CHAPTER 819: CHAPTER 819: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

Just as the atmosphere was getting tense, Ann Vaughn received a call, and her expression instantly changed.

After hanging up, she picked up the handbag on the table and urgently told Cyrus Hawthorne, "There’s been some trouble with Jeanette Shaw. You take Kenny back first; I need to go over there."

If expected, it’s likely the Yates Family preventing her from bailing out Jeanette Shaw.

At the same time, Vinson Ashton, standing awkwardly in the corridor, looked at her, a shocked light bursting from his wide eyes.

Cyrus Hawthorne slightly furrowed his brow and instructed her in a deep voice, "Let Mark Joyce follow; he knows what to do."

"You’re the best!" Ann Vaughn looked at him with bright eyes full of a smile, then turned to rub Kenny’s little head before stepping away.

"Wait—!" Vinson Ashton snapped back to reality and hurriedly tried to call out to Ann Vaughn.

But before he could finish speaking, Ann Vaughn’s figure had already moved far away.

Howard Yates felt completely out of place standing here and didn’t notice Vinson Ashton’s distracted look. He whispered, "Mr. Shaw, why don’t we find another place to eat?"

Stealing Hawthorne Corp.’s partner was one thing, but being caught red-handed by Cyrus Hawthorne was another.

Not to mention, Cyrus Hawthorne seemed to have known all along what he was doing, without a hint of surprise...

Even if Howard Yates thought to leverage Veridia Group to push the Yates Family to a better level,

it didn’t mean he dared to offend Cyrus Hawthorne for it.

Howard Yates wiped the cold sweat from his head, then said to Vinson Ashton, "I know a very un..."

But Vinson Ashton couldn’t hear what he was saying, or care; he ran off in the direction Ann Vaughn had left.

Cyrus Hawthorne’s composed face showed no displeasure, his thin lips curling into a meaningful arc.

When Howard Yates turned his head in confusion, he happened to see Cyrus Hawthorne’s smile, nearly stopping his breath.

"Family Head, I won’t disturb you and the little master any longer; please, enjoy your meal." Howard Yates said with a forced smile.

He knew very well that no matter how eloquent he was, Cyrus Hawthorne wouldn’t believe he and Vinson Ashton were merely here for a meal.

But at least he was Miya’s father, and considering her and the lifesaving favor, the Family Head shouldn’t make it too difficult for him...

Cyrus Hawthorne indeed didn’t trouble him because Howard Yates wasn’t even worth mentioning in his eyes, not even as enticing as the fish in Kenny’s bowl.

"You need to eat all the fish your mom picked for you."

"Mummy loves me, so she picked it for me. You didn’t get any." Little Dumpling held his bowl, snorting proudly.

Howard Yates, standing ignored, "..."

...

Ann Vaughn quickly arrived at the precinct, only to be abruptly grabbed by the arm at the entrance, forcing her to stop.

Turning her head, she saw the man who had been with Howard Yates earlier.

Was it Howard Yates who sent him to stop her?

Ann Vaughn frowned slightly and, with a little force, freed herself from his grip, looking at him cautiously, just about to speak when Vinson Ashton’s barrage of questions interrupted her.

"I heard you mention Jeanette Shaw earlier. Is it written with the characters for ’aspiring to’, ’graceful’, and ’woman’? Where is she now?"

His eager eyes were filled with a particular hope, as if seeing Ann as the last straw to clutch at, leaving people puzzled.

Ann Vaughn’s alert deepened, mixed with some sarcasm.

"The Yates Family detained her. Wouldn’t it be better to ask Howard Yates where she is now?"

With that, Ann Vaughn turned sharply and walked into the precinct.

Though Vinson Ashton didn’t understand her words, he still dialed Howard Yates, holding back.

Howard Yates was preparing to find him, and when the call came, he picked it up immediately, "Mr. Shaw, where did you go? Our cooperation..."

"Did you have someone detain a woman named Jeanette Shaw?" Vinson Ashton asked bluntly.

Too many have been detained by offending the Yates Family for Howard Yates to remember them all.

But he did have a distinct impression of Jeanette Shaw.

"How does Mr. Shaw know about this? Yes, I had her detained; you wouldn’t believe what she..."

Howard Yates was once again interrupted by Vinson Ashton.

"Are you insane?! You said you saw my ex-wife and could help me find her, which is why I left Hawthorne Corp. to work with you. Now you’re telling me you detained my ex-wife!?"

"Howard Yates, have you lost your mind?!"

Vinson Ashton, known for his genteel demeanor and good temper in the industry, stood at the precinct entrance, swearing profusely as if wanting to curse Howard Yates into the Mariana Trench.

Completely stunned Howard Yates.

What had he done to deserve such abuse??

Although a seasoned old fox, Howard Yates finally realized why Vinson Ashton was angry after pondering for a while.

However, the panic didn’t lessen but intensified, weighing down his chest.

"Mr. Shaw, wasn’t your ex-wife named Jeanette Ashton?" Howard Yates’s voice began to tremble.

Vinson Ashton impatiently tugged at his tie, "Her real name is Jeanette Shaw; she changed it after marrying me. I don’t care how you got her into the precinct, but if I don’t see her unharmed in ten minutes, Howard Yates, prepare to die!"

With that, Vinson Ashton hung up the phone harshly, not giving Howard Yates a chance to explain!

Howard Yates was left with a bitter taste and nowhere to vent, still in a daze.

How could that mother and daughter duo, without power or status and worse off than beggars, be the wife and daughter of the president of Veridia Group?!

...

However, Mark Joyce’s efficiency and speed of handling matters far outpaced Howard Yates. In under five minutes, the issue was resolved.

Leaving no chance for Howard Yates to redeem himself.

"Miss Vaughn, I know I’ve said ’thank you’ too many times, so much that it sounds cheap, but I must thank you once again." Jeanette Shaw bowed deeply to Ann Vaughn, "If there’s ever an opportunity, I will repay you."

Having said that, Jeanette Shaw blushed with embarrassment.

She knew that speaking such words was rather presumptuous for someone like her.

But besides this, she didn’t know how else to repay Ann Vaughn’s kindness.

Ann Vaughn shook her head lightly, "I told you, you don’t need to thank me. I’m not purely doing this for you; your daughter needs her mother. She can’t be without you."

As a mother herself, Ann Vaughn understood how important Jeanette Shaw and her daughter were to each other.

Though not just for herself, it was, like before, just doing something in passing.