Chapter 397: Chapter 397: Betrothal Gift List
The next day.
When Ann Vaughn woke up, she discovered that Cyrus Hawthorne was not in the room. She sat on the bed alone for a while, pondering before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
Last night, she seemed to have gotten away with it. He didn’t seem intent on pursuing why she left without saying a word.
For once, she needed to be more cautious...
"What the hell?!"
A startled cry suddenly came from the bathroom.
Ann Vaughn looked at her reflection in the mirror, at the ambiguous red marks all over her neck, collarbone, and even more hidden places. Her face was flushed as if it could drip blood!
That beast!
She was asleep last night, and yet he didn’t spare her!
Fortunately, in winter, people wear thicker clothes, and she would have to wear a scarf when going out, so she could carefully cover up these marks and not be discovered.
After tidying herself up, Ann Vaughn left the hotel and headed to the Sheridan Family.
Upon reaching the Sheridan Family, Ann Vaughn bumped right into Uncle Vance, who was both surprised and delighted to see her here. "Dr. Vaughn, the old lady has been thinking about you for a long time; you aren’t in a hurry to leave, are you?"
Hearing Uncle Vance’s words, Ann Vaughn immediately understood.
It turned out that last night was not just a trap but one specifically set for her.
Eli Sheridan hadn’t even returned to the country yet, and besides the guests at the banquet, no one from the Sheridan Family was present except for Chairman Sheridan and Jane Sheridan, which explained everything.
Perhaps Eli Sheridan himself didn’t even know he was used as a decoy, and the purpose was...
To make her aware of the difference between herself and Eli Sheridan, and to tactfully withdraw.
If Ann Vaughn were one of those girls enamored with Eli Sheridan, she might have been made to feel inferior and developed a fear of the Sheridan Family due to the sophisticated methods of Chairman Sheridan last night.
However, she had no romantic feelings for Eli Sheridan, and Eli Sheridan felt the same towards her.
Chairman Sheridan was being unnecessarily paranoid by doing all of this.
"I’m here to pick something up. If the old lady is available, I’ll visit her in a little while," Ann Vaughn replied with a gentle smile.
"Ah, good! That’s settled then, Dr. Vaughn."
After speaking with Uncle Vance, Ann Vaughn entered the townhouse in front, packed her luggage, and was about to go downstairs when Ethan Chaney stopped her.
"Miss Vaughn, Chairman Sheridan requests your presence."
Ann Vaughn paused for a moment, then nodded, "Lead the way."
What must come, will come.
In the Sheridan Family’s living room, several medieval oil paintings hung on the walls, and the Persian carpets underfoot were the most precious ones, yet placed here as if they were ordinary items to be stepped on at will.
Even the small decorative ornaments on the sandalwood table were antiques worth millions...
Unless one was knowledgeable about these things, it would be difficult to realize that the seemingly elegant and rustic Sheridan Family living room was actually extravagant to such an extent.
"Chairman, Miss Vaughn is here." Ethan Chaney brought Ann Vaughn in front of Stanley Sheridan and said.
Stanley Sheridan lifted his head from the newspaper, looking stern and dignified, yet he softened upon seeing Ann Vaughn.
If she hadn’t gone through last night’s episode, Ann Vaughn might have been deceived by this old fox’s facade.
"Annie, you’re here, have a seat." Stanley Sheridan pointed to a place beside him and also instructed the servant, "Prepare some drinks and snacks."
"Yes, sir." The servant responded and left.
Ann Vaughn sat down to the side, her red lips curving into a perfect arc, "I wonder what business Chairman Sheridan has for inviting me here?"
"I heard about last night’s events. If not for being tied up with business matters, I would certainly have stepped in for you," Stanley Sheridan said with a chuckle, "I just didn’t expect the president of the Hawthorne Group to help you out, so our family owes President Hawthorne a favor."
"President Hawthorne and I at least know each other, so his helping me out was within reason, Chairman Sheridan need not worry."
"It sounds like you and President Hawthorne have a good relationship?"
Ann Vaughn’s pretty face remained indifferent, and she replied instead, "Chairman Sheridan should know that President Hawthorne and I were once married."
"I see." Stanley Sheridan feigned realization, nodding knowingly, "Let’s not dwell on the past. I called you here today for another matter."
"Please, go ahead."
"First, take a look at this list." Stanley Sheridan signaled Ethan Chaney to hand the list to Ann Vaughn.
Ann Vaughn took the list, and upon seeing its contents, her delicate brows furrowed tightly in surprise.
It was nothing but a "betrothal gift" list.
It’s customary for the wealthy families in Marinia to ensure their matches are well-suited. If the betrothal and bride prices are not equivalent, they shouldn’t differ too greatly. By now, it’s almost an unspoken rule.
Otherwise, the party with the lesser betrothal or bride price would be considered a pariah or a conspirator by society.
Like Mrs. Kensington, when she got married, she emptied her family to gather a decent bride price, ultimately relying on Sam Kensington to secretly fill in the gaps, avoiding much scrutiny.
But during the early days of her marriage, Mrs. Kensington often found it hard to hold her head high because of the bride price, but Sam Kensington protected her, ensuring peace.
However, the Sheridan Family is unlike the recently established luxury families like the Kensington Family; they truly value well-matched unions.
Just what was on this betrothal gift list alone would bar most of the heiresses in Marinia from entry, let alone having few families in the entire S Country that could match their wealth...
Ann Vaughn finally understood what Stanley Sheridan was trying to achieve.
He wanted her to see the difficulty and retreat, to abandon any delusions of marrying into a wealthy family.
If Ann Vaughn were an ordinary girl, it might have worked, but she was not, which made all of Stanley Sheridan’s efforts in vain.
"Are you saying that I will marry Eli Sheridan in the future?" Ann Vaughn waved the list and chuckled, "Chairman Sheridan, you are overthinking. Eli and I are just friends. Besides, your family’s betrothal gifts, well, they are just that."
It was the first time Ethan Chaney had seen someone not change expression upon seeing the list, but he almost choked on breath upon hearing Ann Vaughn’s last sentence.
Cough, cough, cough.
This character really is nothing like the lady...
Stanley Sheridan maintained his composure, "This is just the engagement gift list." Then he switched topics, "Besides, you and Eli already have a child. If you don’t start preparing for the wedding soon, this child will face criticism."
Criticism?
Ann Vaughn’s face faded slightly, "My child does not trouble Chairman Sheridan; he has nothing to do with the Sheridan Family."
While she said this, Ann Vaughn felt futile annoyance.
What was once a joke had become the spark that led to her being cornered by the Sheridan Family today.
Eli Sheridan was dead for sure; not even a whole ton of medicine could coax her this time!