CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: SHOW FILMING HALTED

"Let’s go, I’ll give you a ride."

"I’m troubling you again." Ann Vaughn felt a bit embarrassed. She wanted to refuse, but he had already opened the car door for her. Refusing now would seem ungrateful.

After all, it couldn’t be a coincidence that he was here so early in the morning. If she refused, wouldn’t that be unappreciative?

Sutton Jennings drove away from The Water Terrace and smiled indifferently upon hearing her words, "No need to be so polite. In fact, Sawyer and I both owe you thanks."

"By the way, I’ve already looked into that man’s background, but since this is your family matter, how you handle it is up to you."

Family matter?!

Ann Vaughn turned her head in shock to look at Sutton Jennings, "What...what do you mean?"

Sutton Jennings didn’t elaborate, his eyes flashing with a mysterious light. "I’ve already sent that man to the police station, so you don’t need to worry about anyone causing trouble anymore."

As he spoke, he didn’t let Ann notice the fleeting murderous intent in his eyes.

Nor did he tell her that from now on, there would be no minor incidents outside the small clinic.

Ann Vaughn sensed his reluctance to go into detail, her lips moved a bit, but she didn’t know what to say.

No matter how much she racked her brain, she never thought it would be her closest family member who did it.

And there’s only one person it could most likely be.

Cynthia Vaughn!

Ann Vaughn always thought the struggle between herself and Cynthia Vaughn was merely friction from sibling discord, that they just disliked each other.

She never liked Cynthia Vaughn, she never denied that.

But she would never harm Cynthia just because she didn’t like her. She always thought Cynthia thought the same.

Not until now did Ann fully understand, that if Cynthia had even the slightest thought of her as a sister, she wouldn’t have done something so cruel!

"I understand now, thank you for telling me the truth." Ann tiredly rubbed her brow, revealing a wan smile. "I’ve been so busy lately, once I have some free time, I’ll definitely treat you to dinner to thank you."

"I’m looking forward to it." Sutton Jennings naturally responded, "Sawyer has been in rehab recently and has been clamoring to see you."

That proud little guy actually misses her?

Ann was somewhat surprised, recalling Sawyer Jennings’ cherubic face, her hand gently strokes her stomach, her eyes gradually softened.

She wondered if her child would be as adorable as Sawyer.

"I’ll make some time to visit. It’s been so long, I really miss him."

Sutton Jennings nodded slightly, with a hint of contentment in his expression.

-

The television station.

Ann took the elevator up to the floor where the program was being recorded. As soon as she stepped out, she saw the normally busy area, surprisingly empty.

She thought she might have gotten the time wrong, but after pulling out her notebook, it was clearly today.

"Excuse me, has the recording for the Chinese medicine program been relocated?" Ann asked a staff member curiously.

The staff member recognized her as the beautiful Chinese medicine doctor who had recently gained fame, their face turning red, "No, it hasn’t. I heard the production team received a notice to indefinitely postpone the show."

"Indefinitely postpone?"

"It means the show is stopped, haven’t you been notified?"

Stopped?!

Ann’s eyes suddenly tightened, looking incredulously at the empty set beside her, rubbing her hair in confusion.

If it was stopped, Susie should have called to inform her...

As she took out her phone, Ann finally realized it had been switched off at some point, she quickly turned it on.

A series of missed calls and messages appeared, the dinging making Ann feel a bit dazed.

Soon, Susie’s call came through.

"Annie, listen, it’s okay. Shows getting shelved due to investors and various reasons is very normal, and this show wasn’t that great anyway. If it’s stopped, it’s stopped, don’t get upset!"

Susie’s quick-fire words came through, anxiously and worriedly comforting Ann, even disparaging her own show to ease Ann’s concerns.

Hearing Susie’s words, Ann’s heart suddenly sank, her eyes flickering with surprise.

"Do you know why?"

This program’s popularity not only exceeded the top three domestic reality shows, but its audience demographics were also limitless.

Unless the investors were crazy and had too much money to handle, they wouldn’t stop this show.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Susie said frankly, "The order came from the main station, and after much questioning, the boss finally told me it was from a major player. The show can’t be filmed anymore."

"Annie, I’m sorry." Susie’s voice carried some guilt. "I’m the one who knows best how much you’ve put into this program, but I didn’t expect..."

"What are you saying, you silly. No one could have predicted this. I don’t mind it, don’t let it bother you either."

It was the first time Ann heard Susie’s dejected voice, so she quickly comforted her, not caring about her own sadness.

Thankfully, Susie’s naturally optimistic personality bounced back quickly, and she started enthusing about going for drinks.

"Alright, alright." Ann agreed cheerfully, then suddenly thought of something to ask her, "By the way, do you know why the person who requested the show to stop would do that?"

She was merely curious and wanted to ask, but unexpectedly, Susie did know.

"I heard it has something to do with Imperial Entertainment, but I don’t know the details. Our TV station hasn’t offended Imperial Entertainment, it’s truly baffling... Hey? Annie, are you listening?"

Clatter.

The phone fell at Ann’s feet, the screen making a slight shattering sound.

Her lips moved, as if suddenly understanding everything, her clear eyes alternating between complexity and realization.

So that’s what Cyrus Hawthorne meant by those words last night.

Outsiders might not know, she originally didn’t know either.

It was the last time she went to his office, when she inadvertently saw the files regarding Imperial Entertainment on his desk.

It was then she realized that the company producing either Film Emperors or Film Queens, or actors of great skill, Imperial Entertainment, was also under the Hawthorne Group.

And the shutdown order came from this company.

The person who gave the order was self-evident.

Ann tightly pursed her lips, and then without a second thought, took the elevator to leave.

She was heading to Hawthorne!

She wanted to explain to him in person, that the one who offended him was her. She was willing to quit this show for others who were implicated, he didn’t need to go to such great lengths.

As soon as she entered the group building, Ann headed straight for the elevator.

She had signed a contract with Hawthorne, so she had a pass, no need to register or anything.

However, just before Ann reached the top floor, the elevator stopped midway, and the person who came in was the director of the charity project.