Ann Vaughn’s eyes showed a touch of amazement, "How did you do it? So accurate!"
"Try it yourself." Cyrus Hawthorne didn’t answer the question, releasing his hand and giving her the main stage.
Though Ann Vaughn was unfamiliar with holding a gun and not as sharp in aiming as Cyrus Hawthorne, missing three bullets, she gradually got into the swing of things and found her touch.
Though the results were not perfect, hitting the bullseye every time, for someone playing this game for the first time, it was excellent.
"How was it?" Ann Vaughn turned around with a smile, looking somewhat expectantly at Cyrus Hawthorne.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s eyes hid a hint of surprise, his expression indifferent, "Barely watchable."
Ann Vaughn wasn’t discouraged, and just as she was ready to keep up the effort, Cyrus Hawthorne said, "That’s enough, let’s go."
Initially, she thought they were leaving, but unexpectedly, Cyrus Hawthorne took her to experience the judo hall, fencing hall, racetrack, and more.
Mindful of the child, Ann Vaughn didn’t dare to really participate, watching Cyrus Hawthorne demonstrate and then muddle through.
She remembered this club also had gentler activities, but for some reason, Cyrus Hawthorne took her to places testing one’s strength, reflexes, and speed.
Something flashed through Ann Vaughn’s mind, but it disappeared before she could grasp it.
At dusk, the driver came to pick up Cyrus Hawthorne and Ann Vaughn.
Before getting in the car, Cyrus Hawthorne glanced at the time on his wristwatch, resting a hand on the car window, standing by the door and asked Ann Vaughn, "Where do you want to go?"
Knowing he was accommodating her for the condition, Ann Vaughn pursed her lips, and finally said, "For the last few hours, accompany me to see my grandfather."
Upon hearing this, Cyrus Hawthorne’s gaze darkened slightly, thinking of something, his voice low and hoarse with a slight response, his expression softening.
On the way, Ann Vaughn’s mood fluctuated, anticipating letting her grandfather see that she truly met Cyrus Hawthorne after growing up.
Yet saddened by the fact that there was only a mistaken connection between her and Cyrus Hawthorne, not true affection.
But she had promised her grandfather that if she truly found the person she loved most, she would definitely bring him to see her grandfather.
Only Cyrus Hawthorne.
Midway through the drive, the phone vibrated, and in two seconds Cyrus Hawthorne picked up the phone to answer.
Before he could speak, his handsome face quickly changed expression, his voice restrained, "I’ll go over immediately." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
He quickly hung up the phone, and Ann Vaughn wondered if he received a work-related call, then heard him instruct the driver to stop.
"Get out of the car." After saying this coldly, Cyrus Hawthorne’s chilling gaze turned to Ann Vaughn, abruptly losing its earlier warmth, turning so cold and distant that it sent shivers down her spine.
Ann Vaughn’s pretty face changed, initially wanting to ask if something had happened, but upon seeing the coldness and impatience in Cyrus Hawthorne’s eyes, her fingers curled.
"Thank you for accompanying me today." After saying this, Ann Vaughn decisively got out of the car.
Before she could catch her balance, the car brushed past her, turning around quickly and heading in another direction, leaving only a trail of exhaust in her view.
Ann Vaughn watched the direction the car disappeared, until she couldn’t see even the tail end, then gently rubbed her slightly sore eyes and exhaled softly.
Originally, Cyrus Hawthorne agreed to accompany her because she used the contract as a condition, obtaining a whole day.
It was already enough, Ann Vaughn, you can’t be greedy anymore.
Until the twilight sunset gradually faded and night was about to fall, Ann Vaughn collected her mood, intending to hail a car to the North Garden.
When she got out of the car too swiftly, she forgot to bring down her bag as well.
Looking at the deserted roadside, with barely a car passing by, and the sky gradually growing darker, Ann Vaughn’s gaze became somewhat confused.
Just as Ann Vaughn prepared herself mentally to walk back to the city from here, an Aston Martin suddenly stopped beside her.
Ann Vaughn cautiously stepped back two steps, seeing the car window lower, surprisingly revealing Sutton Jennings.
"Sutton Jennings? What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to meet you here." Once in the car, Ann Vaughn looked at Sutton Jennings with bright eyes, feeling a bit fortunate inside.
"I happened to have business at the North Garden." Sutton Jennings’s charming eyes carried a slight smile, "Why are you here alone so late?"
Ann Vaughn touched her wrist, not mentioning Cyrus Hawthorne leaving her alone, saying, "I’m also headed to the North Garden, a relative is there."
Sutton Jennings did not probe further.
Located rather remote, the North Garden took half an hour for them to arrive.
"Once I’m done, I’ll wait in the car for you. It’s already dark, be careful by yourself." Sutton Jennings handed a lantern to Ann Vaughn, then walked alone in another direction.
Ann Vaughn wanted to say how could he see without a lantern, but looking again, he was already out of sight, so she let it go.
The lighting in the cemetery wasn’t much, making the lantern Ann Vaughn carried quite handy.
But when she arrived at her grandfather’s grave, she found a bouquet of white chrysanthemums placed before the tombstone, rendering her stunned.
In the past two years, every time she came to her grandfather’s grave, she found such a bouquet of white chrysanthemums placed carefully and respectfully, showing that the person respected her grandfather.
Yet Ann Vaughn never knew who the person placing the bouquet was.
Her parents didn’t care about her grandfather’s resting place, never asking about it, so it couldn’t be them.
Logically, only Ann Vaughn, who handled her grandfather’s affairs alone, should know about this.
"Miss, it will rain soon, the road will be tough, once you finish paying your respects, head back early." The cemetery keeper reminding kindly upon seeing someone paying respects so late.
Ann Vaughn snapped out of her thoughts, hearing this and hurriedly asked, "Sir, might you know who came to pay respects in recent days with white chrysanthemums?"
"Many people bring that flower, how could I remember them all?"
Upon hearing this, Ann Vaughn was not disappointed, thanked the cemetery keeper, and returned to her grandfather’s gravesite.
Ann Vaughn sat on the cold stone tiles, as before, sharing her recent situation with her grandfather, hoping he was listening from afar and at peace.
"Grandpa, your oblivious granddaughter will surely uphold your legacy and carry forward traditional medicine."
"Also, Annie found him. It’s just too late today, next time Annie will bring him to meet you, alright?"
After a long while, Ann Vaughn finally stood up, gently smiling at the photo of the kindly elderly gentleman, then turned to leave.
She waited quite a while in the car before Sutton Jennings returned, his already calm face now even more serene, without any emotional fluctuations.
Ann Vaughn didn’t know who he paid respects to, nor did she intrude to ask, instead she pulled a mint candy out of her pocket, offering it to him.
"Would you like one?"