CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 101: BREAKING THE SIEGE

The male detective’s gaze towards Ann Vaughn was suddenly somewhat peculiar. He placed his arm on the table and asked her, "Are you born with unusual strength?"

Otherwise, how could a few needles possibly stop an out-of-control car? It was simply baffling.

Ann Vaughn, "..."

"This is too suspicious. Report it to the higher-ups first, investigate this woman’s background, see if there’s anything we can uncover. If they pursue the matter..."

The male detective lowered his voice to instruct his subordinates.

Ann Vaughn immediately realized she might not be able to leave easily. The man in the Bentley was indeed not ordinary, causing the precinct to be somewhat cautious.

She quickly thought in her mind about someone who could vouch for her, and after pondering, she decided to text Susie Sommers.

Grandpa Hawthorne had moved to Cloudmere Manor due to his health and wouldn’t easily come down the mountain, and she found it inappropriate to trouble him with such a small matter.

She could only rely on Susie Sommers.

Susie Sommers quickly replied, saying she’d be there soon and reassured her not to worry.

After waiting for nearly twenty minutes, Ann Vaughn was sitting on the long bench in the precinct’s office, feeling a bit sleepy, while the agent interrogating her seemed full of energy.

He refused to believe what she said, convinced there must be some hidden agenda.

His questions made her head spin.

Tap.

The light sound of footsteps pausing was heard.

Ann Vaughn turned her head and saw a pair of shiny leather shoes. Moving up, there were long, straight legs wrapped in suit pants, leading to a narrow waist and broad shoulders, finally ending at a handsome face that was so beautiful it was astonishing.

"Why are you... here?" Ann Vaughn was stunned for a few seconds, looking up at him.

Cyrus Hawthorne looked at her with indifferent eyes, one hand in his pocket, lips pressed together in silence.

"Miss Vaughn, the incident at the bus stop caused quite a stir and has made it to the news." Mark Joyce, who was following behind, respectfully answered, "President Hawthorne has managed to suppress any news related to you, so you don’t have to worry."

After all, the public relations team of Hawthorne Corp. was employed, and the effect was immediate.

"Stop talking." Cyrus Hawthorne glanced coldly at Mark Joyce, who instantly fell silent.

He turned his head, looking at Ann Vaughn, who was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and tossed his suit jacket into her arms, "Put it on, let’s go."

"...Oh." Ann Vaughn’s lips curved into a small arc, putting on the jacket that still held his faint body warmth, and followed him with small steps.

The male detective was just about to order someone to stop them when he received a call from higher-ups, his face changing at once, and looked at their departing backs with apprehensive eyes.

Luckily, he hadn’t opened his mouth yet...

-

The bus stop accident caused a huge uproar online, with many who were present seeing Ann Vaughn throw the Golden Needle.

Originally, this incident would have sparked a great deal of discussion, but under the control and influence of the Hawthorne Corp. PR team, those who heard about it thought it was all wild imagination.

It’s not like it’s an ancient martial arts novel, can one really strike a bull from a distance?

Moreover, the car obviously turned abruptly to avoid the child, not related to a delicate young woman!

Ann Vaughn naturally saw these comments and immediately breathed a sigh of relief, having already undergone a lot of questioning at the precinct. She didn’t want to attract more attention.

Not long after getting in the car, Ann Vaughn received a call from Susie Sommers asking where she was.

With Cyrus Hawthorne next to her, Ann Vaughn felt it inappropriate to elaborate, so she just said she was safe and had left the precinct, telling her it was a wasted trip and promising to give her a set of homemade cosmetics next time as compensation.

Susie Sommers immediately cheered, "But Annie, you must be careful. You never know his intentions... If anything happens, remember to call me, I’m available 24/7."

Hearing Susie Sommers’s caring intent in her words, Ann Vaughn’s eyes softened, "Don’t worry, I’m fine."

After hanging up, Ann Vaughn pursed her lips and looked several seconds at Cyrus Hawthorne’s cool and reserved reflection in the car window, about to turn and thank him when he picked up his phone.

Whatever appeared on the screen, Ann Vaughn only felt the temperature in the car cabin continually drop, chilling to the bones.

Seeing Cyrus Hawthorne’s increasingly stern demeanor, she realized it wouldn’t be anything good.

"Turn around, head to the manor." Cyrus Hawthorne’s narrow eyes showed a flash of fierce color. Retracting his gaze from the phone, he coldly ordered the driver.

The driver shivered under his gaze and hurriedly complied, "Yes, President Hawthorne."

The manor?

Ann Vaughn felt puzzled but didn’t speak to inquire, holding onto her bewilderment.

Until the car stopped in a vast private manor on the mountainside of Mount Dracon, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Cyrus Hawthorne was the first to get out of the car, his expression cold, walking over to Ann Vaughn’s side and opening the car door. Without waiting for her to comprehend, he pulled her out of the car and led her straight into the villa.

"Cyrus Hawthorne, what are you doing?" Ann Vaughn frowned in pain, reluctantly following him into the villa, suddenly feeling a bad premonition.

Bang—

On the third floor, Cyrus Hawthorne tossed Ann Vaughn onto the large bed in the bedroom, his eyes deep as ink, focusing intently on her face.

"From today, stay here obediently. Without my permission, you’re not allowed to step out of the manor."

His tone was naturally cold and commanding, wrapped in an imposing force that made one unable to resist, overwhelmingly domineering.

Ann Vaughn’s mind exploded, eyes wide open, looking at his now icy and indifferent expression. Her rosy lips parted slightly.

"Why?"

Her mind was a chaotic mess, "You want to keep me captive?!"

"So what if I do?" Cyrus Hawthorne flexed his fingers in his pocket, the complexity in his long, narrow eyes flashed briefly before freezing over, "School, and the clinic, are unnecessary for now. Until you come to your senses and decide to get rid of this child, there’s no need to discuss further."

Ann Vaughn sneered, the fury surging through her nearly choking her.

Her clear eyes curved into a non-smiling arch, looking worse than crying.

"What gives you the right? I’ve said this child is mine alone, and I don’t need you to take responsibility. As soon as we divorce, I’ll leave far away and never appear before you again. Isn’t that enough?"

"Not enough," Cyrus Hawthorne’s throat tightened, cold eyes rising with isolation, ready to drown her, leaving no room for compromise.

After speaking those cold words, Cyrus Hawthorne turned and left the room, his retreating figure arrogantly cold-blooded.

As soon as the door closed, Ann Vaughn’s tears, which she had been suppressing, began to fall uncontrollably, but she tightly pressed her lips together, refusing to make any sound.

Just now... everything was fine.

His jacket was still draped over her, mixed with the familiar faint scent, but then everything changed.