Chapter 597: Chapter 597: Does She Think I’m a Fool?
"...What?"
"You have no chance of winning." The man’s eyes, as dark as night, reflected a hint of amusement. Holding back the woman trying to escape from his embrace, he continued in a husky voice right by her ear, "Just give in obediently."
Ann Vaughn: "..."
So he trained such a top-notch and powerful team of lawyers, just to bully her more conveniently??
How did she not know before that this man could be so obnoxious?
"Dream on!" Ann Vaughn retorted through clenched teeth, struggling to get off him with all her might.
Buzz buzz—
Just then, the phone on the black marble tabletop suddenly started vibrating.
Cyrus Hawthorne glanced casually at the phone screen, his narrow eyes paused momentarily, and the arms tightly wrapped around Ann Vaughn’s waist slowly loosened.
Feeling the grip on her waist relax, Ann Vaughn immediately slipped out of his embrace, and upon landing, quickly ran far away, afraid of being caught by him again.
"I’m going to find Kenny!" Not seeing Kenny in the office, Ann Vaughn guessed the Little Dumpling might have run out, so she randomly threw down this sentence and was about to leave.
"Wait." Cyrus Hawthorne called her in a deep voice, reminding her, "Put on the coat."
Ann Vaughn then remembered the poor coat she had harshly thrown on his desk.
She didn’t think of it before, but thinking back now, she was indeed too bold just now.
Daring to throw things in front of The Archfiend and even questioning if he cheated...
All her countless thoughts condensed into one sentence.
It’s great to be alive.
Ann Vaughn’s shoulders shivered slightly as she braved Cyrus Hawthorne’s calm and indifferent gaze, walked over to pick up the coat, and turned to run away directly.
After she left the office, Cyrus Hawthorne lowered his gaze to the phone, connected the call, and then turned on the speaker. He then picked up the document that had been pressed under Ann Vaughn’s coat.
"Bro, I’m back in the country." Julian Ford’s voice, mingled with the sound of whistling wind, came through from the other end of the phone, carrying an inexplicable sense of age, "I never want to go abroad again."
Cyrus Hawthorne’s expression remained indifferent, with no significant changes on his cold countenance, "Oh?"
"I’ve brought back both good news and bad news, which one do you want to hear first?"
"Whichever."
"...Not even a hint of engagement." Julian Ford complained, half-jokingly, then suddenly changed the subject, "The result of the investigation you asked me to do about Shuhua Vaughn’s whereabouts is out, and the clues provided by Wanda Chamberlain are all true, except for one."
Upon hearing this, Cyrus Hawthorne raised his eyes slightly, shifting his gaze from the document to the phone, "Shuhua Vaughn is indeed not alive?"
Julian Ford’s almost spoken words were swallowed back, "You’ve already guessed it, so what’s the point of keeping you in suspense?"
The clues given by Wanda Chamberlain were indeed accurate and didn’t contain any falsehoods, except for Shuhua Vaughn still being alive—this was the lie she told.
This meant that everything Julian Ford had done previously turned out to be a waste.
However, at that time, Julian Ford did not choose to leave immediately due to this lie but continued to probe deeply, eventually finding some things.
"The good news is that I brought back the things that sank with Shuhua Vaughn in the Dyrrhis River years ago. What they are, I still don’t know, but since it’s your mother-in-law’s keepsake, it’s more appropriate to hand it over to you." Julian Ford said.
Shuhua Vaughn’s keepsake...
Cyrus Hawthorne’s narrow eyes deepened as he said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your hard work."
"Hard work is secondary... Compared to this, Evan Sawyer often complains to me that you’re keeping your wife hidden too tightly, and they haven’t had a chance to meet her. Perfectly, we’re gathering tomorrow, could you bring your wife over and introduce her to us?"
Julian Ford was particularly curious to see what kind of beauty it is that could deserve his effort to sacrifice life to steal... ahem, pluck the thorny rose.
"No discussion." Cyrus Hawthorne refused Julian Ford’s proposal without hesitation.
"Seriously, your possessiveness can’t be that intense, can it?" Being longtime friends, Julian Ford quickly understood the subtext, "Does your wife have no opinion?"
"Hmm?"
Julian Ford had lost the mood to drive and took out his romance bible, speaking earnestly, "Bro, have you done what ordinary couples typically do? Like watching movies, shopping, creating romantic surprises, or introducing each other to your brothers and best friends."
Ordinary couples?
Cyrus Hawthorne frowned mildly, "We’re a married couple."
Of course, Julian Ford knew this, but... recalling the farce of a "wedding" between Cyrus Hawthorne and Ann Vaughn four years ago.
He couldn’t help but roast, "If I were forcibly made the groom at someone else’s wedding, I suppose I could never feel it’s my wedding for a lifetime."
...
Outside the CEO’s office.
Ann Vaughn had just reached the corridor in front of the elevator when she was stopped by Miyi Yates coming from behind.
"Do you need anything?" Ann Vaughn turned around, looking at Miyi Yates with a calm gaze, and asked.
"I bear some responsibility for the misunderstanding caused by this matter, and I think I owe you an apology." Miyi Yates looked at Ann Vaughn with a sincere face, "The Family Head specifically sent me today to offer an explanation, which shows how much he cares about you. I hope you don’t misunderstand him."
Oh wow.
That tone, that attitude, how could it be so reminiscent of something that emerges untainted from the mud?
Ann Vaughn smirked and countered, "Was everything you explained to me before merely what Cyrus Hawthorne asked you to say?"
"I didn’t mean it like that; please don’t misunderstand. The Family Head just doesn’t want external rumors to affect the relationship between you two."
Upon hearing this, the smile on Ann Vaughn’s lips deepened noticeably, yet there was little warmth in her eyes, "Do you have anything else?"
Miyi Yates gently shook her head, "In any case, I’m truly sorry. I will definitely compensate you someday. So, I’ll take my leave now."
After saying the final words, Miyi Yates nodded to Ann Vaughn and then walked into the elevator.
After the elevator doors closed, Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
Did Miyi Yates think she’s a fool?
If all the media-reported scandals were true, why bother to confuse her hearing with this hypocritical explanation, essentially adding fuel to the fire?
Each sentence she was hinting to Ann Vaughn that those words were what Cyrus Hawthorne instructed her to say, guiding Ann Vaughn to think in a skewed direction.
Her wording was clever, making it difficult for anyone to find fault, which is why Ann Vaughn did not expose her there.
It was, after all, thanks to Miyi Yates that the shadow covering Ann Vaughn’s heart was finally completely dispelled—
Nothing inappropriate happened between Cyrus Hawthorne and her.
If there had been, she wouldn’t be acting like this.
Also...
Ann Vaughn gazed at the azure sky beyond the glass window, wondering if it was due to the direct sunlight shining down that caused a gentle shimmering in her eyes.
Although reluctant to think deeply, she seemed to reflect on her marriage with Cyrus Hawthorne.
There’s not a hint of trust.