { vanish: true, specVanish: true } } },
+          content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'B ' }],
+        },
+        {
+          type: 'paragraph',
+          attrs: {},
+          content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'C' }],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    const { blocks } = toFlowBlocks(fixture);
+
+    expect(blocks).toHaveLength(1);
+    const merged = blocks[0] as { runs: Array<{ text?: string }>; attrs?: { specVanish?: boolean } };
+    expect(merged.attrs?.specVanish).toBeUndefined();
+    const text = merged.runs.map((r) => r.text ?? '').join('');
+    expect(text).toBe('A B C');
+  });
+
+  // A bare paragraph (no successor) keeps its specVanish flag — there's
+  // nothing to fuse into. Importer round-trip preservation still works since
+  // pm-adapter only re-emits the flag, it does not invent it.
+  it('leaves a trailing specVanish paragraph untouched when there is no successor', () => {
+    const fixture = {
+      type: 'doc',
+      content: [
+        {
+          type: 'paragraph',
+          attrs: { paragraphProperties: { runProperties: { vanish: true, specVanish: true } } },
+          content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'Alone' }],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    const { blocks } = toFlowBlocks(fixture);
+
+    expect(blocks).toHaveLength(1);
+    const block = blocks[0] as { runs: Array<{ text?: string }>; attrs?: { specVanish?: boolean } };
+    expect(block.attrs?.specVanish).toBe(true);
+    expect(block.runs.map((r) => r.text ?? '').join('')).toBe('Alone');
+  });
+
   it('renders paragraph shading backgrounds end to end', async () => {
     const fixture = {
       type: 'doc',
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/internal.ts b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/internal.ts
index f2e39387c1..15aa53b367 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/internal.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/pm-adapter/src/internal.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
  * - Normalize whitespace and handle empty paragraphs
  */
 
-import type { FlowBlock, ParagraphBlock } from '@superdoc/contracts';
+import type { FlowBlock, ParagraphAttrs, ParagraphBlock } from '@superdoc/contracts';
 import { resolveSectionDirection } from './direction/resolveSectionDirection.js';
 import { isValidTrackedMode } from './tracked-changes.js';
 import {
@@ -283,7 +283,11 @@ export function toFlowBlocks(pmDoc: PMNode | object, options?: AdapterOptions):
   const hydratedBlocks = hydrateImageBlocks(blocks, options?.mediaFiles);
 
   // Post-process: Merge drop-cap paragraphs with their following text paragraphs
-  const mergedBlocks = mergeDropCapParagraphs(hydratedBlocks);
+  const dropCapMergedBlocks = mergeDropCapParagraphs(hydratedBlocks);
+
+  // Post-process: Fuse specVanish paragraphs forward into the next paragraph,
+  // matching Word per ECMA-376 §17.3.2.36 (SD-3269 follow-up).
+  const mergedBlocks = mergeSpecVanishParagraphs(dropCapMergedBlocks);
 
   // Commit cache cycle - swaps next to previous, retaining only blocks seen this render
   flowBlockCache?.commit();
@@ -375,6 +379,57 @@ function mergeDropCapParagraphs(blocks: FlowBlock[]): FlowBlock[] {
   return result;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Fuse paragraphs whose paragraph-mark rPr carries `w:specVanish` into the
+ * next paragraph block. ECMA-376 §17.3.2.36 states the paragraph mark "shall
+ * never be used to break the end of a paragraph for display" in that case;
+ * Word renders the two paragraphs as one continuous flow and drops the
+ * successor's auto-generated numbering marker. Numbering counters still
+ * advance per OOXML paragraph, so subsequent items skip a slot (matches
+ * pdftotext extraction of Word's own PDF export).
+ *
+ * Strategy: keep the predecessor's block id, attrs, marker, and indent;
+ * concatenate `predecessor.runs ++ successor.runs`; drop the successor block.
+ * Chains of specVanish paragraphs collapse left-to-right.
+ *
+ * @param blocks - Array of flow blocks to process
+ * @returns New array with specVanish paragraphs fused into their successors
+ */
+function mergeSpecVanishParagraphs(blocks: FlowBlock[]): FlowBlock[] {
+  const result: FlowBlock[] = [];
+
+  for (const block of blocks) {
+    const prev = result.length > 0 ? result[result.length - 1] : undefined;
+    if (block.kind === 'paragraph' && prev?.kind === 'paragraph' && (prev as ParagraphBlock).attrs?.specVanish) {
+      const head = prev as ParagraphBlock;
+      const tail = block as ParagraphBlock;
+      // Keep the predecessor's id/attrs (style, marker, indent) and append
+      // the successor's runs. The successor's marker is implicitly dropped
+      // because its block no longer exists. Carry the specVanish flag forward
+      // only if the successor itself has one — that keeps chains collapsing
+      // left-to-right across consecutive specVanish paragraphs.
+      const mergedAttrs: ParagraphAttrs = { ...head.attrs };
+      if (tail.attrs?.specVanish) {
+        mergedAttrs.specVanish = true;
+      } else {
+        delete (mergedAttrs as Record<string, unknown>).specVanish;
+      }
+      const merged: ParagraphBlock = {
+        kind: 'paragraph',
+        id: head.id,
+        runs: [...head.runs, ...tail.runs],
+        attrs: mergedAttrs,
+        ...(head.sourceAnchor ? { sourceAnchor: head.sourceAnchor } : {}),
+      };
+      result[result.length - 1] = merged;
+      continue;
+    }
+    result.push(block);
+  }
+
+  return result;
+}
+
 /**
  * Normalize and populate the converter context with defaults.
  *
diff --git a/packages/layout-engine/style-engine/src/ooxml/index.ts b/packages/layout-engine/style-engine/src/ooxml/index.ts
index 7cb3a680dc..0791ee9472 100644
--- a/packages/layout-engine/style-engine/src/ooxml/index.ts
+++ b/packages/layout-engine/style-engine/src/ooxml/index.ts
@@ -133,6 +133,17 @@ export function resolveRunProperties(
       delete inlineRpr.underline;
     }
 
+    // w:vanish and w:specVanish on the paragraph-mark rPr (w:pPr/w:rPr) apply only
+    // to the paragraph-mark glyph (¶), per ECMA-376 §17.3.2.41 and §17.3.2.36.
+    // They must not leak into the auto-generated list marker (SD-3269). Vanish set
+    // on the numbering definition's own rPr still applies via numberingProps below.
+    if (inlineRpr?.vanish) {
+      delete inlineRpr.vanish;
+    }
+    if (inlineRpr?.specVanish) {
+      delete inlineRpr.specVanish;
+    }
+
     styleChain = [
       ...defaultsChain,
       tableStyleProps,