Chapter 405: Chapter 405: Intense Possessiveness
"I did nothing wrong, so why should I reflect on it!" Ann Vaughn had a look of accusation, as if "you’ve changed," clutching her chest as she questioned, "Tell me, do you have another dog out there?"
Another dog...
Cyrus Hawthorne’s lips twitched slightly, his face dark and cold as if ink could drip from it. He then raised his hand and pulled Ann Vaughn into his embrace, issuing a low warning, "Don’t regret it."
She wouldn’t regret it!
Ann Vaughn happily snuggled against his waist and abdomen, quietly chuckling.
A sliver of dawn lightened the horizon.
Winter always has short days and long nights, and now sunlight was pouring into the room—it was evident how long this night had been...
The bathroom door opened, Cyrus Hawthorne walked out holding the now-sleeping Ann Vaughn and placed her on the big bed in the room before lying down.
As soon as she sensed his closeness, Ann Vaughn, in her sleep, instinctively shrank back.
The man’s narrowed eyes held a thousand years’ worth of intense, fierce cold, frighteningly intimidating.
The pair of cufflinks, signifying "destiny," appeared on Eli Sheridan’s suit, ultimately causing him to lose his composure.
...
Pain.
Nothing but pain.
Ann Vaughn stared numbly at the ceiling overhead.
She arduously got out of bed, freshened up, changed clothes, and came out to find her phone ringing. She walked over, picked it up, and answered, "Hello?"
"Just woke up?" Eli Sheridan’s gentle voice came through.
"..."
She was drunk last night... did she offend Cyrus Hawthorne?
Considering the way he seemed ready to devour her whole last night, it really didn’t feel like nothing had happened.
"Be honest with me, did I say something I shouldn’t have to Cyrus Hawthorne last night?"
"You didn’t, but I might have." Eli Sheridan replied calmly.
"What do you mean? What did you say to him?"
"Not much—just bragged a bit about the birthday gift you gave me."
Those amethyst cufflinks?
Ann Vaughn’s face crumpled with confusion, she bit her lip and tried hard to recall, "That shouldn’t be a big deal..."
"By the way, do you know the significance of the cufflinks designed by Ms. Garnet?"
"That thing has significance?? What is it?"
Knew she didn’t know... on the other end, Eli Sheridan rubbed his forehead, smiling wryly, "Those cufflinks signify ’destiny;’ you truly didn’t know."
If she knew, this little innocent soul probably wouldn’t have been so carefree.
Destiny?!
"Oh my gosh!" Ann Vaughn stood up with a start, her eyes welling up with disbelief, "It’s just a pair of cufflinks, and it has such implications? The shop assistant never mentioned this!"
If they had, she wouldn’t have gifted Elliot a thing that’s so easily misconstrued!!
After speaking, she quickly added, "I have no improper intentions towards you, it’s purely a mistake, don’t overthink it!"
Eli Sheridan held back laughter, reminding her, "I won’t overthink, but someone else might."
"Who?" Ann Vaughn felt a vague sense of unease.
"Cyrus Hawthorne."
She knew it!
Ann Vaughn suddenly felt like dying; no wonder his attitude changed so drastically and he kept her up all night in turmoil—it was all due to those cufflinks!
"Silly girl, our relationship—me receiving such a gift doesn’t mean I’ll overthink it, and I’m truly pleased you gave such a thoughtful gift. However," Eli Sheridan chuckled softly, "Cyrus Hawthorne has a very strong possessive desire towards you."
Upon hearing this, Ann Vaughn was taken aback, "What do you mean by possessive desires?"
"For example, when he sat down last night, he naturally placed his hand behind you, forming a protective gesture, which proves strong possessiveness."
Did Cyrus Hawthorne do that last night?
Ann Vaughn tried to remember, then said, "Isn’t that just his habit?"
"But in the short twenty minutes since he sat down, he looked at you fifteen times, six of which lasted over two minutes. Didn’t you notice, whenever you reached for something, he’d always get to it first and place it in front of you?"
"What does that prove?"
"Silly, a man who pays that much attention to a woman, what do you think that proves?" Eli Sheridan’s voice carried a teasing hint of laughter.
It naturally proves... that this man likes that woman!
As soon as this thought crossed her mind, Ann Vaughn became flustered, nearly knocking over the water cup beside her, her heartbeat slightly erratic.
Cyrus Hawthorne likes her?
Is she imagining things, or is Eli Sheridan planning on becoming a psychologist?
Maybe it’s the unconscious habit of every secret admirer—the closer they want to be, the more they fear getting close.
Likewise, with liking—
The greater the affection, the more cautious one becomes, like walking a tightrope, one misstep, and all chances could be lost.
She didn’t dare let Cyrus Hawthorne know her feelings, not out of pretentiousness, but rather because...
Even if he doesn’t like her, she could at least pretend to gracefully wave goodbye, preserving the last shred of dignity.
Ann Vaughn felt a bitterness in her mouth. Thinking of the unresolved matter of Kenny’s custody, all those thoughts in her mind faded away.