Chapter 427: Chapter 427: Release from Prison
Just as Ann Vaughn lowered her eyes in thought, she suddenly felt a cool palm touch her cheek. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she raised her eyes, unexpectedly meeting a pair of eyes as deep as a cold lake.
The hidden inquiry and intensity made Ann Vaughn’s spine unconsciously tense up.
"What you saw today," Cyrus Hawthorne began slowly, his voice low and soaked with an unavoidable dangerous aura, "Are you not afraid?"
Ann Vaughn’s heart sank, and her red lips pressed tightly together. The warmth from her body seemed to slowly recede under his dark gaze.
There was a kind of... uncontrollable cold.
After an unknown amount of time, Ann Vaughn finally came back to her senses, looking at Cyrus Hawthorne and spoke word by word, "Even if I’m afraid, aren’t you here to protect me?"
"So, what is there to be afraid of?"
In those moments, when even glancing again at the scene could send chills down one’s spine, Ann Vaughn claiming not to be scared was merely self-consolation.
But—
Just knowing Cyrus Hawthorne was there made it feel less frightening.
As if not expecting her to respond this way, Cyrus Hawthorne’s eyes momentarily hesitated with surprise, then he smiled slightly, "This is what you said."
No matter now or in the future, even if she’s afraid, he won’t let go.
Ann Vaughn was somewhat unclear about what he meant by this, looking at him and asked, "You promised me in the car, after Kenny recovers from his cold, you’ll take me to the old house, won’t you go back on your word?"
Plus, before Kenny is well, she wouldn’t be comfortable going far away.
"Hmm, I won’t go back on my word." Cyrus Hawthorne murmured lightly, looking at her secretly hopeful expression, he gave a small smile.
It truly was, extremely easy to please her.
...
The next day.
Bella Hawthorne grudgingly followed Cyrus Hawthorne to the company, still blabbering as they left, "Sis-in-law let me tell you, my brother in his past life was made of vinegar, he just monopolized you for one night, yet he won’t let me off!"
Unfortunately, before she finished her complaints, she had to cease under Cyrus Hawthorne’s icy gaze.
Ann Vaughn didn’t take her complaints seriously. Besides, she and Vera White were both women, sleeping one night didn’t matter, how could Cyrus Hawthorne be jealous because of that?
Moreover, the notion of Cyrus Hawthorne being jealous was absurd.
Even if it had ever happened, it would have been driven by possessiveness, hardly related to jealousy.
Ann Vaughn clicked her tongue twice before going upstairs to wake Kenny.
Although Little Dumpling hadn’t mentioned it, from Teacher Ward’s narration, Ann Vaughn could tell Kenny fought with Ray Chambers because of the words "you will be abandoned."
Little Dumpling was always sensitive, lest he take that brat’s words seriously, and because he couldn’t speak now, Ann Vaughn took a few days off to stay home with him.
While Little Dumpling was assembling a robot nearby, Ann Vaughn logged onto a forum using her computer.
"Eland’s plague is wreaking havoc almost to the point of breaking through the skies, but why is there no international news? You can see it on the forum, but there is a requirement for permission?"
"Stupid, once you touch that kind of plague, death is unavoidable. All flights to Eland have been sealed, no ingress or egress allowed."
"The place was small to begin with, going through this ordeal might leave it empty."
"Hopewell Medical Foundation already sent people when the incident occurred, faster than international aid, respect bro."
"Rumor has it, Hopewell’s founder is personally heading to Eland soon. If I weren’t worried about my own life, I’d want to worship the boss myself..."
The plague in Eland has become severe enough to warrant sealing flight routes?
Ann Vaughn’s brows furrowed as her gaze lingered on the spirited discussion about the "Hopewell Medical Foundation," and a peculiar expression crossed her face.
As a medical professional, she naturally knew of the Hopewell Medical Foundation, but she hadn’t expected that in the eyes of these high-minded forum members, the founder of Hopewell was nearly god-like...
Ann Vaughn clicked her mouse a few times, enlarging the aerial images of Eland’s current situation, and felt her scalp prickling instantly.
The once-eulogized emerald lake of Eland, dubbed "Light of Life," was a heavy black and red color, even skeletons were visible...
She immediately dropped the mouse, rushed upstairs, took out the backup prescription she had given Mr. Chambers previously, photographed it, and private messaged it to the Hopewell Medical Foundation.
Previously, when she asked Emperor about Eland’s situation, he only said a few words, not to interfere.
But now, she couldn’t bring herself to remain indifferent.
If necessary, she might just have to go to Eland herself...
Just then, Ann Vaughn received a call from Sherry.
"Annie, are you alright?"
"I’m at home, I’m fine." Ann Vaughn rubbed her sore wrist, finding her question strange, "Why ask so suddenly?"
Sherry seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and soon spoke again, "I just saw Cynthia Sheridan outside the clinic, she must have been released from prison. The way she was staring at the clinic was terrifying; I thought she might come looking for you..."
Ann Vaughn was stunned for a few seconds, and upon mentally calculating the time Cynthia Sheridan had been imprisoned, she realized it had been half a month.
With the financial and influential power of the Sheridan Family, it was already unexpected for her to be held for half a month before being released.
After all, her crime wasn’t enough to warrant a sentence, at most just detention.
"Don’t worry, I’m at home, she can’t get in." Ann Vaughn comforted, "You should be careful too; if something seems off, call for help immediately, those bodyguards aren’t just for show."
The hefty sum she paid for security personnel wasn’t simply to maintain order at Vaughn Clinic.
"I’m not worried about myself, I’m worried about you and Kenny." Sherry sighed, unable to suppress her concerns, "If Cynthia Sheridan had been imprisoned for life, it’d be fine, yet she was released at this moment. Who knows what a person blinded by hatred might do?"
Ann Vaughn didn’t say much, only assured her.
But after the call ended, Ann Vaughn felt a cloud of unease over her heart.
Cynthia Sheridan most likely wants nothing more than to eliminate her as soon as possible now.
Yet...
"No matter what, she used to be my sister. I respect and admire her; regardless of what she does to me, I bear no grudge because in my heart, we’re always good sisters."
Cynthia Sheridan stood by the apartment window holding her phone, her face stained with tears, speaking to the person on the other end.
"Don’t worry, from today on, I won’t let you worry about me." Cynthia Sheridan turned her head, revealing her haggard and scarred face, her gaze sharp like poison, "Your daughter promises."
She looked at the photo on the wall, seeing the woman’s exquisite and beautiful face ruthlessly scarred by darts.