CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: SOMEONE’S ABOUT TO BE IN BIG TROUBLE

"Yes, that’s the name! Brother, you know her too!" Zion Monroe, being somewhat obtuse, hadn’t noticed anything unusual, but Janne Hayes, standing in the corner, couldn’t help but cover his face, realizing the increasingly stormy atmosphere emanating from the big boss.

Zion Monroe, observing Declan Pierce’s interest in the Hawthorne Family’s affairs, thoughtfully added, "Brother Pierce, I’ve heard that Tanya Sinclair comes from a very poor background, with no parents, raised by her grandfather, a struggling traditional Chinese medicine doctor. Yet, she was quite resourceful, managing to marry Vincent Hawthorne, thus marrying into a wealthy family... Alas, she was ill-fated, unable to bear such fortune, and within two years, died in childbirth..."

"Ahem ahem!" Unable to listen any longer, Janne Hayes coughed twice, giving Zion Monroe a kick on the heel and wildly gesturing for him to shut up.

Zion Monroe completely failed to understand, feeling a bit bewildered, "Assistant Hayes, is your throat uncomfortable? Why kick me?"

Janne Hayes: "..."

Fine, flirting with a blind man.

The elevator had already arrived at the lobby on the first floor. Declan Pierce tossed his phone to Zion Monroe and strode out with his long legs.

Zion Monroe looked at the phone, and the video of Tanya Sinclair from earlier had already been deleted.

At the entrance, the driver had already brought the car around.

Janne Hayes quickly walked a few steps to open the rear car door for Declan Pierce, taking the passenger seat himself.

Zion Monroe, who had followed them, tried to get in the car, but as soon as he reached for the door, he found it locked.

Zion Monroe: "?"

Zion Monroe tapped on the car window, "Brother, I haven’t gotten in yet."

Inside, Declan Pierce treated him like air, expressionless as he instructed the driver, "Drive."

The black Maybach smoothly drove off, leaving Zion Monroe utterly bewildered and disheveled in place.

The car’s interior was very quiet, or more precisely, deathly silent.

Until Declan Pierce’s cold voice broke it.

"Look into that Yvonne Hawthorne."

"Yes."

Janne Hayes outwardly appeared calm, glancing swiftly at Declan Pierce’s expression in the rearview mirror, thinking that someone was in for a hell of a trouble...

The night had deepened.

The car carrying Tanya Sinclair finally returned to the villa, now two hours later.

Ordinarily, the journey from The Hawthorne Gardens would only take an hour, but after receiving a phone call, the driver deliberately took a detour.

Tanya Sinclair didn’t ask much.

In her heart, she understood that this was most likely Vincent Hawthorne’s doing, wanting her to return home later, as Joy didn’t want to see her before bedtime.

Vincent Hawthorne’s car had long since been parked at the entrance.

In front of the porch, not even a single light was left for her, nor, naturally, was anyone waiting for her.

As soon as Tanya Sinclair got out of the car, the driver stepped on the gas and drove off.

From where she got out of the car to the villa entrance was still a distance, and she glimpsed out of the corner of her eye the silhouette of Vincent Hawthorne standing by the window in the study on the third floor.

He was watching her.

Tanya Sinclair pretended not to notice, awkwardly using her white cane to find her way, almost stumbling several times before tottering to the door.

The door opened.

"You’re back." Vincent Hawthorne, dressed in pajamas, appeared behind the door, seemingly having come specifically to greet her. He even reproachfully asked, "Why didn’t you let the driver bring you in? Or have him call me so I could come to get you. What if you fell?"

Tanya Sinclair was already very tired today, yet she had to force herself to continue the charade with him.

"It’s nothing, I thought you were asleep, didn’t want to disturb you."

Vincent Hawthorne patted her head, "I can’t possibly sleep soundly without you here."

These gentle words, he always spoke so easily, like free candy given away without cost.

She suddenly became curious, does Vincent Hawthorne speak like this to Cindy Lynn as well?

Vincent Hawthorne led her to the sofa, sitting her down, then handed her a glass of milk.

"Have some milk, then go rest. You must be tired today."

"Where are Joy and Caden?" Tanya Sinclair asked softly while holding the warm milk glass.

"They’ve already gone to bed." Vincent Hawthorne glanced at her, his gaze clearly reproachful, but his voice was so gentle it gave nothing away, "Today, you scared Joy."

Tanya Sinclair pursed her lips, wanting to speak, but Vincent Hawthorne held her hand first.

"I understand your feelings, but Tanya, Joy is just a child. You’ve missed all the time from her birth till now... To Joy, you are a stranger."

