Cyrus Hawthorne appeared by the side of the rose arch in the garden at an unknown time.
His long legs directly stepped over the flower maze, entering the garden, his narrow eyes sweeping over Ann Vaughn’s miserable half face, his brows slightly furrowing.
"Son, you’re here just in time. I was just about to have someone search Ann Vaughn’s room. Since she stole confidential documents, she must have left some traces!" Laura Quinn’s arrogance grew more intense upon seeing Cyrus Hawthorne.
This time, she would do whatever it took to expel Ann Vaughn from the Hawthorne Family, as she couldn’t predict what internal betrayal she might concoct if left behind!
Ann Vaughn’s red lips gradually pressed together, her fingers at her side tightly gripping the hem of her skirt.
"Hmm, I have the same thought." Cyrus Hawthorne nodded slightly, spoke in a nonchalant tone, and then summoned a few people to search Ann Vaughn’s room and the study for evidence.
The evidence collection would take time as verification was needed, so Cyrus asked Laura to wait for news in the living room.
Only then did Cynthia Vaughn walk over to Ann Vaughn, nudging her and mockingly saying, "Sister, you’re done for this time."
"Did you really think that by having Mom plant those ’pieces of evidence’ in the name of borrowing Grandpa’s relic, no one would notice?" Ann Vaughn’s smile was devoid of emotion as she moved past Cynthia Vaughn into the house.
Upon hearing this, Cynthia Vaughn clenched her hands, looking incredulously at Ann Vaughn’s retreating figure.
No way, how could Ann Vaughn have found out what was hidden in the box?
She returned within a few hours after going out that night, without even the time to see Grandpa.
Especially given Ann Vaughn’s respect for Grandpa, she would never violate his wishes.
In less than ten minutes, those searching Ann Vaughn’s room returned with nothing suspicious.
Ann Vaughn lowered her gaze, arms folded, unsurprised by this result.
That night, after Jade Shepherd’s poignant remark, she visited the North Garden, did as Jade instructed, and opened the box.
They’d been so cautious in order not to be discovered.
If not for her sharp eyes, Ann Vaughn might never have noticed the hidden compartment at the box’s bottom.
Moreover, the crucial content on those few sheets had been erased, leaving only some key words.
Hawthorne Corp, bidding.
Being unfamiliar with Hawthorne Group’s business, Ann Vaughn had no concept of it, even if she knew it was a bid document, she wouldn’t know its use.
To be safe, she had directly burned the document.
Only at that moment did Ann Vaughn realize how shallow her understanding of Jade Shepherd’s limits was.
A little while later, the person collecting evidence from the study came downstairs, approaching Cyrus Hawthorne and Laura Quinn.
"Sir, after matching the fingerprints on the safe, it is confirmed that only yours and the Young Madam’s fingerprints... match."
It was like a thunderous shock in the living room, muting all sound.
Even Ann Vaughn was stunned in disbelief, her clear eyes widening.
She had never been near the study or touched anything there, yet her fingerprints were found on the safe?!
Laura Quinn’s cup smashed at Ann Vaughn’s feet, her finger pointed accusingly at her, "With material evidence present, do you still have the face to deny it wasn’t you? I initially thought you were only a bit vain, but didn’t expect you have such a dark heart!"
She then turned to Cyrus Hawthorne and added, "Son, this woman must not remain in the Hawthorne Family, you have to divorce her!"
"I haven’t! I’ve never stepped into the study, nor have I touched anything inside!" Ann Vaughn bit her lip, desperately trying to explain.
"Sister, at this point, you should just admit it. If you really didn’t do it, then why are your fingerprints on the safe? Doesn’t that make no sense at all?" Cynthia Vaughn said disapprovingly, frowning at the situation.
"Because—" Ann Vaughn’s mind went blank, words caught in her throat.
How could her fingerprints appear on something she never touched?
Who would believe such a claim?
Ann Vaughn felt her eardrums ache slightly, panic engulfing her as she looked instinctively in Cyrus Hawthorne’s direction, her bright eyes reflecting a hint of hope.
He sat on one side of the sofa, expression solemn, his narrowed eyes lowered, revealing nothing of his current emotions.
Yet the chill radiating from him was something Ann Vaughn could feel even from a distance.
"That’s enough." Cyrus Hawthorne’s voice coldly declared, his indifferent gaze resting on Ann Vaughn for less than a second before issuing orders to those nearby, "Throw all her things out. From today onwards, I don’t want to see her again."
I don’t want to see her again.
Each word pierced her heart, like a knife twisting mercilessly against the most tender part of her heart, rummaging through it.
Instantly leaving her a bloody mess.
The light in Ann Vaughn’s eyes vanished in an instant.
Her hands dropped weakly, unable to see even the mocking contempt on Laura Quinn and Cynthia Vaughn’s faces, only Cyrus Hawthorne’s stern, icy form remained.
He was like a block of hard ice. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
The cold penetrated to her marrow.
She had often imagined how she might leave this freedom-confining cage.
Imagined one day before leaving, she might create some cherished memories with the one she loved, to recall with closed eyes afterward.
But as her belongings and she were expelled from this cage, Ann Vaughn felt no relief, no joy.
Only an impending desolation and suffocation threatening to drown her.
Ann Vaughn suddenly bowed her head, hiding her reddened eyes, biting her lip, squatting down to hastily stuff the scattered luggage into the suitcase.
"Sister," Cynthia Vaughn stood behind the ornate door, watching Ann Vaughn’s sorry state with a victorious smile, "Look at you now, truly pathetic."
"Aunt has already called the Hawthorne family lawyer to draft your divorce settlement, and Cyrus has agreed to the divorce. Before long, you’ll return to your previous life of having nothing."
"If you hadn’t stolen my man and called me a homewrecker, how could you have ended up ? You owe me this outcome."
Seeing Ann Vaughn’s wretched condition brought Cynthia Vaughn immense satisfaction.
There was nothing more delightful than witnessing someone you hated fall from glory to mud!
Especially since, once Ann Vaughn and Cyrus Hawthorne divorced, it wouldn’t matter whether she lived or died, or even lost an organ, who would care?
No one would know that secret...
However, it was as if Ann Vaughn hadn’t heard her, she picked up her suitcase and turned away, never sparing Cynthia Vaughn a glance.
Cynthia Vaughn felt like her fist had struck a cotton ball, gritting her teeth in fury, she glared at Ann Vaughn’s retreating back with bitterness.
It was a lie, Cyrus had not actually agreed to divorce Ann Vaughn, but so what?
She didn’t believe that after today, Ann Vaughn could shamelessly return to Cyrus’s side.
And even if she could, Aunt would never tolerate that woman!