CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111: SHE WAS ABANDONED BY CYRUS HAWTHORNE

She pressed her lips tightly, tasting the heavy metallic tang of blood. Her body swayed, struggling to stand firm, as if her heart was wrapped in a shroud of dark clouds.

The bare-chested man held the knife across Ann Vaughn’s face and spat, "Run? Do you really think you can escape?"

The sharp knife pressed against her skin, the coldness turning Ann Vaughn’s small face pale as she instinctively tried to back away, but the stinging pain in her calf left her powerless to retreat any further.

"I don’t even know you. What exactly do you want from me?"

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t know us. It’s enough that we know you." The bare-chested man sneered, loosening his grip on the knife and reaching to grab Ann Vaughn’s hair, dragging her closer.

The pain of her scalp being pulled made Ann Vaughn grit her teeth, enveloped by terror and despair. Her stomach churned with nausea, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

She desperately held back any sound, not wanting to provoke their murderous intent, yet she was acutely aware of the bleak realization that there was no escape for her today.

Seeing the fear on her face, the bare-chested man laughed brazenly.

"Hahaha, what’s there to be afraid of? Killing you isn’t our first resort. First, we disfigure that pretty face of yours and make a specimen gift out of the baby in your belly, then it’s your turn."

His words sounded like the horns of the devil, and as Ann Vaughn heard the last of his words, her small hand instinctively cradled her abdomen protectively.

Just as the knife was about to slice across her face, she closed her eyes, feeling utterly devastated.

At that very instant, the hand gripping her hair released its hold, followed by a screech of pain from the bare-chested man.

The knife that had been pressed against her cheek clattered to the ground.

"My hand—"

"B-Boss, what do we do? That looks like one of the Van Gate cars!"

"N-no way, we’ve done this under the Van Gate’s name before, why would they care about small fries like us...?"

"Screw it, let’s just go head-to-head with them if we must!"

The group spoke boldly, yet when the Van Gate cars surrounded the riverside and laser beams pierced the air, striking the man about to scar Ann Vaughn’s face,

Ann Vaughn, eyes closed, could hear the sound of shaking knees quivering incessantly.

Upon opening her eyes, a coat had already been draped over her obscuring vision, and Sutton Jennings’ steady, calming voice reached her ears.

"It’s all right now." Sutton Jennings said quietly, placing a hand over Ann Vaughn’s ears. In the next second, his voice turned ruthless, "A bunch of scum."

His peach blossom eyes scanned over the trembling men, thinking of Ann Vaughn’s horrific leg wound and the terror she endured, causing Sutton Jennings’ expression to grow even darker.

With her ears covered, Ann Vaughn couldn’t hear what Sutton Jennings said.

But she did see the despair on those men’s faces, continuously kowtowing and begging for mercy, yet unable to stop the overwhelming sense of doom permeating the speedboat.

The situation shifted dramatically, and Ann Vaughn’s vacant eyes moved slightly, a tear sliding down her cheek.

Just moments ago, she had truly entertained the notion of dying as a way out.

It was only heartbreaking that her unborn child, without even getting a glimpse of the world, would have to leave with her.

Though out of danger, Ann Vaughn still felt detached from this world, without a sense of belonging or any lingering attachments.

Sutton Jennings bent down to pick up Ann Vaughn and carried her off the speedboat, walking directly towards the car parked by the shore.

Ann Vaughn closed her eyes slightly, blocking out all sound, allowing Sutton Jennings to take her away from this nightmare-like place.

She was tired.

No longer willing to chase after his footsteps.

As this thought settled, Ann Vaughn’s vision blacked out, and her whole body fell into darkness.

-

At the Jennings Family villa, the roses outside the window were in full bloom, lush greenery filled the courtyard.

Inside the upstairs room, however, a somber cloud hung heavy.

"Brother, when will Miss Annie wake up?" Sawyer Jennings tugged anxiously at his brother’s sleeve, looking at the still-sleeping Ann Vaughn.

After days of rehabilitation, he could now manage to walk a few more steps, though his legs remained somewhat stiff and still needed the support of a cane.

Compared to the days when he was confined to a wheelchair, oblivious and immobile, it was much better.

Although Ann Vaughn often teased and bullied him, he was magnanimous and wouldn’t hold it against her!

"Soon," Sutton Jennings replied, ruffling Sawyer’s hair, his peach blossom eyes heavy as he watched Ann Vaughn, uttering those two words for the umpteenth time.

It had been two days and nights since Ann Vaughn had fallen unconscious.

After examining her, the doctor said she was healthy, only physically and mentally exhausted.

The sudden shock had triggered her self-protection mechanism, when she awoke depended on her will.

"You wake up soon, and I promise I’ll listen to you in the future," Sawyer whispered by Ann Vaughn’s ear, "Brother says you have a little baby now; it’s not good to be a lazybones."

He had just finished speaking when Ann Vaughn slowly opened her weary eyes, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling and chandelier.

"You’re awake," Sutton’s eyes glinted with relief, then he instructed the butler, "Call the doctor over, and have the kitchen prepare some light dishes to send up."

"Yes, right away!" The butler also responded excitedly and immediately left.

Ann Vaughn’s mind remained muddled, her head heavy from oversleeping.

The unfamiliar surroundings gave her a disorienting sense of being unsure of the current day.

"Where am I?" Ann Vaughn propped herself up on the bed, her confused eyes turning to Sutton and the hopeful Sawyer. Memories of that night at The Peren River flashed back.

Ah, yes, she had been abandoned by Cyrus Hawthorne...

"You’re at our house, you’ve been asleep for two full days and nights." Sutton placed a cup of warm water in her hand, answering with a heavy voice.

"As an adult, causing so much worry, you need to reflect on your behavior!" Sawyer puffed his cheeks, poking Ann Vaughn’s arm.

Drinking a sip, Ann Vaughn felt her dry throat ease.

Yet, hearing their words, she was taken aback. How did she sleep for so long?

Thinking about it, she took her own pulse, a wry smile curling her lips, she hadn’t expected to be so troubled and in poor spirits, and even disturbed the fetus.

If she hadn’t immediately taken a Fetal Protection Pill back then, this child would have possibly...

Determined not to let negative emotions affect the baby any further, Ann Vaughn tried to dismiss the events of that night, redirecting her mind elsewhere.

After lunch in the dining room, Ann Vaughn raised the topic of giving Sawyer Jennings acupuncture for his legs.

Unexpectedly, Sutton Jennings opposed the idea.