A stranger...

Tanya Sinclair wanted to laugh, but her lips felt heavy, unable to lift.

Lying in bed, she could hear movements around her, recalling how when Joy learned to speak, she would curiously ask Vincent Hawthorne more than once, why her mom lay here, does she not want us?

Vincent Hawthorne would either stay silent or dismissively say she’d understand when she grew up.

Cindy Lynn was worse; she’d never forget how Cindy Lynn, with the gentlest voice, told her daughter: ’Joy, since your real mom lies here not wanting you, why don’t we not want her either?’

Every time she thought of these, Tanya Sinclair’s heart felt like it was being cut with a knife!

Vincent Hawthorne and Cindy Lynn, those villainous scoundrels, together they stole the love that her two children should have had for her.

In the past five years, if only Vincent Hawthorne had explained even once to Caden and Joy how much she loved them, loved enough to sacrifice her life... Joy wouldn’t have clung so much to Cindy Lynn, calling her ’Mom Cindy’ at every turn.

Tanya Sinclair gripped the milk glass tightly, suppressing her anger and injustice, forcing a tiny smile.

"I understand, Vincent. I’ll be more mindful in the future."

Vincent Hawthorne was somewhat satisfied with her attitude.

He mentioned another matter, "By the way Tanya, I spoke with Father today, and we agreed to leave the position of R&D manager for you. I’ve instructed HR to arrange it so that you can start at the company as usual next week."

"..."

This news took Tanya Sinclair by surprise.

’Buzz—’ The phone placed on the table by Vincent Hawthorne suddenly vibrated, signaling a new message.

Because Tanya Sinclair couldn’t see, he let his guard down completely with her, opening it right in front of her.

The message came from Father Hawthorne, Theodore Hawthorne.

He sent a voice message.

Vincent Hawthorne looked at Tanya Sinclair and converted the voice message to text.

Father Hawthorne: [Vincent, I’ve confirmed with the top management at Westgard Pharmaceuticals. Since the second son of The Pierce Family took over Westgard Pharmaceuticals, their next development focus is on Alzheimer’s disease drugs. This aligns perfectly with Tanya Sinclair’s expertise! Her university research under Academician Truman was seemingly on Alzheimer’s disease!]

Tanya Sinclair couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

So, this was the reason Vincent Hawthorne suddenly changed his mind, agreeing to let her continue as R&D manager.

"Vincent, who’s messaging you? Why did you stop talking?" Tanya Sinclair feigned confusion as she asked.

"It’s a message from Father." Vincent Hawthorne spoke with helplessness, "He mentioned that a few directors are unhappy about you resuming the R&D manager role. Don’t worry, I’ll handle them."

He freed a hand to hold Tanya Sinclair’s.

Tanya Sinclair smiled, "Vincent, I’m glad to have you."

"Don’t say silly things, as your husband, it’s natural to protect you."

The warmth in Vincent Hawthorne’s eyes faded in the next instant. He casually typed a reply to Father Hawthorne, right in front of Tanya Sinclair.

Vincent Hawthorne: [Yes, initially Academician Truman secured research funding for her, and her drug research was halfway through, but later she stopped to assist me with other projects. I remember she kept all the materials in a manila envelope, carefully stored.]

Tanya Sinclair’s eyes slightly narrowed.

The manila envelope Vincent Hawthorne mentioned was the very one she had stored cautiously in the safe in the villa.

Father Hawthorne’s second voice message came through quickly.

Father Hawthorne: [Alright, then. I’ve already talked to the people at Westgard Pharmaceuticals. The fact that Tanya Sinclair specializes in Alzheimer’s research will make further collaboration with Westgard Pharmaceuticals much easier!]

"..." Tanya Sinclair lowered her head, taking small sips from her warm milk, suppressing her anger and grievance. She forced a smile.

"I understand, Vincent. From now on, I’ll be more careful."

Vincent Hawthorne put away his phone, "Tanya, it’s getting late. Let’s go to our room and rest."

Just as they reached the bedroom door, Vincent Hawthorne’s phone rang again.

He didn’t try to hide it from Tanya Sinclair and answered the call right in front of her.

Cindy Lynn: [President Hawthorne, are you asleep? I’m at the hospital right now... Can you come over? If it’s inconvenient, it’s okay.]

Attached was a picture showing Cindy Lynn’s delicate hand hooked up to an IV, making her appear pitiful.

Vincent Hawthorne nonchalantly typed a response onscreen, again in front of Tanya Sinclair.

Tanya Sinclair felt her heart tighten for no reason at all.

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