Chapter 476: Chapter 476: Exposed
"It’s my fault." Before Laura Quinn could finish speaking, Cyrus Hawthorne interrupted her in a deep voice, the gaze he directed at Ann Vaughn filled with immense guilt, "For not finding you sooner."
Ann Vaughn felt her heart soften instantly. She suddenly remembered the sense of security she felt when he held her in his arms, and a smile spread across her delicate face, "You found me very quickly and did your best. I don’t blame you."
Besides, she never even imagined she would be taken away by Cynthia Sheridan.
It was...
In Laura Quinn’s car that she was taken away.
If there were no trickery involved, then how did Cynthia manage this?
The pain hidden in Cyrus’s narrowed eyes didn’t dissipate, and the gaze he cast at her abdomen trembled slightly with suppression before he quickly moved his gaze away to avoid arousing her suspicion.
Ultimately, it’s different.
Whether early or late, the results would have been different.
After being interrupted, Laura Quinn noticed the warning look in Cyrus’s eyes when he glanced at her and refrained from continuing her previous topic. Instead, she began explaining the events of that day to Ann Vaughn.
"The driver and I both smelled a strange odor, so to avoid an accident, I had the driver pull over first to recover before continuing. But who would have thought... when I woke up, you were gone. It really frightened me."
That smell should have been a sedative.
Ann had not slept all night and was already exhausted, so she lowered her guard for a moment and got caught in the trap.
However, she didn’t entirely believe everything Laura Quinn said.
"Anyway, it’s truly a relief that you’re alright. Otherwise, if anything happened to you, I wouldn’t have peace of mind," Laura said as she took out a thermos of soup and placed it on the newly set table, "This chicken soup is freshly stewed and very nourishing."
Ann furrowed her brows with difficulty, just about to refuse, when Mrs. Lynch came over and said, "Young Madam, this chicken soup has been specially made for you by the Madam. It was simmered all morning, and she brought it as soon as it was ready."
The words of refusal stuck on Ann’s lips. Indeed, she harbored significant doubts about her sudden fainting and being taken away by Cynthia Sheridan.
She even suspected Laura Quinn’s involvement, though she didn’t show it openly.
Therefore, she felt a resistance to the chicken soup sent by her, struggling to overcome that barrier.
However, considering that she was Cyrus’s mother, outright refusal might put her in a difficult position, and Cyrus might have a hard time mediating between them...
With that thought, Ann reached out to accept the black chicken soup from Laura, only to have her hand pressed down by a large, well-defined one, "She just woke up not long ago, and such greasy food will upset her stomach."
The words were directed at Laura, yet Ann was a bit surprised.
"It’s my oversight. I only wanted to nourish Annie well and forgot about this," Laura remained composed, immediately inquiring, "Then what does Annie like to eat? I’ll make it for you and have Mrs. Lynch bring it over. Hospital meals can’t compare to those at home, can they? Perhaps it would be better for you to recuperate at home."
The series of decisions made Ann dizzy, but Cyrus did not relent, his voice resonating like metal and stone, "Ann’s health is special, and the doctor has already customized a specific care plan for her, including dietary therapy. I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed."
Upon hearing this, Laura didn’t get mad but sighed in regret, reminding Ann to remember the chicken soup before leaving with Mrs. Lynch.
Not long after she exited the ward, she was called, "Mother."
Cyrus approached with one hand in his pocket, casting a cold sidelong glance at Mrs. Lynch, "You may leave."
"Okay, Mr. Hawthorne," Mrs. Lynch responded and obeyed, leaving the area first.
"What’s the matter? Was my approach too abrupt for Annie?" Laura asked somewhat anxiously, "I just want to make it up to her with no other intentions."
"No," Cyrus calmly asked, "I just want to know from whom you learned about Ann’s miscarriage."
Realizing he was inquiring about this, Laura relaxed, expressing with concern, "It was Vera White who told me. If only I had been more cautious, such a thing wouldn’t have happened."
Cyrus nodded slightly, his expression unchanging, "I understand. You can go back."
Laura nodded, saw he had nothing more to say, and turned to leave.
Only after her figure vanished at the elevator did a cold smile appear on Cyrus’s admittedly handsome face. His gaze was deep and distant, carrying a fearful, icy wind.
The matter of Ann’s miscarriage was known to no one at the time except the doctors and nurses in the operating room. Even Kenny wasn’t informed to be safe.
So how did Laura learn about Ann’s miscarriage from the unaware Vera White?
Either she bribed the doctors and Lucas.
Or she knew from the beginning that Ann would inevitably miscarry.
Cyrus’s suspicions were confirmed when Mark Joyce interrogated those doctors and nurses.
After a long period, Cyrus extinguished the cigarette in his fingers, which sent curling smoke drifting up, and instructed Mark Joyce in a deep voice, "Check my mother’s recent schedule."
Mark Joyce lived up to his reputation as Hawthorne Group’s chief assistant, managing to find out within a minute, "President Hawthorne, the Madam has no schedule tonight or tomorrow, although she has an afternoon tea appointment the day after and then a visit to a beauty salon..."
"Hmm." Cyrus, without looking up, accurately tossed the cigarette into the trash bin behind him, his narrow eyes cold, "Now, proceed as I instructed."
"Yes, President Hawthorne."
...
The Hawthorne Residence.
In a luxuriously decorated and elegantly furnished room, Laura had just applied a face mask, sitting at the vanity applying makeup, then changed into the latest model of clothing just delivered from the store, dressed elegantly and poised.
She then carried her purse out to join her girlfriends for afternoon tea.
In the socialite circle of The Imperial Capital, Laura’s status was the highest and most unshakable. Whether wives of businessmen or politicians, they all gave her significant deference.
This was all thanks to her having a son as illustriously successful as Cyrus, proving there is truth to the saying, "The mother is honored by her son’s achievements."
Recently, Laura’s mood had been particularly good; unlike her usual composure, she even had the spirit to smile and respond while chatting with her friends.
"Lana, you seem in such a good mood. Did your son make another big deal?"
"I’m so envious of you, having such an outstanding son. You don’t have to worry about a thing, unlike me..."
"Tell us about it, so we can bask in your good fortune, Lana!"
Laura elegantly sipped her tea, buoyed by everyone’s praise. Her mind eased, and she let go of her tension, "Seeing someone I dislike have a stroke of bad luck just puts me in a good mood, doesn’t it?"