Chapter 448: Chapter 448: Was It Really Not Her?
After Ann Vaughn finished speaking, she clearly felt Cyrus Hawthorne’s chest tremble slightly. She looked up in surprise and was startled by his expression.
It was as if it was filled with the coldness and stormy winds of an impending storm, deep and pitch-black, with his gaze as sharp as piercing blades.
Ann Vaughn, held in his arms, could even more acutely feel his aura as cold as an ice peak, involuntarily shivering.
"Do you remember their appearances?" Cyrus keenly caught the flicker of fear in her eyes, restraining the anger that nearly burst forth, and reined in the coldness around him completely.
"Yes." Ann Vaughn nodded lightly, "I remember."
"Family Head, it really was Miss Miya who arranged for Miss Vaughn to be captured to the other villa, but as for how she ended up drinking poisoned milk, Miss Miya truly wasn’t aware." Miyi Yates immediately explained, her voice confident.
Cyrus, however, did not look at her. After placing Ann Vaughn in a seat, he kissed the top of her head lightly as usual, "Be good and eat breakfast here, I’ll handle the rest, okay?"
"Okay." Ann Vaughn said, glancing at Miyi Yates, who stood there with a calm expression, and couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Could it really not be her?
After all, it was unlikely for someone she met for the first time to harbor such strong hostility towards her.
Once Ann Vaughn identified the people who captured her and poisoned her from the photos, Cyrus left the dining room.
This incident didn’t affect Ann Vaughn’s appetite; however, she couldn’t bring herself to drink the glass of milk on the table, resorting instead to drinking the soup to quench her thirst.
Midway through her meal, the wheelchair sent over by Shrek arrived.
Carried in by two guards, it was made entirely of gold and adorned with various gemstones, a massive contraption.
"Cough, sputter!" Ann Vaughn nearly choked on her soup, coughing for a few moments before recovering, her eyes wide as she looked at the "golden wheelchair," unsure of what to say.
She suddenly felt she understood what Prince Eland thought.
If it were her, she’d rather use a cane than sit in something like that.
As Ann Vaughn stared at the golden wheelchair, troubled about what to do, a hand suddenly covered her head, "I ordered a new one, you won’t sit in this one."
Ann Vaughn’s eyes lit up instantly, "Really?"
"Yes." Cyrus looked down at her, his narrow eyes carrying a faint tenderness, "Done eating?"
Ann Vaughn nodded, noticing the different dark suit he was wearing from earlier, not giving it much thought, "I’ve eaten almost everything that was sent up for breakfast. You should probably have them prepare another table."
As soon as she said it, Ann Vaughn felt something was off.
Weren’t they giving each other the cold shoulder?
But why did it become like this?
Realizing this, Ann Vaughn watched Cyrus, who had already sat down to eat, and fell into thought.
After breakfast, Ann Vaughn was carried back upstairs to rest by Cyrus, and the golden wheelchair was also brought up.
After Cyrus went to the study to handle affairs, Ann Vaughn was left alone in the bedroom.
After a long while, Ann Vaughn suddenly recalled something, propping herself up from bed, deftly sitting in the golden wheelchair, and maneuvering it out of the room.
She remembered the study was at the end of this floor.
In front of the room at the end of the corridor, there were two guards on watch. As Ann Vaughn approached, the guards’ gazes became wary with concealed hostility.
"Miss Vaughn, the Family Head is busy with important affairs inside, if there’s anything you wish to convey to him, I can pass the message on for you." Miyi Yates said with a smile, holding a cup of coffee as she ascended the stairs and saw Ann Vaughn lingering in front of the study.
"Please tell him that his body just recovered, and it’s not suitable to work for long periods, otherwise it will harm his health." Ann Vaughn didn’t insist on going inside, and upon hearing Miyi Yates’ offer, she entrusted her with the message.
"Rest assured, I will relay it truthfully." Miyi Yates nodded and entered the study unimpeded with the coffee.
Being stared at by the guards as if she were an enemy, Ann Vaughn didn’t linger and wheeled away from there.
Unbeknownst to her, after she left, the two fierce-looking guards...
"Isn’t that all gold she’s sitting on? If she goes out in that thing, won’t someone try to rob her?"
"Who’s daring enough with the Family Head around? Didn’t you see the outcome for those who captured her that day and poisoned her..."
At the same time, in the study room.
Miyi Yates approached the desk, placing the coffee neatly in front of the man, and during a lull in the conversation, she softly said, "Family Head, you have just recovered from illness, the doctor advised thorough rest, otherwise it may cause serious health issues."
"Miss Miya is truly a trusted aide by the Family Head’s side, remembering even such minute details." A middle-aged man standing in front of the desk smiled and praised.
"Which woman in this world could compare to Miss Miya even slightly?"
"The Yates Family indeed has exceptional nurturing, to raise such an extraordinarily intelligent and capable daughter."
Listening to the compliments from several uncles, Miyi Yates maintained a perfect smile, without a trace of pride, "You all overpraise me, it’s all due to the Family Head’s excellent leadership."
Upon hearing this, the smiles on the uncles’ faces carried a hint of mockery, though they didn’t explicitly mention it.
In their view, that woman who came out of nowhere was incomparable to Miyi Yates.
Firstly, in terms of family background, that woman had already lost.
Of course, everyone knew this, but no one would bring it up, as that woman was favored by the Family Head at the moment. There was no need to offend the Family Head over a trivial woman.
The man’s expression behind the desk reviewing documents was as indifferent as water, not a single ripple, seemingly not hearing any conversation unrelated to business, cold and detached.
...
As night fell, The Presidential Palace.
Due to the President’s busy state affairs, the celebration banquet tonight was entirely entrusted to his elder and second sons.
As a specially invited honored guest, Ann Vaughn attracted a lot of attention from the moment she entered. Although she wasn’t stage-frightened, being continuously scrutinized like this was indeed overwhelming.
"Dr. Vaughn, the gentleman who accompanied you is discussing important matters with His Excellency and can’t come over at the moment. He specifically asked me to take care of you." Shrek quickly arrived in the banquet hall, explaining to Ann Vaughn.
Cyrus discussing important matters with His Excellency?
Ann Vaughn was a bit surprised. Wasn’t His Excellency busy with state affairs, not meeting guests, and not attending the banquet tonight?
Could it be... all for Cyrus?
"Then I’ll trouble you." Ann Vaughn nodded slightly, "Actually, I was just about to..."
Before she could finish her words, a sharp scream suddenly came from not far ahead, "Help——"