Ann Vaughn was stunned.
It turns out that the embrace of a family member and the embrace of a loved one feel different.
"Uncle and brother will definitely seek justice for you, anyone who hurts you won’t get away with it." Ian Vaughn gently patted Ann Vaughn’s back, his usually gentle voice carrying a hint of fierceness.
Eliot made sure to avoid the injured part of Ann Vaughn’s wrist, held her hand, and said softly, "Before coming here, I was worried you’d get hurt, so I brought that piece of Phoenix Bone dad had hidden away. I’ll have it ground into powder for you by tomorrow."
Phoenix... Phoenix Bone?
Ann Vaughn’s eyes turned into gold coins, "It must be worth a lot of money, right?"
Just as she finished her sentence, Eliot lightly flicked her forehead.
"Don’t even think about it, it’s for applying to your wounds. Our family isn’t short on money. However much you want, your brother will give it to you, so don’t worry about this, okay?"
Ann Vaughn murmured, "Can’t I just use half of it?"
Eliot: "..." Is your injury more important, or is this piece of bone more important?
If this question was asked outside, the answer undoubtedly would be "Of course, the Phoenix Bone is more important."
It’s said that just a small amount of Phoenix Bone, when applied to necrotic skin or broken bones, can regenerate skin and restore bones to normal within two days.
Someone once received a small portion of Phoenix Bone powder from the Sheridans, and within three days, their broken leg healed, necrotic skin regenerated, astonishing everyone.
The injuries on Ann Vaughn were mostly superficial, it wouldn’t take long for these bruises to fade, she didn’t need such a rare treasure as the Phoenix Bone for healing.
But in the eyes of a protective brother, it wasn’t like that. To him, even the strands of his sister’s hair were precious, how could she endure such suffering?
Even if he had to grind the entire Phoenix Bone into powder for Ann Vaughn, Eliot wouldn’t hesitate.
In contrast, Ann Vaughn’s greedy reluctance to part with the Phoenix Bone amused him.
The fact that his sister was like this was his fault as a brother for not giving her enough pocket money.
Little did he know that Ann Vaughn was just savoring the potential value of the Phoenix Bone, pondering why the difference could be so drastic for what was essentially just bone.
Suddenly, several black credit cards appeared in her hand.
Ann Vaughn: ?
Eliot, in a tone full of heartfelt concern: "Don’t shortchange yourself, buy whatever you want, if it’s not enough, just ask your brother."
Ann Vaughn: ???
At this time, Ian Vaughn returned after finishing a call, the previously angry expression on his face had softened significantly, it seemed something had progressed smoothly.
Eliot exchanged a glance with him, then turned back unobtrusively to Ann Vaughn and said, "It’s getting late, we won’t disturb your rest, we’ll come see you tomorrow."
"By the way, brother, where’s Wilder? Why didn’t he come along?"
"He wanted to," Eliot lightly twisted the Buddha Beads in his hands and chuckled, "Dad has to stay at the company to keep things in order and can’t come, which already made him uncomfortable. That kid made fun of him, and it backfired."
Stanley Sheridan, being highly prominent, always had people watching him. If he suddenly left Marinia without reason, absurd news like "The Sheridan Family is bankrupt, Chairman Sheridan flees overnight" would spread by the evening.
Though he couldn’t personally come, gifts and supplements were eagerly sent over, expected to arrive for Ann Vaughn by morning.
Wilder Sheridan was much worse off.
To prevent him from sneaking over, Stanley Sheridan directly confiscated his ID card, forcing him to endure at home with him.
In a way, the love and rivalry between this father and son pair was indeed intense.
After leaving the hospital room, Ian Vaughn said to Eliot, "Without the Hawthorne Family’s protection, the Yates Family is like a bird in a cage, just a spark away from destruction."
Eliot chuckled, "The Hawthorne Family’s stance is clear, otherwise I might’ve been unable to resist breaking up that couple."
After Ann Vaughn’s incident, Cyrus Hawthorne swiftly severed all ties between the Hawthorne Family and the Yates Family, cutting the Yates Family loose without hesitation.
Even existing collaborations and financial dealings between the Yates Company and the Hawthorne Group were completely terminated.
It was clear to all that the Yates Family was done for.
Without the protection of the Hawthorne Family, how could the Yates Family continue to dominate The Imperial Capital and seize resources as they did before?
There were many who were dissatisfied with the Yates Family but didn’t dare to act rashly. Once the Yates Family left the protection of the Hawthorne Family—
It would be like a cake falling into an ant nest, it wouldn’t be long before it was devoured completely!
If Cyrus Hawthorne had any hesitation or showed leniency towards the Yates Family in handling this matter, his impression in Eli Sheridan and Ian Vaughn’s eyes would have been greatly diminished.
As they were talking, a tall, imposing figure approached, wearing a black custom-made suit, his features as cold as a painting, with a sharp nose and thin lips that, with a slight press, exuded an impersonal aura.
He likely had just come from a meeting, his sleeves half-rolled up, revealing a well-defined elbow, holding a "Black Swan" cake box and two unidentified drinks in his hand.
The coldness he carried was softened slightly by an air of relaxed casualness.
Mark Joyce was holding documents, following respectfully behind him, reporting on work matters as they walked.
Seeing Ian Vaughn and Eliot standing in front of the hospital room, Cyrus Hawthorne was not surprised, nodding lightly at them.
Moments ago, they both found Cyrus Hawthorne rather agreeable, but seeing him bring a cake obviously for Ann Vaughn, Eliot and Ian Vaughn both found him exceedingly irritating.
If only they could throw him out of the hospital.
But the hospital was also under the Hawthorne Family, making that impossible.
Eliot felt quite irritated, toying with the Buddha Beads, though he wore a smile, "President Hawthorne, you must be a gentleman. My sister was just pulled back from the brink of life and death, surely you will take good care of her, right?"
Ian Vaughn nodded in agreement.
Catching the underlying message in Eliot’s words, Cyrus Hawthorne’s lips curved slightly, "Rest assured, Mr. Sheridan, if I can’t even care for my own fiancée, how could I have the two of you trust Ann to me in the future?"
Fiancée?
Eliot and Ian Vaughn exchanged glances, eyes filled with astonishment.
How long had it been, and this kid had already succeeded again?!
They didn’t know whether to lament this kid’s charming words and excellent skills or to feel heartsick over their little princess being so innocent and easily deceived.
——They couldn’t stop it.
Inside the hospital room.
Ann Vaughn was eating the cake Cyrus Hawthorne had cut and handed over, almost choking when he mentioned what had just happened.
"You told them?!"
Cyrus Hawthorne casually responded, seeing her overreaction, he raised his hand to pinch her cheek, puffed up from being filled with cake, "Embarrassed?"
"...I wasn’t mentally prepared yet."