CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 177: GIVE ME FIFTEEN MINUTES

Vincent Hawthorne looked at Cindy Lynn in his arms, shocked and heartbroken.

"...Are you stupid?"

Cindy Lynn shook her head: "As long as you’re okay. It hurts so much, Vincent..."

She furrowed her brows and cried out in pain.

The assailant, realizing he attacked the wrong person, turned around in a panic and ran away.

Tanya Sinclair’s eyes sharpened as she immediately guessed the man’s identity!

She aimed at the man’s head and threw her purse forcefully, hitting him precisely on the back of his head!

At this point, security also caught up and pinned the man to the ground.

"You damn well better behave!"

Tanya Sinclair dashed forward, tore off the man’s hat and mask, and indeed, it was Kyle Crawford whom she had fired!

Tanya Sinclair threw the hat back into Kyle Crawford’s face and instructed the security, "Call the police."

Kyle Crawford’s face turned pale, glaring at Tanya Sinclair, still defiant, "Tanya Sinclair, what are you so smug about? Aren’t you just a bitch who got ahead by sleeping with the boss? Even if I go in, I won’t be in for long. When I get out, I’ll still come for you!"

The security couldn’t listen anymore and applied a stun baton to his waist.

Kyle Crawford screamed in pain, quickly becoming docile.

Tanya Sinclair glanced over at Vincent Hawthorne’s side; he had already carried the injured Cindy Lynn to the car and was speeding directly to the hospital.

Tanya Sinclair noticed the sulfuric acid bottle on the ground, pausing slightly.

She stepped forward.

The security behind her nervously reminded her, "Ms. Sinclair, that’s concentrated sulfuric acid in there! Don’t touch it!"

Concentrated sulfuric acid, huh?

Tanya Sinclair felt something unexplainably off.

There was a police station just three kilometers away from the company, and the response was swift. Kyle Crawford was arrested, and Tanya Sinclair went to the police station to make a statement.

The empty bottle used to contain the sulfuric acid was also taken back to the police station as evidence.

The case was straightforward, as there were surveillance cameras at the company’s entrance that captured the entire process clearly.

Additionally, with the security’s testimony, there was ample evidence, and Kyle Crawford’s motive didn’t need questioning; he confessed it all the way while cursing.

However, although Kyle Crawford’s direct attack target was Tanya Sinclair, he inadvertently harmed an innocent person. The police still needed to contact the direct victim for a statement.

"The man and woman on the scene back then, do you know them, Ms. Sinclair?" The officer taking Tanya Sinclair’s statement was a female officer. She was worried Tanya might be scared, seeing how delicate she appeared, and even poured her a glass of water.

"Yes, I know them." Tanya Sinclair said calmly, "One is my soon-to-be-divorced husband, Vincent Hawthorne. The other is his secretary and mistress, Cindy Lynn."

"Cough, cough..." The female officer choked on the water herself, composed herself, and said in an official tone, "Well, Ms. Sinclair, do you have their numbers? We can contact them."

Tanya Sinclair retrieved Vincent Hawthorne’s number from the blacklist and gave it to the police.

But before the police contacted him, a commotion erupted in the lobby outside.

Tanya Sinclair followed the female officer out and saw Vincent Hawthorne entering, followed by several lawyers in suits and carrying briefcases.

Tanya Sinclair recognized one of them as Keith Abbott, the lawyer specializing in criminal cases from the office Vincent Hawthorne often collaborated with. The others must also be criminal lawyers.

This arrangement...

He specifically came to avenge Cindy Lynn.

The Hawthorne Family was in such chaos now, yet he still came here for Cindy Lynn.

But last night, knowing The Hawthorne Family’s plan to take her out for good, Vincent Hawthorne merely made a show by arranging Jonah Rivers to pick her up...

The contrast was too ironic.

The female officer beside her gave Tanya Sinclair a sympathetic look.

Vincent Hawthorne’s peripheral vision caught Tanya Sinclair standing in the corner. He paused slightly and then withdrew his gaze.

The Hawthorne Family’s status didn’t come without reason; they had connections everywhere.

Director Warner likely received a call from someone influential, hurriedly coming down from the second-floor office to personally greet Vincent Hawthorne.

"Mr. Hawthorne, with both witnesses and material evidence, the case regarding Ms. Lynn is already conclusive. Why did you personally bring people here?"

Vincent Hawthorne sat there, not speaking, lowering his head slightly as he took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, seemingly oblivious to those around him.

The privilege that came with wealth and power manifested here.

Vincent Hawthorne was here to exert pressure.

Director Warner looked a bit embarrassed, and lawyer Keith Abbott spoke, "Director Warner, in this case, I fully represent Mr. Hawthorne and..."

Keith Abbott glanced at Tanya Sinclair in the corner, awkwardly adjusting his glasses, and then continued.

"And Mrs. Hawthorne and Ms. Lynn, pursuing Kyle Crawford to the end. We will file a charge of attempted murder against him."

Tanya Sinclair: "..."

Now he’s representing her too.

Tanya Sinclair spoke coldly, "No need to represent me."

Vincent Hawthorne turned his gaze to her, pursed his lips slightly, as if he had something to say.

But Tanya Sinclair had no interest in listening, nor did she want to see him.

She turned and asked the female officer beside her.

"Could you please direct me to the restroom?"

The female officer pointed her in a direction, and Tanya Sinclair turned and walked away.

She didn’t actually want to go to the restroom; she just didn’t want to see Vincent Hawthorne.

Moreover, Tanya Sinclair kept feeling that something about tonight’s events was not quite right...

