Chapter 461: Chapter 461: Is This Really a Three-Year-Old Toddler?
Ever since Ann Vaughn discovered Elias Hawthorne’s existence, she began to doubt the kindhearted persona of Harold Hawthorne. Now, it seems she wasn’t overthinking things.
"You..." Harold didn’t expect Ann to say that, and there was a hint of worry on his kind face. "Of course, I’m not doubting your professionalism, just trying to be cautious."
After speaking, Harold looked at Miya Yates and asked her, "Miyi, tell me, who was Cian traveling with? Is it possible that outsiders knew about this?"
Miyi Yates shook her head, "Apart from the Family Head and Miss Vaughn, no one else knew about this. I only found out after the fact through the Family Head’s location data."
"Then why did one of the world’s top ten mercenary groups know about it and set an ambush in advance on the route Cian would pass? Could those people foresee the future?" Harold questioned further.
How could anyone foresee the future?
But if someone leaked their whereabouts in advance, that’s another story.
In an instant, the eyes of those present turned hostile and disdainful as they looked at Ann Vaughn.
Ann noticed the implications in Harold’s words, every word seemed to pin her as the leaker. Her smile cooled, "By your words, you wouldn’t have happened to be on site back then, would you?"
"How could I have been there? Don’t turn the tables on me unfairly."
"Oh, really? I, having just gone through a battle, had no idea those people belonged to a mercenary group, let alone knew the ambush was pre-planned, instead of a sudden act..." Ann laughed softly, "You do have impressive insight, knowing even those details."
Harold’s honest face changed, and his cordial smile faded.
Seeing this, Miya Yates stepped in to defuse the situation, "Miss Vaughn, you might have misunderstood. We found out about those details later through investigation."
After hearing Miya Yates’ words, Harold’s expression improved, but he looked at Ann with an assessing gaze, "Miss Vaughn, if I’m not mistaken, you’re no longer a part of the Hawthorne Family. You don’t need to get involved in these Hawthorne affairs."
Ann Vaughn slightly pressed her lips together, not responding to his comment.
Harold continued, "However, you do have the suspicion of colluding with the mercenary group, so you’ll need to cooperate with us for now. Only after extracting a confession from those people can we confirm your innocence."
This means... they intend to keep her under surveillance?
Ann felt a tinge of sarcasm in her heart and was about to speak when a childish voice interrupted, "My mommy is suspected of colluding with a mercenary group? Mister, did you get kicked in the head by a llama?"
A Little Dumpling dressed in a brown bear pajama and matching coat, with a delicate, spirited demeanor, stormed over to stand protectively in front of Ann, glaring up at Harold.
"I ask you, what’s my mom’s motive supposed to be? What’s the benefit? Even law enforcers require concrete evidence to convict someone. My mommy is the victim here, how is she the suspect?"
"And besides, about your comment that my mommy is no longer a Hawthorne, mister, are you my dad’s talking parrot? Otherwise, how could you be so clear about my dad’s thoughts?"
"People should show respect for age, but the key isn’t to flaunt seniority. Otherwise, you might end up as the ignorant elders lying on the streets pretending to be hit by cars, breaking the law knowingly!"
Silence—
The corridor outside the emergency room was utterly silent.
The reason was simple, the Little Dumpling’s rapid remarks were sharp and logical, yet humorously scathing. Not just Harold was taken aback, even the bodyguards were dumbfounded.
This... was this really a three-year-old little child?!
Even Bella Hawthorne was stunned by Kenny’s words, finding her eyes shining brighter as she looked at him.
Oh wow, her nephew is such a treasure!
Only Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but cover her face in embarrassment. Heaven knows out of all her traits, her son chose to inherit her quick-witted tongue...
Harold had met Kenny before, but that encounter passed too quickly for greetings, so he did not know Old Master Hawthorne treasured him like a gem, and therefore spoke to him more bluntly.
"How did your mother teach you? You’ve no basic respect for your elders!"
"Ashamed, ashamed. Compared to your lack of basic legal knowledge, I must admit defeat." Kenny smiled brightly, showing his white teeth, and asked earnestly, "Mister, did you know that illegal detention is against the law?"
It seemed like if Harold truly intended to detain his mommy, he’d end up being taken to the law enforcement bureau.
Bella Hawthorne was already speechless, only internally screaming "Ahhh." Little Kenny had such a CEO aura! It’s such an adorable contrast from usual!
Finally, Harold left abruptly, not even mentioning having a doctor check Cyrus Hawthorne in the emergency room, let alone trying to detain Ann Vaughn.
"Mommy, are you hurt?" Only then did Kenny turn around, his star-like eyes examining her intently for any injuries.
Ann shook her head, reaching out to pinch Kenny’s soft cheek, "Mommy’s fine, but your dad is seriously injured."
Not because of the mercenaries’ attack, but... due to chronic ailments.
"Sister-in-law, will my brother be okay?" Bella Hawthorne anxiously asked while looking in the direction of the emergency room.
"He’ll be fine, don’t worry, Auntie." Kenny smiled sweetly, with no hint of the fierceness he showed earlier, only melting hearts, "Because mommy is here."
Ann was about to reply when she suddenly realized Miya Yates had left at some point, and an ominous feeling crept in.
That feeling soon proved right.
The bodyguards, sent by the main family, never alleviated their suspicion of Ann Vaughn until they secretly escorted the still unconscious Cyrus Hawthorne away, and only then have Mark Joyce pass on a message to Bella Hawthorne.
Bella didn’t expect them to pull such a move, almost biting down in anger, "Who are they guarding against? Me or my sister-in-law?!"
"You’re mistaken..."
"Where has Quinn been taken to recuperate?" Ann Vaughn took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the seething anger racing in her veins, coldly glaring at Mark Joyce.
"Don’t look at me like that," Mark Joyce couldn’t help but smile wryly, obviously set up to take the heat for delivering the message, "The main family has grown dissatisfied and cautious of you; Fear you won’t be able to meet Cyrus before he wakes up."
"Are you sure the main family’s doctor can cure Cyrus Hawthorne’s chronic ailments?"
"That I can assure you, Dr. Kane’s skills aren’t necessarily inferior to yours... But," Mark Joyce was shocked, "How did you know Cyrus’ chronic issues aren’t resolved?"
Ann Vaughn said nothing, just quietly gazing at Mark Joyce, her bright eyes filled with a penetrating sharpness, her meaning unmistakable.