Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Flaunting a Little Dirty Money
"Moreover, since you were so certain you couldn’t possibly be a child of the Sheridan Family, I didn’t mention this to add to your distress."
Sherry had suddenly noticed the blood type on the test result for Annie was RH negative, while no one in the Sheridan Family shared this blood type, which dispelled her doubts.
Following Sherry’s words, Ann couldn’t help but recall the time she had returned to the Vaughn Family.
Her mother’s beatings and scolding, her father’s cold indifference, and Cynthia Vaughn’s occasional schemes that got her blamed and punished.
This once made her doubt whether she really was a child of the Vaughn Family. Otherwise, why would they treat her in a way that was completely unlike family?
So, she saved up some pocket money by doing homework for classmates for two months, then took hair from Jade Shepherd and Howard Vaughn for a paternity test.
However, the paternity test results left her both disappointed and relieved.
Disappointed because she was indeed a child of the Vaughn Family, but relieved because she was still her grandfather’s granddaughter.
Since then, Ann had never questioned her own origins again.
Until... she saw Wilder Sheridan, and the doubts in her heart surged once more, overturning the iron-clad proof she’d witnessed.
"Right, Sherry, help me find out where... Jade Shepherd and Howard Vaughn are now." Ann swallowed the two words she was about to say and replaced them with names.
Since they chose to abandon her to save Cynthia Vaughn, they were no longer worthy of being her parents.
"I heard from Sean that they’re in Mordane now. Perhaps it’s divine punishment; they’ve lost their wealth, power, and status, and can barely make a living."
Hearing the schadenfreude in Sherry’s words, Ann couldn’t help but laugh, "Maybe it’s not divine punishment."
How could heaven care about so many things? Everything was man-made.
Despite Howard Vaughn’s and Jade Shepherd’s cunning over the years, even if the Vaughn Family went bankrupt, they would never leave themselves without an escape plan. This outcome was merely the result of Cyrus Hawthorne’s behind-the-scenes intervention.
Suddenly, a tall, aloof figure entered her mind. Unlike the icy aura surrounding him, when his deep, dark eyes looked at her,
they carried a warm smile and a gentle gaze that could drown a person.
Almost making one want to lose themselves without considering the consequences.
"What are you thinking about?" Seeing Ann lost in thought, Sherry waved a hand in front of her eyes.
"Huh?" Ann snapped back to reality, blinking to hide her panic, she changed the subject and said, "I was thinking about whether I should go to Mordane for another paternity test."
This issue had been weighing on her heart, and she was determined to figure it out.
"Not very likely," Sherry said, "You forgot what kind of place Mordane is. Finding them isn’t easy unless we know their exact location."
That’s one of the poorest regions in the world, with underdevelopment, barren land, poor infrastructure, and an overwhelming population. Information may come out, but outside news can’t get in.
"I think getting a hair sample from the old man for a test would be comparatively easier."
Ann was silent, how did she feel that this was even harder than finding Jade Shepherd and Howard Vaughn in Mordane?
The Sheridan Family had already blacklisted her; they wouldn’t even let her in the front door.
Just as Ann was puzzled over this point, Eli Sheridan’s call suddenly came through.
Ann hesitated whether to answer, and Sherry went ahead and swiped to accept, putting it to her ear.
"Annie," Eli Sheridan’s somewhat displeased voice came from the other side, "I know, you went to Marinia to treat my grandmother, and what Cian and Jane did."
So was this to confront her for the grievances of his wronged sister and brother?
Ann pursed her red lips, about to speak, when she heard him say with a headache, "Cian has been spoiled since young; no one apart from my grandmother can discipline him. Relying on his family’s bit of money, his tail is almost in the sky. I’ll deal with him when I get back."
Relying on his family’s bit of money...
In an instant, Ann didn’t know whether to sympathize with the scolded Wilder or with Elliot.
"As for Jane, I’ve confined her at home to reflect on her mistakes. After all, she’s not my family’s biological child. I can discipline Cian, but it’s not my place to scold or punish her."
Rarely had Eli Sheridan explained something so extensively, without partiality to his siblings, nor did he blindly believe them to question Ann Vaughn.
This was something Ann did not initially expect.
Just as her heart was moved, Eli suddenly changed the subject.
"But, why didn’t you tell me before you went to Marinia, so that I could arrange things for you? You went over on your own so recklessly. Haven’t you learned enough from the last kidnapping incident? You..."
Ann immediately turned her face, looking at Sherry for help, silently mouthing, "He’s at it again!"
She simply couldn’t understand why Eli Sheridan, who carried the aura of a high-cold president, would nag just like Tripitaka when he started talking.
Sherry glanced at her helplessly, wearing a cheerful expression.
It seemed like aside from Sean, the eldest master and Annie made quite a pair too.
After a whole half an hour, Eli realized Ann was not his subordinate and might not enjoy being lectured like this. He coughed slightly.
"Alright, reflect on this yourself. You don’t need me to teach you what to do next time."
Listening to the dial tone from the other end, Ann’s lips tugged slightly in speechless exasperation.
How could the differences in this family be so vast?
Ann didn’t stay long at the studio, went back to her apartment to drop off luggage, then drove to the preschool to pick Kenny up.
"Mommy!" Kenny spotted Ann from afar, sprinting over with his little chubby legs, and leaped into her arms, wrapping his little chubby hands around her neck.
Then, with a loud "smack," he gave her a resounding kiss on the cheek.
"If you don’t come back soon, Kenny will become a lonely unwanted empty-nest child!"
Hearing this description, Ann almost laughed her head off, hefted his somewhat heavy little body, and teased, "An unwanted lonely child, yet you weigh so much. Seems like Mommy’s absence hasn’t affected you!"
Kenny immediately panicked, clinging tight around Ann’s neck, whining in a childish tone, "Kenny is still young, even an hour away from Mommy makes me miss you!"
The little rascal, how could he not remember his young age when doing those dangerous things?
But hearing Kenny’s soft words, Ann felt her heart enveloped in warmth, how could she remember to tease him?
"Click."
Just as Ann was about to buckle Kenny into the car, she heard an extremely faint and unusual sound.
She quickly turned her head, looking around, but saw nothing suspicious.
Could she have imagined it?
"Mommy, what’s wrong?" Kenny asked innocently.
"Nothing." Ann withdrew her gaze, instinctively shielding Kenny’s little face with her palm, then settling him in the center of the back seat, she drove away from there.
Regardless if it was just her imagination, it’s always better to be cautious.