Chapter 162: Chapter 162: She Has Already Been Cremated to Ashes
Howard Vaughn immediately pulled her aside, indicating her not to say things she shouldn’t, "Men should primarily focus on their careers. President Hawthorne has already done a lot for Cynthia, and if we ask for too much more, it will only cause resentment."
As a man, he understands this principle profoundly.
Jade Shepherd watched the departing figure of Cyrus Hawthorne with an unsatisfied expression, hesitating to speak out loudly because Mark Joyce was still present, "Cynthia is still inside, her life hanging by a thread..."
Finishing that sentence, Jade remembered about Cyrus Hawthorne’s defense of Ann Vaughn when confronting her and uneasily asked Howard Vaughn, "Honey, if President Hawthorne somehow learns the truth..."
"Shut up!" Before she could finish, Howard Vaughn interrupted her sharply, changing to a gentle expression when Mark Joyce looked over in surprise.
"As long as Annie dies, and we don’t speak of what happened years ago, who else would know? Just keep your mouth shut and don’t speak those things you shouldn’t! Even if President Hawthorne finds out at that time, considering his years of feelings for Cynthia, he wouldn’t do anything to our family."
"Fortunately, Ann Vaughn is about to die, or I’d be afraid she might slip up someday."
If Mark Joyce were to draw closer at this moment, he would surely hear how unbelievably and even chilling the conversation between Jade Shepherd and Howard Vaughn was.
It’s entirely unbelievable that such words could come from a couple’s mouth.
-
The night passed.
Darkness faded, and the first rays of dawn penetrated the layers of clouds, spreading across the land.
The staff working overtime through the night at the Hawthorne Group Tower could finally stop for a rest.
In the executive office on the top floor, Cyrus Hawthorne looked at the computer screen with somber eyes, his slender fingers typing down the last word on the keyboard.
Then, he lightly supported his hand on the desk, his seat moved farther away from the desk.
He massaged his brow, expecting various negative impacts as his old illness was about to flare up, yet nothing happened, except for some fatigue; his spirit remained poised.
A sudden guess swept through his mind, not fully contemplated, when the phone on the desk rang.
Cyrus Hawthorne, without lifting his narrow eyes, answered in a cold and indifferent tone, "Speak."
"President, the surgery is over." Mark Joyce’s voice came through, inexplicably heavy, "Miss Cynthia’s..."
Cyrus Hawthorne then lifted his gaze, glanced at the time on the quartz clock, and stood up, walking to the sofa to grab his coat.
He stepped out and, seemingly casually, interrupted Mark Joyce, "How’s Ann Vaughn? Make sure those doctors take good care of her until she recovers and is discharged."
After that, he paused a bit, "Additionally, make sure they keep their mouths shut, not speaking too much in her presence."
The woman considers the child as important as her own life, and given her condition, if stimulated again, the consequences would be unimaginable.
As for other matters, time will unveil them.
"President." Mark Joyce hesitated, then with difficulty continued, "Miss Vaughn’s surgery encountered an accident, and it is beyond salvation."
"You... may not even get the chance to see Miss Vaughn one last time."
Since the news of Ann Vaughn’s surgery outcome broke out, Jade Shepherd and Howard Vaughn hastily signed the cremation consent forms, sending Ann Vaughn’s body to the crematorium.
Being wary of Mark Joyce reporting the incident to Cyrus Hawthorne, they had found an excuse to send him away before the surgery ended.
By the time he returned, it was already too late.
The usually steady and powerful strides of Cyrus Hawthorne suddenly halted. For a brief moment, panic climbed urgently from the depths of his heart, rising into a tumultuous swirl.
"Repeat what you just said?!"
Just returned from the restaurant, the secretaries preparing to start their day’s work were suddenly frightened back several steps by the thunderous shout from the executive office.
In the next instant, they watched as Cyrus Hawthorne, with a stormy coldness on his handsome face as though shrouded by dark clouds, stepped out of the office and headed toward the elevator.
For some reason, the typically calm and collected back figure surprisingly revealed a hint of what seemed like a wrongful impression of panic and disarray.
It just seemed like the person who walked past... was the president himself, right?
But how could it be? Having worked in Hawthorne Corp. for so many years, even when angered, the president just punishes those who offended him without urgency, and yet they end up failing miserably.
Even two years ago, when Hawthorne Corp. was nearly sabotaged with an insider leaked confidential information, there was never any extra expression on the president’s unyielding cold face, despite the crisis.
Listening to the secretaries’ chatter, the chief secretary rolled his eyes.
"I heard The Second Miss Vaughn was having surgery these past few days, maybe something went wrong, and the president is worried about The Second Miss Vaughn’s safety."
"Wow, what kind of divine romance is between the President and The Second Miss Vaughn? I’m almost turning into a sour lemon!"
"Although The Second Miss Vaughn has suffered with her illness somewhat, true love is more valuable than treasure, and rare are true lovers. I believe we’ll soon hear their joyous news."
"But isn’t the current president’s wife Miss Vaughn’s sister?"
"Tch, your information is so outdated! The president has already divorced from that woman; they’ve since gone their separate ways now."
"Haha, it’s truly delightful news. I think that online ’When will Hawthorne-Yun divorce’ group can officially dissolve today!"
The gossiping continued in the secretary office, while outside the VIP room at First Hospital, the scene was equally filled with happiness.
They still couldn’t enter to see Cynthia Vaughn now, but Jade Shepherd and Howard Vaughn never stopped watching her through the glass window.
As for their other daughter, she was long cast aside in their minds, turning into scattered ashes, with nothing left to ponder on.
"Annie?! How is she?!"
Susie Sommers hadn’t even washed her face, her disheveled hair prompting pedestrians to steer clear as if a ghost was approaching.
Never had any moment made her hate Silas Master Moore more than now, even desiring to hack him into pieces!
If he hadn’t deliberately given her a glass of milk laced with sleeping pills, telling her only this morning about Ann Vaughn’s surgery, Susie Sommers wouldn’t just be rushing upstairs now.
That slap before was really too light!
"Uncle, Aunt, Annie, where is she? Which room is she in?" Though Silas Master Moore told her the floor, he hadn’t mentioned the room number, so Susie could only ask Jade Shepherd and Howard Vaughn.
Jade Shepherd gave Susie Sommers a peculiar look, recognizing her as the adopted daughter from the Master Moore Family, and reluctantly answered her, "Where else but the crematorium, probably already turned to ashes by now."
Crem... did this damn woman just say what?!
Susie felt a surge of anger rushing up to her head, distorting her face, as she fiercely grabbed Jade Shepherd’s shoulders, screaming, "What the hell did you say?! Say it again, damn it!"
Jade Shepherd was frightened by her grim face, struggling to push her away, "I already said crematorium. If you want to see her, won’t you just go to the crematorium and see? Crazy woman!"