CHAPTER 290: CHAPTER 290: I’M GLAD TO HAVE YOU BY MY SIDE...

At the crossroads, Vincent stopped the car behind the yellow line. Turning back to look at his daughter’s aggrieved little face, he frowned slightly and sternly reminded her, "Joy, it was your own choice not to have a mom. One must be responsible for their own choices."

As soon as he said it, Vincent felt a tremor in his own chest.

Didn’t he also have to be responsible for his own choices?

After sending Joy back home, two nannies were already waiting. Vincent didn’t get out of the car and drove directly to the company.

On the way, Rhys Lucas called, but Vincent only glanced at it and didn’t answer, directly hanging up.

Meanwhile, inside the hospital room.

Rhys listened to the cold prompt on the phone— "The number you’ve dialed is temporarily unavailable."

He frowned tightly, calling again, only to find the phone was turned off.

"Vincent is not answering your calls?" Cindy sat up in the hospital bed and guessed as much from Rhys’s expression.

"He might be busy." Rhys couldn’t bear to see Cindy in tears, and frowning slightly with heartache, he consoled her, "The Zenith Group is undergoing a new round of financing, and it’s Vincent’s busiest time. He should come to see you tomorrow. If he doesn’t, I’ll drag him here for you!"

Cindy lowered her head and smiled pale, tears rolling down.

"Senior Brother Lucas, only you... have been so good to me all these years."

"Because you deserve it," Rhys said softly.

She lifted her teary eyes, gazing at Rhys, "Senior Brother Lucas, you must be aware of my family’s situation... You don’t hold any prejudice about me, do you? My parents, they..."

"Of course not!" Rhys interrupted Cindy, unable to help himself from reaching a hand to wipe her tears, "I only believe in the Cindy I know, gentle and kind. The grudges of the previous generation have nothing to do with you. You’re innocent!"

"Moreover, Tanya Sinclair isn’t even Uncle Lynn’s biological daughter. Her real mother had an affair and gave birth to her. Uncle Lynn was kept in the dark, who then bore a family disgrace. Is he expected to tolerate this illegitimate child endlessly?!"

Rhys had contacts in the police department and had already learned about the Lynn family’s matters. In his view, though it was true that Sean Lynn attempted to poison Horace Sinclair, Cindy had explained that her father, Sean Lynn, was coerced by the Sinclair family to marry in by gratitude!

After marrying in, he was cuckolded by Tanya’s mother, Charlotte!

Although Charlotte was already dead, Sean was unable to swallow the indignation all these years, so his desire to kill Horace was somewhat understandable.

Now Sean had been arrested, and the law would judge him.

As for Shelly Sullivan ordering Old Ninth King to go after Tanya, it was out of deep love for her daughter.

Hiring a killer was indeed illegal, and she had already turned herself in!

The most innocent person was Cindy!

In just a few days, her parents were imprisoned one after the other, leaving her alone and helpless.

Even her fiancé, Vincent, was seduced by Tanya, forcing her to attempt suicide to prove her innocence!

He knew that even after the divorce, Tanya, that scheming woman, wouldn’t easily give up on Vincent!

Back then, she went to all lengths to pursue Vincent!

Rhys gently touched the bandaged wound on Cindy’s wrist, full of heartache. He said in a cold voice, "Don’t worry, Cindy. I will definitely not let that scheming woman, Tanya, continue to confuse Vincent!"

Cindy took the initiative to hug Rhys, resting her face against him.

"Senior Brother Lucas, it’s a good thing you’re by my side, or I really couldn’t hold on..."

Rhys’s eyes dimmed, reason told him to maintain a distance, but he couldn’t bring himself to push her away.

Like a thief, he was greedily stealing the gentleness that didn’t belong to him.

At that moment, the door to the hospital room was boldly pushed open, and Cody Crawford walked in carrying a fruit basket.

"Cindy, are you feeling better..."

Cody’s words trailed off in surprise at the scene before him.

Rhys and Cindy quickly pulled apart.

Cindy wiped her face and called out to Senior Brother Crawford, explaining, "I just felt unwell for a moment and lost composure. Please don’t misunderstand Senior Brother Lucas."

Cody laughed dryly, "Ha, we’ve known each other for so long. How could I misunderstand..."

