Chapter 746: Chapter 746: Treating Themselves as Family
Inside the car.
Cyrus Hawthorne wrapped his wound casually, his face dark and cold, his furrowed brow seemed to be able to clamp a pen tightly.
Ann Vaughn had already been infected by him once, if it happened again... she wouldn’t survive.
When Ann Vaughn was injured and disappointed at that time, Cyrus Hawthorne did see it, and it was precisely because he saw it that he left without hesitation.
To avoid further complications and pulling her into this again.
From now on, it’s best to keep a distance from her, ideally... not see each other again.
...
After the company meeting ended, Ann Vaughn went directly back to the apartment, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her mind in a blank daze.
Susie Sommers initially thought she was just thinking about the new product and didn’t disturb her, but a whole afternoon passed, and she was still sitting there lost in thought, looking forlorn and seeming not to be troubled by work.
"Hey girl, what are you thinking?" Susie moved over with a bag of chips, waving her hand in front of Ann Vaughn.
Ann Vaughn’s eyelashes fluttered for a moment and then finally asked, "Susie, if a man forbids you to touch him and warns you not to, what does that mean?"
"What else could it mean? It shows that the man dislikes the woman and wants to draw a clear line with her." Susie tore open the chip bag while answering.
Ann Vaughn’s heart tightened sharply, the bitterness she had just suppressed surged back, even choking her throat, leaving her speechless.
The mobile phone on the table rang abruptly.
Ann Vaughn’s thoughts were forcibly interrupted, she grabbed it nervously and answered, "Hello?"
"Young Madam, Miss Vera White got into a fight for you, no matter how we advised, it’s no use, could you please help to persuade her..." Uncle Dexter’s voice was tense with urgency.
Ann Vaughn squeezed her slim fingers, "Where is Vera?"
"At the main family house, she... Miss Vera White!" Before Uncle Dexter could finish speaking, sounds of bashing and smashing came through, and the call was abruptly hung up.
Ann Vaughn couldn’t sit still any longer, instructing Susie to pick up Kenny from kindergarten if she wasn’t back in an hour.
Susie quickly agreed.
...
The main family house.
When Ann Vaughn arrived, the scene was already chaotic, as soon as she entered, she heard Bella Hawthorne’s voice cursing angrily.
"I’ve seen many who demand gratitude in return, but I’ve never seen anyone expect gratitude by asking someone to marry his daughter! How desperate is your daughter to get married? How brazen to offer herself like this! I’ve never seen a girl live so shamelessly before!"
"As soon as my brother and sister-in-law divorced, you guys couldn’t wait, even a cat seeing a mouse isn’t as quick as you!"
The middle-aged man sitting on the sofa had a proper appearance, but his expression was angry, and his presence had a sort of majesty developed over the years that made people fearful just to look at him.
Daring to speak to him like this, only Bella Hawthorne could do so.
"You are still a lady of the Hawthorne Family, the Family Head’s sister, how can you be so unreasonable?!"
"Reason only works with those who understand it, do you understand or does your daughter Miyi Yates understand? If you guys understood, would you shamelessly threaten my brother with gratitude to marry your daughter? Your daughter is unbelievably cheap!" Bella Hawthorne sneered.
Howard Yates was so furious his little moustache twitched; if she weren’t Cyrus Hawthorne’s sister, he would have acted already!
Miyi Yates also felt extremely humiliated; she had never been insulted like this since she was little, her palms were red from clenching them too tight.
Bella Hawthorne’s every word was insinuating that she was cheap and shameless, relying on her father’s gratitude towards the Family Head to have him repay by marrying her.
It’s like stepping on Miyi Yates’ dignity, after stepping on it, no one dares to say anything.
Miyi Yates’ bodyguards, who had just stood up to speak for her, were dealt with by Bella Hawthorne, not because they couldn’t beat her, but because they didn’t dare, couldn’t fight.
Moreover, with Cyrus Hawthorne and Old Master Hawthorne absent, none of the other elders dared to scold Bella Hawthorne, they could only watch helplessly.
Howard Yates slammed the table in anger, "Get Old Master Hawthorne! I want to ask him if this is his intention!"
"Feeling uncomfortable because I exposed the truth, huh? Go ahead, see if my grandpa is muddled like you!" Bella Hawthorne spat.
Howard Yates was simply overwhelmed.
This isn’t a noble lady, but a shrew!
The scene in the living room left Ann Vaughn incredulous, this petite girl with hands on hips like a little fiery pepper was really Bella Hawthorne?
Ever since that incident, Bella Hawthorne had acted and spoken cautiously, in stark contrast to her former self, even in front of them, it made her heart ache.
"Young Madam, you’ve arrived!" Uncle Dexter spotted Ann Vaughn and yelled immediately.
Bella Hawthorne instantly turned joyfully, then like a swallow returning to the woods, she plunged into Ann Vaughn’s arms, "Sister-in-law, I missed you so much!"
Seeing Bella Hawthorne’s quick change of demeanor, Howard Yates and Miyi Yates didn’t look pleased.
Ann Vaughn hugged her, amused and touched, "I saw everything just now, I’ve never seen you being so fierce before."
Perhaps it was due to Bella Hawthorne’s fierceness being for her that Ann Vaughn felt genuinely moved.
Bella Hawthorne wrinkled her nose, "It’s because they just have to discuss their matters in my family, not treating themselves as outsiders at all."
If it was a general issue, Bella Hawthorne wouldn’t be stingy enough to embarrass them.
But they actually plotted to dig out her sister-in-law, do they think she’s dead?!
Bella Hawthorne found out about Ann Vaughn and Cyrus Hawthorne’s divorce after coming out from secluded training, she was already simmering with anger coming back, how could she stand this?
"You are simply unreasonable!" Howard Yates’ old face was practically lost today, he stood up immediately, his sharp eyes sweeping over Ann Vaughn, saying to Miyi Yates, "Miyi, let’s go! Since the Hawthorne Family doesn’t welcome us, we have no reason to stay!"
"Uncle Yates is quite fiery today." The clear, indifferent voice sounded as Cyrus Hawthorne entered the living room, followed by Mark Joyce.
Howard Yates’ face softened slightly, but his tone was not good, "Cyrus, your sister has been abroad for years, it’s understandable that no one taught her before, but you ought to teach her well in the future, otherwise, how will she ever get married?"
The moment those words came out, Ann Vaughn saw Bella Hawthorne’s previously vigorous face turn pale, she frowned, lightly patting her hand twice.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s expression remained bland, his narrow eyes were deep enough to reveal no emotion, "Uncle Yates, thank you for your concern. Grandpa always praises Vera for being sensible and clever, finding no faults. If she doesn’t want to marry, it’s fine, she can stay at home, I can support her."
With just a few words, Cyrus Hawthorne returned Howard Yates’ ridicule.