Chapter 575: Chapter 575: Oh My Sweetheart
Ann Vaughn pursed her lips and grumbled discontentedly, "You really aren’t afraid I’ll ruin your company."
Upon hearing this, a faint smile crossed Cyrus Hawthorne’s face. His long fingers lifted a strand of hair resting on her cheek and gently tucked it behind her ear.
"I handed those things to you to give you the capital to protect yourself, not the responsibility."
Even if she ruined Hawthorne Group and squandered all the assets, it wouldn’t matter.
The retreat path he reserved for her was far more enduring than she imagined.
Sufficient for her to pass through the rest of her life in peace.
When he struggled in the dark, cold waves, on the brink of consciousness, sustained by something that helped him escape despair,
Right to the end, it was her smiling face.
Occasionally, dim light filtered in through the car window, spilling over the man’s chiseled and handsome face, flickering, rendering it barely visible.
Yet, the light refracted in his deep and dark eyes was of such seriousness that no one dared to look directly.
—It’s simply unfair.
Suddenly, Ann Vaughn’s heartbeat became erratic, her face steadily heating up.
The image of the pair of rings she had seen in his desk drawer flashed through her mind.
Excitement mixed with nervous heartbeats drummed joyfully, making it impossible for her to calm down.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital.
Ann Vaughn, feeling dazed, prepared to get out of the car, when unexpectedly a warm hand gently turned her face.
A tender and lingering kiss landed on her lips, sweeping over her heart like a feather.
Ticklish, slightly warm.
The driver and Mark Joyce sitting in the front turned red, hurriedly averting their gaze, sporting a ’do not look’ expression.
The kiss didn’t last long. Cyrus lightly moved away from Ann Vaughn’s soft lips, his mint-scented breath brushing against her skin, causing her to tremble slightly.
"This is a reward," he said in a low, raspy voice, indescribably alluring.
Ann Vaughn’s cheeks burned hot. To mask her abnormal heart rate, she feigned displeasure, "That’s not sincere enough!"
"Better rewards need to keep a sense of mystery," the man said, raising a playful brow.
—Rings!!
Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but curve her lips upward. Pretending not to know anything, she nodded, "Then I’ll wait for it."
Having said that, Ann Vaughn promptly got out of the car to avoid lingering too long and exposing that she had already discovered the matter of the rings.
...
The matter of Vaughn Clinic being sealed was far from as tranquil as it appeared on the surface.
Especially with The Imperial Capital Medical Research Institute eyeing Vaughn Clinic, impatiently waiting for them to deliver the cancer cell inhibitor so they could quickly conduct clinical experiments.
Suddenly, the clinic was sealed off.
The charge of selling fake drugs could be major or minor, with the inhibiter being the key issue. The institute immediately sent someone to investigate the entire matter’s origins.
It turned out to be an empty investigation. Checking further revealed that Vaughn Clinic selling fake drugs was merely a cover-up, someone used the Hawthorne Family’s name to alert the authorities, causing the clinic to be sealed.
The most absurd part was the man who reported Vaughn Clinic for defrauding customers.
His reason for reporting was that Vaughn Clinic used fake drugs to deceive him into thinking it was the inhibitor, worsening his wife’s condition to the brink.
If this turned out true, Vaughn Clinic would not only face a criminal lawsuit but also pay hefty compensation.
Although the institute had a good impression of Ann Vaughn, considering this situation, they couldn’t ignore their conscience to stand by her for the sake of research.
Unexpectedly, upon further investigation, they found that the so-called victims spoke as if they were possessed.
Spouting nothing but nonsense!
The same day, the institute’s director immediately sent someone to resolve Vaughn Clinic’s sealing issue, only to be informed that the clinic could resume operations the next day.
The document was approved personally by the top leader.
Several minor leaders involved in the affair were also proven guilty of embezzlement of bribery and couldn’t escape facing imprisonment.
The institute’s director was utterly shocked, internally questioning how none of them had the clout to influence that leader. Who on earth was Ann Vaughn that she had such power?
Ann Vaughn naturally had no idea that some bigwigs who had previously visited Vaughn Clinic for medical treatment contributed significantly to the clinic’s reopening.
When she heard this from Sherry, Ann Vaughn coincidentally learned about Laura Quinn’s condition suddenly worsening that morning and being transferred to this hospital.
What a coincidence that it’s on the same floor as Kenny.
After inquiring Kenny’s opinion, Ann Vaughn took his hand and went to visit Laura Quinn’s ward.
"...Don’t forget our agreed-upon matters, I will adhere to them, and hope you will as well."
Just as she was about to push the door open, Ann Vaughn heard a familiar female voice from inside the ward, soft yet firm, easily recognizable.
It was Miyi Yates.
Why is she here?
A trace of doubt surfaced in Ann Vaughn’s eyes, when suddenly the closed ward door was opened.
Seeing the person standing outside, Miyi Yates’s indifferent expression paused momentarily, then she asked with a smile, "Miss Vaughn, are you visiting the madam? I won’t disturb you then."
"Yes," Ann Vaughn nodded slightly, suppressing her doubts, as she led Kenny into the ward.
Laura Quinn’s face didn’t appear pale but rather healthy with a rosy complexion, not at all like someone recovering from a severe illness.
As she saw Ann Vaughn enter, Laura Quinn’s heart tightened—just about to speak to send her away—her gaze was suddenly drawn to the sticky rice dumpling she held by the hand.
The dumpling wore a light brown English-style winter outfit, its feet donned with dark round-toed little leather shoes, standing straight next to Ann Vaughn, with starry eyes twinkling and looking both gentlemanly and adorably soft.
Oh my little heart...
Laura Quinn’s cold demeanor nearly broke, her heart itching for Kenny.
What an obedient child, her son who always had a severe face since childhood wasn’t this well-behaved.
Oh dear, her heart can’t take it.
"Auntie, I heard you’ve been hospitalized. I brought Kenny to visit you." Ann Vaughn finished speaking softly to Kenny, "Kenny, this is grandma."
Kenny knew very well. He was aware of everything that had happened at the family home that day.
"Hello, grandma, I’m Jasper Vaughn. People close to me call me Kenny, you can call me Kenny too." Kenny approached Laura Quinn politely and greeted her.
Little Sweetie called her grandma!
Laura Quinn’s cold expression genuinely cracked, completely shattered.
"Grandma, can I hug you?" Laura Quinn tried to soften her voice, asking Kenny.
Feeling her kindness, Kenny didn’t refuse, "Okay."
Laura Quinn immediately picked up the sticky rice dumpling, gently holding him in her arms, her gentle face blossoming with happiness.
But as she continued holding him, Laura Quinn suddenly remembered something, looked up at Ann Vaughn, "Why does this child have your surname?"