As she was thinking, her phone suddenly started vibrating wildly.

Tanya Sinclair took out her phone and was taken aback by the caller ID.

Declan Pierce?

At this time, why would he suddenly contact her?

She reconsidered; Declan Pierce was the owner of Westgard Pharmaceuticals. With such a major incident at his company, the reports from security must have reached him.

"President Pierce." Tanya Sinclair answered.

Declan Pierce’s breathing was heavy as he immediately asked, "Are you hurt?"

Tanya Sinclair quickly replied, "I’m fine, President Pierce. No need to worry. I can still come to work as usual tomorrow and won’t delay the project’s progress."

He called to ask if her hand was okay, probably just concerned about whether the project could be completed on time.

"..." Declan paused for a moment on the other end of the phone before continuing to speak, "Where are you?"

"I’m still at the police station near the company, I should be able to leave after finishing the statement."

"Fifteen minutes."

"What?"

"I’ll be there in fifteen minutes."

Tanya was a bit surprised. Although Declan was the boss of Westgard Pharmaceuticals, there were so many companies under his name that Westgard Pharmaceuticals probably didn’t even rank in the top ten.

Declan actually came in person...

Tanya was a little surprised.

Unexpectedly, Declan turned out to be such a considerate boss.

Tanya went to the bathroom. When she came out, she looked up and saw Vincent’s figure waiting outside.

This guy wouldn’t leave her alone...

But there was only one way out.

Tanya ignored him and walked forward with big steps.

"Tanya." Vincent called her softly, blocking her path, frowning at her with some disappointment, "Don’t you have anything to ask me? Cindy was doused in concentrated sulfuric acid while trying to save me. If it hit her face, her whole life would have been..."

"It didn’t hit her face, did it?" Tanya interrupted him.

She was so calm and indifferent that Vincent frowned in disbelief.

He spoke in a cold voice, with lingering fear in his tone: "If it weren’t for Cindy, that bottle of sulfuric acid would have splashed on me tonight! I rushed up without thinking to protect you!"

He thought he might at least see a glimmer of emotion in Tanya’s face, but it was still indifferent when looking at him.

Tanya: "..."

Vincent always had this ability, grandly making himself the most innocent one, as if giving a little meant all his past sins against her should be forgiven.

Not forgiving him made her seem heartless and unruly.

Tanya just thought it was ridiculous.

"Vincent, did you manage to move yourself tonight?" she mocked, "But haven’t you ever thought, over the years, how many of the same things have I done for you?"

Not just blocking sulfuric acid, she even blocked knives, blocked bullets for him!

The most dangerous time was when Vincent was kidnapped, she alone took the ransom and barged into the kidnappers’ den, almost getting raped.

In the end, she gouged out the kidnapper leader’s eye with a knife in a desperate escape!

Later on, Tanya often had nightmares, dreaming of that man’s blood splattering on her face, dreaming of that ferocious face pulling her hair, dragging her to the bed...

Tanya’s heart trembled uncontrollably.

She said, "Vincent, I’ve almost died three times for you. Even if today that bottle of sulfuric acid splashed on your face, it’d be what you owe me!"

Vincent frowned deeply, full of disappointment: "Tanya, how have you become so cold-blooded now?!"

He thought after tonight, at least he’d get some sympathy from Tanya, at least she would show him a better face.

They could sit down and talk calmly about divorce, especially about those video recordings of Yvonne...

But he didn’t expect Tanya to be so immovable!

Vincent said coldly: "When I arrived, Cindy was hurt that badly and she specifically asked me to check on you, worried that you too might have been splashed with sulfuric acid!"

In comparison, Tanya appeared to have a heart of stone!

"And, stop saying you almost died for me three times." Vincent said coldly, "Risking life to give birth to Caden and Joy, that was your own decision back then!"

Tanya: "?"

When did her saying she almost died for him include having two kids?

"Vincent..."

Just as Tanya opened her mouth to ask, a phone call came into Vincent’s phone first.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Vincent’s phone screen that lit up.

The words [Cindy] were clear in view.

Vincent immediately answered: "Cindy, how are you?"

But the voice on the other end was Shelly Sullivan’s.

"Mr. Hawthorne, you’d better come over. Cindy is in severe pain right now and has a bit of a fever, fearing some complications. She’ll only feel safe and not so scared with you by her side."

Vincent gave Tanya one last look, laced with disappointment and a hint of disdain.

Then he turned and walked away swiftly, saying, "Okay, I’ll be right back."

Tanya watched Vincent’s departing figure with a cold and calm gaze.

She took out her phone, scrolled through her photo album, and sent Theodore a photo of Yvonne.

There wasn’t much revealed, just Yvonne disheveled on a table, surrounded by four men...

As expected, Theodore’s call came in, which Tanya ignored once more.

Soon after, she received a message from Theodore.

The first one was a hysterical curse.

The second asked what exactly she wanted.

The third had Theodore calming down, begging her not to ruin The Hawthorne Family and his daughter.

Tanya sneered sarcastically.

She was just redirecting what they intended to do to her onto Yvonne, and she wasn’t as nasty as them, not actually letting four men defile Yvonne.

She just needed to create an illusion, and rumors would be deadly enough.

And now, it still wasn’t the best time for negotiation.

Tanya put away her phone and walked outside.

The hall exit directly faced the entrance, and Tanya, unprepared, looked up, seeing Declan’s tall figure enter her sight.

He came rushing in, his tailored black coat flapping, cutting a sharp arc.

Until he looked up and saw Tanya approaching.

The surge of rage in his heart, along with the coat’s hem, fell...