CHAPTER 684: CHAPTER 684: PURE AND INNOCENT BACHELOR

Ann Vaughn couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but Bella Hawthorne’s voice seemed slightly tearful just now.

There was no way to confirm it.

Ann lowered her gaze, casually picked up a light apricot-colored off-the-shoulder gown from the middle and changed into it, then opened the door and went out.

Bella hadn’t returned from the bathroom yet, so Ann stepped out of the fitting room, intending to sit outside and wait for her.

She hadn’t been sitting long when she vaguely heard a few deliberately hushed voices coming from the side behind her.

"Wasn’t the one who went into the fitting room just now Mr. Hawthorne’s ex-wife?"

"Ex-wife? I’d say mistress is more like it. She sticks around Mr. Hawthorne with a child, without any status or title, really knows how to work her way in."

"I really feel bad for Miya. No matter family background, ability, looks, or physique, how is she not better than Ann Vaughn? But no matter how good, some people ride on the privilege of being a mother, sticking to Mr. Hawthorne like a leech and won’t let go."

"Ridiculous. What qualifications does she have to compete with Miya? One’s a socialite, the other’s a wild pheasant, hahahaha."

"Hey, keep your voice down. She’s probably happily changing into evening gowns inside, still unaware that, at this year’s Hawthorne Corp. anniversary, Mr. Hawthorne will be bringing Miya, right?"

"..."

The few socialites picking out dresses behind the rack hadn’t noticed Ann was sitting right behind them, engrossed in their lively gossip.

Suddenly, Ann lost all interest in staying there any longer, her fine eyebrows furrowed slightly, propping her chin while lost in thought.

After she changed back into her own clothes and came out of the fitting room, Bella also emerged from the bathroom.

Ann casually made up an excuse, saying she didn’t like the dresses at this store, and pulled Bella along to leave.

If Bella had heard those socialites’ comments full of backhanded compliments, she’d probably explode.

They had just left when the socialites picked up their dresses and were about to enter the fitting rooms to change, only to collectively freeze in place when they turned around.

"You-Young Master Ford..."

"You come from privileged backgrounds, beloved since childhood, well-fed and clothed, living like princesses," Julian Ford said with a smile in his eyes as he leaned one hand on a nearby clothes rack, "Then why do I only see a bunch of gossiping harpies twisted by jealousy?"

The socialites’ faces turned ashen. For any lady to be judged as such by a gentleman, it was both shameful and mortifying.

Especially when his smile had a sharp edge aimed right at their hearts.

...

After dinner, Ann took Bella back to her apartment and then returned to No. 8.

While Ann and Cyrus Hawthorne were not in The Imperial Capital, Bella moved into the new apartment she bought herself, preparing to debut after signing with a company.

Ann initially worried Bella would lose heart, but seeing her full of fighting spirit, she wasn’t as concerned about her decision to become an actress as she was at first.

As long as a person has a goal worth striving for, it’s something to be acknowledged, no matter what it is.

Meanwhile.

In the living room.

"Brother, is this the Muli flower bulb you’ve been looking for?" Julian Ford leaned on the table, picking up one of the oval glass containers, blinking his eyes, "Why...does it look like a ball?"

Cyrus Hawthorne’s long fingers paused slightly as he flipped through reports, his thin lips pressed in restraint, and he calmly replied: "What did you think?"

Julian Ford cleared his throat immediately, "I heard that when the Muli flower blooms, people usually only pick the flowers, leaving the roots in the soil, unnoticed. Later, a big fire burned the entire Muli flower field bald, not even leaving roots. That’s why the Muli flower addiction is so hard to cure."

The Muli flower bulbs in these containers showed scorch marks, probably the "lucky survivors" left over from the former flower field, scarce in number.

Forget the flower caretakers, you couldn’t even find a single Muli flower bulb across the entire realm.

"Brother, you’re amazing, practically miraculous!"

"Hmm." Cyrus responded indifferently, not lifting his narrow eyes as he said, "Not as good as your cheat sheets."

Julian Ford discreetly hid the little paper in his palm, immediately breaking into a standard smile bearing eight teeth.

"Speaking of which, how do you plan to handle this item? In this world, apothecaries are rare as ghosts, hard to come by."

Just then, a lingering female voice suddenly came from behind him.

"There’s one right behind you."

Julian Ford’s hackles rose instantly, he turned around abruptly.

He saw Ann Vaughn standing there with a sinister smile, nearly scaring him to pieces.

"...Sister-in-law, let’s talk this over calmly."

"Aren’t we talking calmly now?" Ann placed a cake box on the table, walked to the sofa, sat down, and picked up the glass container holding the Muli flower bulbs, her slender fingers gently tapping on it.

"The Muli flower truly is a treasure all over. The flowers can be used to make poison, while the antidote is in the stems and roots. No addict would ever think of that."

Seeing her speak with such confidence, Cyrus Hawthorne had a hint of a smile in his narrow eyes, "Well said."

"Since you know about it, you must also know how to make the antidote, don’t you?" Julian Ford asked.

"Making the antidote isn’t hard, but its roots are the most toxic part. Handling it with bare hands is very risky." Ann pondered for a moment, then said.

Although the Muli flower’s toxin isn’t deadly, it can cause addiction, and ordinary antidotes are useless.

The antidote can only be found in the Muli flower itself.

Cyrus Hawthorne narrowed his eyes slightly, gripping her soft palm with some force, "What if you had heavenly silk gloves?"

Ann’s eyes immediately lit up, "If they were really heavenly silk gloves, the risk would be almost zero. But these have long since been lost, and the ones circulating on the market are all fakes."

She’s only seen them in books before.

Hearing this, Julian Ford looked up at Cyrus, "Brother, I’ll have someone deliver it by morning. Anyway, leaving it at home is just gathering dust."

Cyrus’s thin lips slowly curved into a faint smile, "Alright."

Ann Vaughn: "?"

No way, what kind of household condition is this, able to produce heavenly silk gloves?

Right after internally complaining, she saw Julian Ford put on a flattering expression and inch closer to her: "Sister-in-law, don’t you think I’m quite generous, giving away such a rare item so easily?"

Ann naturally nodded, if it were her, she’d be pained just taking it out, let alone giving it away.

"So, sister-in-law, shouldn’t you return the favor?"

Ann was startled by his shamelessness, "Wait, how did it become about me..."

"Sister-in-law, you have no idea," Julian Ford wore a face of woe, "Somehow the rumor is going around the group that my brother’s a cut sleeve, even speculating that we’re having an affair!"

"Poor me, a bachelor still, yet my future innocence is about to be sullied."