Chapter 369: Chapter 369: If They Fell Into the Water, Who Would You Save?
This White Jade Linked Rings is not quite the same as the ordinary kind. Made with smooth white jade, its solution is several times more challenging than the ordinary ones, and only a handful of people can solve such linked rings.
Ann Vaughn played with this White Jade Linked Rings at the Hawthorne Family when she was a child. She had seen the solution at her grandfather’s place and excitedly wanted to compete with Cyrus Hawthorne.
But the reality turned out to be completely different from what she imagined; Cyrus Hawthorne solved all the linked rings within a minute, while it took her a full twenty minutes.
Thus, she ended up losing her most beloved little handkerchief...
Speaking of which, the things she lost to Cyrus Hawthorne were countless. At that time, she sulked and ignored him for quite a while because of this.
"Quinn, how could you bully your son with linked rings!" Ann Vaughn didn’t even know what to say, laughter bringing tears to her eyes.
Cyrus Hawthorne snorted lightly at this. He stretched his long arms and pinned Ann Vaughn against the wall, his narrow eyes dangerously fixed on her, "If I and the little brat fall into the water, who will you save?"
Ann Vaughn: ?!?
She chooses to perish!
"Mr. Hawthorne, are you seriously jealous of a child?" Ann Vaughn asked, looking directly at him, seeing the slight dullness in his eyes.
"Who says I’m jealous?" Cyrus Hawthorne’s throat moved slightly, his gaze deepening as he cradled her soft face, his fingers gently stroking her lips, "At his age, I was no longer clinging to my mother."
Even Old Master Hawthorne didn’t really manage him at that time; he would just secretly follow behind and watch over him.
Hawthorne Family’s method of nurturing heirs is rather unique, instilling in children concepts of independence and autonomy, cultivating absolute leadership qualities and adaptability.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s tone held a subtle, almost undetectable undertone, causing Ann Vaughn to pause, reminding her of the rumors she had heard about the Hawthorne Family.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s father went missing when he was very young, and rumors suggest he had already passed away.
The Hawthorne Family turned chaotic without the Family Head’s support, but fortunately, Old Master Hawthorne held the fort, preventing any upheaval between the main and branch families.
Aside from this, the most shocking thing was the always gentle and virtuous Mrs. Hawthorne, Laura Quinn, acted like a changed person after her husband’s death, losing control and injuring her young son with a fruit knife...
Later, it was said that the fruit knife was what Laura Quinn wanted to end herself with, but due to Cyrus Hawthorne’s intervention, she accidentally hurt him. This infuriated Old Master Hawthorne, who took Cyrus Hawthorne under his wing and personally raised him.
This is probably the reason Cyrus Hawthorne and Laura Quinn, though having a mother-son bond, are never really close.
First, his father’s unexpected death, and then his mother suddenly losing control and attacking him with a knife, regardless of whether it was an accident or not, the harm was done. Even if he is unconcerned, it’s impossible to say there’s no effect.
Just thinking about it, Ann Vaughn felt unbearable.
She couldn’t help but tiptoe up and hugged his lean and strong waist, saying, "Being independent early isn’t necessarily a bad thing."
After speaking, she stewed in her thoughts, thinking about how to bring up Kenny’s health issue with him, as keeping it hidden was not a solution.
Who knew she hadn’t even started speaking when she heard low laughter coming from above her head, "So, you also agree with sending out that little brat to be independent?"
"..." A comforting effort wasted.
With the thought that no one could make a move on her precious son, Ann Vaughn firmly refused Cyrus Hawthorne’s suggestion.
It’s not like everyone is this remarkable, able to firmly establish himself in the Hawthorne Group with extraordinary intelligence and perseverance at a young age.
Moreover, having just turned eighteen, he officially took over the Hawthorne Group from Old Master Hawthorne, developing it into a top business empire both domestically and abroad.
She just wants Kenny to be happy every day.
No matter what, the matter of Ann Vaughn and Kenny moving into Villa No. 8 was still on the agenda, and the items from Azure Gardens Apartments were more or less already packed and brought over.
As for Sherry, because Ann Vaughn had arranged a room for her at the clinic in advance, she didn’t often return to the apartment now.
But Ann Vaughn formally transferred the apartment next door to Sherry’s name, only then telling her about it.
Although at first, the apartment was nominally under Sherry’s name as a cover-up, Ann Vaughn had originally bought two apartments to one day find a suitable reason to gift one to her.
She just didn’t expect this day to come so soon.
When Sherry heard about this, she nearly rushed over to confront her, refusing to accept it. Only after Ann Vaughn thoroughly persuaded her, did she accept her kindness with a complex mix of emotions.
Sherry remembered long ago, ever since Madame Sherman passed away, her status in the Sheridan Family dwindled each day, being bullied by maids was common, but she endured it.
Later, she was framed for embezzlement; had it not been for the eldest son sympathizing with her past care for Madame Sherman and clearing her name, she might not have escaped prison in her later years.
Hence, she was sent by the eldest son to Ann Vaughn’s side to take care of her daily life; initially, she was reluctant, assuming Ann Vaughn was the eldest son’s mistress, misunderstanding her.
Ann Vaughn clearly noticed her disdainful attitude but said nothing, treating her with warmth and courtesy, without any airs or temper, easy-going enough to make her regret her previous thoughts.
In her life, perhaps the two things she doesn’t regret most are accompanying Madame Sherman to the Sheridan Family and then meeting Ann Vaughn.
It was just a pity that she always thought such a good girl might just be Madame Sherman’s long-lost daughter.
Ann Vaughn didn’t know how much her casual gesture affected Sherry; after calling Mark Joyce and settling the Heavenly Fragrance Dew formula issue, she drove to pick Kenny up from school.
Before reaching the kindergarten, Ann Vaughn received a call from the class teacher, whose voice trembled, "Miss Vaughn, we’re really sorry, we’re truly helpless, Jasper Vaughn’s grandmother insists on taking him, could you address any issues with your mother-in-law?"
Ever since Kenny was taken from the kindergarten by Laura Quinn last time, Ann Vaughn had gone to the kindergarten to properly "greet" the teacher who let Laura Quinn act freely.
As a result, seeing Ann Vaughn now triggers an instinctive fear in them.
After all, she was the violent beauty who had once shattered the flowerpot in the office with her bare hands...
Laura Quinn again!
Does she feel uncomfortable without causing trouble?!
Ann Vaughn’s expression instantly shifted, and she bit her lip, tossing aside the phone, turning her car toward The Hawthorne Residence.
But when Ann Vaughn arrived at the Hawthorne Residence, storming into the living room, she found Kenny sitting safely on the sofa, a table full of delicate and delicious pastries before him.