Though he said that, his gaze awkwardly darted around. Cody didn’t sit for long, exchanging some customary words of visiting a patient, wishing Cindy a speedy recovery before taking his leave.

Rhys said, "I’ll walk you out."

The two reached the elevator entrance, but Cody didn’t immediately press the button. Seeing that no one was around, he couldn’t help but remind, "Brother Lucas, Cindy is Vincent’s fiancée!"

"I know, you don’t have to remind me." Rhys’s eyes were a bit cold as he said in a chilly voice, "Cindy and I are innocent, I only treat her like a sister."

Cody frowned, "But she’s not actually your sister. Staying here and caring for her, what will outsiders think?"

Rhys said, "This is the Lucas Family’s hospital, nothing will get out."

"..." Cody was a bit speechless, but Rhys had always been biased in favor of Cindy. Over the years, he’d targeted Tanya, not just because of her background, but more to stand up for Cindy.

"If it weren’t for that Tanya woman causing trouble even after the divorce, Cindy and Vincent wouldn’t be engaged and still end up like this!" Rhys found Tanya utterly detestable.

Cody couldn’t help but voice a fair point.

"Brother Lucas, it was Tanya who initiated the divorce, she dumped Vincent. She blocked all his contact methods; the one who can’t let go is Brother Hawthorne, isn’t it?"

"Hmpf, it’s just that woman’s tricks!" Rhys snorted coldly, "She deliberately only wanted custody of Caden, leaving Joy behind. Caden’s a genius; everyone knows he’s the most likely to inherit the Hawthorne Family in the future, right? If she controls Caden, wouldn’t that mean controlling Vincent?"

Cody: "..."

He felt Rhys’s bias against Tanya was a bit too deep.

Cody pushed the elevator button. When the elevator doors opened, he walked in, looking at Rhys intending to leave, and finally said, "Brother Lucas, don’t blame me for being blunt. Some of the things you’ve done to Tanya in secret were quite excessive. And hasn’t the old man from your family warned you? Stop creating trouble for yourself."

He didn’t add one more sentence, though.

He didn’t think Cindy was as innocent and uncalculating as she appeared...

On the other side of the night.

Felix Kendall’s car drove into Tanya’s community, parking under the apartment building where she lived.

The engine turned off, and the car stopped under the shade of a tree.

Felix held the steering wheel with one hand and turned back, "Abby, play with your brother Caden in the car for a while. I have something to discuss with Aunt Sinclair."

"Okay." Abby nodded obediently.

On the way, Abby hadn’t spoken much, mostly still upset.

Felix gently patted her head. He and Tanya got out of the car, walking a few meters away before Felix spoke in a deep voice, "I plan to have a good talk with Abby about her biological parents."

It won’t be something that can be kept hidden indefinitely, and Abby herself probably already had an inkling, just unwilling to admit it.

Tanya nodded, "Yes, Abby’s parents were heroes. She should know she has such incredible parents."

"I’ve never raised a little girl before." Felix rarely showed a hint of helplessness. Half-jokingly, half-seriously, he said to Tanya, "Abby really likes you. If there’s anything in the future where I might trouble you, I ask for your understanding."

"Don’t say that. I like Abby very much too. If there’s anything I can help with, I’ll definitely do my best," Tanya said, still feeling a bit apologetic about Joy’s behavior toward Abby today, "Mr. Kendall, Joy has been spoiled and speaks without thinking. I apologize on her behalf to you and Abby."

Felix’s expression was calm, "I’m not going to hold a grudge against a five-year-old girl, much less blame you. Let’s put it aside for today, but if it happens again, I’ll have a serious conversation with the responsible party."

An unruly child reflects on the father’s responsibility.

Choosing not to hold Joy accountable didn’t mean he wouldn’t deal with Vincent.

A leaf from above was clipped and fell onto Tanya’s hair without her noticing.

"Then I’ll take Caden home first. Drive safely."

"Alright," Felix replied. As Tanya turned, he quietly reached out to remove the fallen leaf from her hair and slipped it into his pocket without a sound.

Not far away, a black car was parked in a dark corner without streetlights.

In the back seat, Declan Pierce’s sharply defined features were shrouded in darkness, his black eyes silently watching the scene outside...