CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: MOVE OUT OF THE HAWTHORNE FAMILY!

It was only at this moment that Ann Vaughn suddenly remembered, the contraceptive injection takes effect after three times, and with so much happening recently, she missed one dose.

Missing even once made a huge difference.

A sense of panic and helplessness as if the world was about to collapse engulfed her, and she didn’t even know where to place her hands.

This child’s arrival was not in her plans, and Cyrus Hawthorne would never allow her to keep the child. What should she do...

Ann Vaughn bit her lip hard, her eyes filled with struggle. It took a long time before her clenched fist slowly loosened and rested on her still-flat belly.

Rationality told her that not keeping the child was best, but emotionally she couldn’t bear to deprive an unborn child of the right to live because of adult grievances.

She couldn’t let go.

Bam—

The door was suddenly pushed open forcefully, and Cyrus Hawthorne walked over to Ann Vaughn with deliberate steps, his tall figure almost overshadowing her petite one.

Before Ann Vaughn could ask, he raised his hand to grip her delicate chin, his eyes filled with a coldness that seemed to overflow, looking down at her.

"Cynthia is currently weak and needs care. Mom can’t bear to see Cynthia poorly cared for and wants to bring her over for better attention."

"Cynthia has so many people to care for her in the Vaughn Family—her parents dote on her, how could she be cared for poorly?"

Ann Vaughn’s eyes dimly met his, feeling helpless yet amused. Her mother-in-law looked down on her and treated her sister more like a daughter-in-law than her own.

Her husband wanted to bring her sister home to recuperate, essentially taking over her place.

"Starting tomorrow, you’ll move out of the Hawthorne Family, and stay at The Water Terrace. There are also servants to care for you there. Unless necessary, don’t come back here."

Cyrus thought that having Ann Vaughn move out of the conflict-laden Hawthorne home was the greatest kindness he could offer her.

"You’re... driving me away?" Ann Vaughn’s face turned pale, her lower abdomen throbbed painfully as if something was about to leave her body.

Her expression changed, and she hastily pulled out the Golden Needle from her sleeve and quickly pierced it into an acupoint on her arm.

Cyrus saw her face suddenly change and thought she was up to some trick again, not knowing she was only repeating her play of self-pity.

He mocked lightly, pulling out a key from his suit pants pocket and tossing it at her side, "I’ll have the driver take you there tomorrow; you’d better not play any tricks and stay there properly."

After speaking, he turned and left, slamming the door shut just as he had when he arrived with a "bam."

He didn’t see the pool of blood beneath Ann Vaughn.

Ann Vaughn watched his retreating figure, her heart wrenching painfully as if torn apart, her eyes reddened, and after several attempts, she let out a suppressed groan of pain.

Did he even know that she too was made of flesh and blood, that she could feel pain?

Upon finishing administering the needle, Ann Vaughn was drenched in sweat, her needle-holding fingers trembling, caught in unprecedented tension and fear.

It was at this moment that she truly realized how much she wanted to keep this child.

Even though the child was saved, Cynthia Vaughn’s push earlier still caused her injury. It would be safer to go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow; she presently had no herbs useful for pregnancy maintenance.

Struggling to stand on her weak body, she went to the bathroom for a simple wash and came out.

Thinking about what Cyrus had just said, she surveyed this so-called "marital home" for a long time, smiling self-mockingly.

In the past, she stupidly held on to the belief that her brother would remember and recognize her, and they would have a perfect ending.

She even tried to resist, refusing to use her pain to fulfill their happiness.

But now, Ann Vaughn suddenly felt lost. Should she really continue holding on?

The next morning, before Ann Vaughn was even awake, the servant came up to hurry her— the driver was already waiting.

As if sending her away was such a delightful thing that they couldn’t wait even a moment longer.