CHAPTER 905: CHAPTER 905: IS THIS REPAYING A FAVOR?

"I-I apologize for the disturbance!"

After speaking, Ann Vaughn tried to push herself off the ground to stand up. However, her right hand slipped, causing her to suddenly fall uncontrollably forward.

She happened to fall into Cyrus Hawthorne’s arms, as if willingly embracing him.

Cyrus Hawthorne’s arms were slightly open. He neither caught her immediately nor avoided her, allowing her to fall into his embrace, a hint of amusement rising in his narrow eyes.

Ann Vaughn only felt her nose suddenly bump into something warm. Slightly moist warmth wafted toward her with a faint scent of cedar, indescribably pleasant.

Instinctively, she tried to grab onto something to stand up but found herself touching something firm. The scorching heat transmitted through the fabric to her palm felt as if it were alive and beating...

"What are you doing?" The man’s voice, already deep and magnetic, now carried a hoarse undertone, making it even more sexy and enticing.

Ann Vaughn felt a tingling at her ears and immediately snapped back to her senses. She looked closely and saw her hand was—

"Ah!!"

Ann Vaughn exclaimed and quickly withdrew her hand, her heart beating as if it would burst, her cheeks flushed as if dripping blood.

"S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to!"

Cyrus looked down at Ann Vaughn’s blushing cheeks and her panicked expression, his Adam’s apple rolling twice in restraint, a low chuckle escaping his lips.

With or without memory, some little habits of hers couldn’t change her roguish nature.

What a pity, he couldn’t take this chance to make her pay a "price."

"Give me your hand." Cyrus extended his hand to her, his artistically defined palm flawless.

Ann Vaughn’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she couldn’t help but clench her fingers, the lingering warmth in her palm impossible to ignore, making her wish she could disappear right then.

But clearly, that wasn’t possible.

"...Thank you." After a few seconds of hesitation, Ann Vaughn placed her hand into Cyrus’s palm, using his strength to stand.

Cyrus’s thin lips curled slightly. He enveloped her small hand securely, leaving no gaps.

But not wanting her to notice anything, he quickly let go.

"Are you Ann Vaughn?"

Ann Vaughn was about to escape this embarrassing bathroom when, upon hearing Cyrus’s words, she looked at him in confusion, "How do you know..."

As she raised her head, the man’s face became clear in Ann Vaughn’s eyes, and she froze.

It’s him?!

The man she had met by chance at the Gothasen celebration?!

But what truly surprised Ann Vaughn was not this, but...

"Kenny showed me your photo," Cyrus’s thin lips curved lightly. "I heard Kenny was almost taken by traffickers, and you saved him."

Ann Vaughn’s mind buzzed, her pupils shrinking tightly.

This man is Kenny’s father...

But why did Kenny tell her that his father was gone?

As if sensing her questions, Cyrus explained in a deep voice, "Not long ago, Kenny was taken abroad by one of my business rivals, and over the past few days, I’ve been sending people to find him. Thanks to Miss Vaughn, Kenny and I could reunite."

Ann Vaughn’s red lips tugged slightly, but she couldn’t smile. Her heart felt a mix of emotions.

No wonder Kenny said that. He must have thought his father didn’t want him anymore at that time.

Now that Kenny’s father had found him, she should feel happy for him, but...

"Mr. Vaughn, can I see Kenny?" After hesitating for a long while, Ann Vaughn asked with a strained voice.

Mr.... Vaughn?

Cyrus raised an eyebrow, and a smile rose in his ink-black eyes. He nodded, "You saved Kenny; you’re Mr. Vaughn’s benefactor. Of course."

Ann Vaughn breathed a sigh of relief, sincerely saying, "Thank you!"

...

In the children’s room.

Ann Vaughn hadn’t expected that after being apart for just half a day, Little Dumpling already seemed weak and totally not as lively as before.

"Mommy," Little Dumpling said, his chubby hands clutching the blanket’s edge, half of his pale face hidden under it, exposing a pair of damp, bright eyes.

Ann Vaughn’s heart twisted, wanting to hug him but worrying about hurting him, so she just held one of his little hands, "Kenny, where are you feeling unwell? Did you take your medicine?"

She tried feeling Kenny’s pulse, but unlike with Susie Sommers, it wasn’t easy, and nothing was clear.

But Little Dumpling’s pale face didn’t look like nothing was wrong.

Little Dumpling nodded weakly, "I did. Kenny’s tummy just hurts a little; don’t worry, Mommy."

How could she not worry?

Ann Vaughn gently rubbed his little tummy, softly comforting him, "It’ll stop hurting once you wake up from a nap. Don’t be afraid, Kenny."

"Mommy isn’t mad at Kenny?" Little Dumpling glanced at his dad, then looked pitifully at Ann Vaughn, "Kenny didn’t mean to deceive Mommy."

Cyrus stood aside with arms crossed, his thin lips curling into an arch, ultimately not exposing this little liar.

Seeing Little Dumpling’s aggrieved expression, Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but plant a kiss on his little face, "As long as Kenny eats and sleeps on time, takes medication when sick, I won’t be angry."

She hid it well, and Little Dumpling didn’t see the sadness in her eyes.

"Mommy is the best!" Little Dumpling said in a soft voice, happy inside.

Of course, he is Mommy’s most beloved little treasure. If Daddy lied to Mommy, he’d surely be sleeping in the study!

Only after Little Dumpling fell asleep did Ann Vaughn reluctantly leave the children’s room.

"Mr. Vaughn," she spoke, a bit embarrassed as she rubbed her wrist, remembering how Kenny had called her Mommy earlier, overheard by Cyrus. "I initially wanted to adopt Kenny, thinking his parents were no longer around, so that’s why he called me Mommy..."

"It’s okay." Cyrus’s lips curled, his voice deep and gentle, "Kenny likes you very much."

Ann Vaughn found herself reassessing her opinion of this man.

Hearing his son call another woman Mommy, yet not getting angry at all, he must have really good manners and temperament.

No wonder he could raise such a little gentleman like Kenny...

Ann Vaughn admired him silently and asked, "Mr. Vaughn, may I come to see Kenny in the future?"

"As long as Miss Vaughn wants to, you’re welcome anytime." Cyrus’s eyes lowered slightly, his gaze fixed on Ann Vaughn, carrying a subtle, hard-to-detect hint of possession, "Does Miss Vaughn have any wishes you’d like granted?"

...Why did it sound like he wanted to repay a favor?

Ann Vaughn nearly couldn’t contain the urge to say she wanted Kenny.

But she knew it was too much to ask, regardless of whether he agreed, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

"I don’t have anything I want at the moment; if I do in the future, I’ll let Mr. Vaughn know." Ann Vaughn didn’t want to make an irrevocable statement, just in case she regretted it later.