CHAPTER 686: CHAPTER 686: SO FAR AWAY, YET RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES

"Alright." Little Dumpling puffed up his cheeks, nodded his little head proudly, without revealing Ann Vaughn’s true intentions.

No one understands the changes in his physical condition better than Little Dumpling himself, and he’s always been aware of them.

It’s just that Ann Vaughn thinks he’s still ignorant of these things.

After soothing Little Dumpling, Ann Vaughn returned to the master bedroom and immediately disassembled the computer to check if it could still be repaired.

However, upon seeing the severely damaged components that were unrecognizable, Ann Vaughn suddenly felt like she might kill someone.

Was this spilled coffee?

That damn thing was sulfuric acid!

Ann Vaughn lifelessly tugged at the corner of her lips, her mind quickly pondering whether there were backups of the suppressor data on any of the computers she used.

Unfortunately, there weren’t.

Before returning to the country, she had Sherry destroy all those computers to prevent the data from falling into the hands of malicious individuals.

"The lotus flowers fill the branches again..."

The ringtone suddenly rang out. Ann Vaughn picked up the phone from the cashmere carpet, pushed open the floor-to-ceiling window, and walked onto the terrace to get some fresh air.

"Hello?"

"Annie, it’s me." Her brother’s familiar, steady voice came from the other end.

Ann Vaughn was slightly stunned, a strange feeling crossing her heart for reasons unknown, "... Brother Shane?"

It hadn’t been long since they last met, but her mind was surprisingly blank except for those peach blossom eyes, filled with a calm demeanor as if he had weathered many storms.

Sutton Jennings was silent for a few seconds before he spoke, "Is it convenient for you to meet?"

Before Ann Vaughn could answer, she heard him say, "I’m outside gate number 8 right now."

What?!

Ann Vaughn was startled, then looked outside the villa and indeed saw a silhouetted figure standing far away, seemingly facing her current position.

The distance was too far to see his expression clearly.

As the busy signal came from the phone, Sutton Jennings put the phone away, ignoring multiple messages urging him, his peach blossom eyes fixed on gate number 8.

About five minutes later, a slender, soft figure emerged from the gate and began to run this way.

Sutton Jennings’ eyes lit up like flowers blooming in spring, revitalizing.

"I’m here to say goodbye to you today." Ann Vaughn hadn’t yet come to a standstill when she heard him speak suddenly, stopping her in her tracks.

"Goodbye?"

"Yes, tonight’s flight." Sutton Jennings’ gaze contained a smile, casually saying, "I won’t be gone for long. During this time, you and Kenny take good care of yourselves and stay safe."

His tone was as light as if he were going abroad for a vacation, but Ann Vaughn, well aware of the nature within the dark gates, didn’t believe what could make him go personally would be a simple matter.

"You too, be careful in everything." Ann Vaughn suddenly remembered something, "Wait, I’ll be right back."

She took a few steps back and then turned around to run back to gate number 8.

Before long, Ann Vaughn returned, carrying a light pink item bag printed with a little pig, slightly out of breath as she handed it to Sutton Jennings.

"These are some medicines inside. You know how to use them." Ann Vaughn’s clear eyes curved, "But I hope you’ll never have to use them."

As he accepted the item bag she handed him, a complex expression flashed in Sutton Jennings’ peach blossom eyes, "You still remember."

When he went out on missions before, the internal and external injury medicines he carried were all prepared by Ann Vaughn and Sherry.

Although most of the time he didn’t need them, he gradually retained the habit of carrying these things.

He could clearly see Ann Vaughn intentionally avoiding him during these days but didn’t reveal it, nor did he harass her for breaking through that layer of window paper.

He wouldn’t do anything that might trouble her, even though his longing was deeply ingrained.

"I’ve always remembered." Ann Vaughn’s lips bloomed into a smile, "Just like you always treated me like a sister, I also want to do something for my brother."

"Sounds like I’ve been rejected by you again?" Sutton Jennings put the item bag in the car, returning to smile at Ann Vaughn, "If that’s the case, if you don’t mind, gift me one last thing."

"What?"

As soon as the words were spoken, Ann Vaughn felt the light dim in front of her, followed by Sutton Jennings’ warm embrace.

Ann Vaughn’s eyes narrowed slightly, just about to leave when she heard his sigh in her ear, "That’s enough."

For the rest of his life, he could probably never forget what this embrace felt like.

Ann Vaughn was dazed for a moment and forgot to move until suddenly, a voice infused with deep anger sounded in her ear, "What are you guys doing?"

Ann Vaughn’s back stiffened, just about to break free from Sutton Jennings’ arms when she felt him loosen his hold and quickly turned to see Cyrus Hawthorne stepping down from the Maybach, approaching her step by step.

It’s over.

Her life is going to be over!

"Is Mr. Hawthorne not afraid to scare my sister being so fierce?" Sutton Jennings smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Cyrus Hawthorne glanced at him coldly, lips sneering, "No need for your concern."

Upon saying this, he raised his hand, gripping Ann Vaughn’s slender wrist, leading her back toward the villa.

"Wait..." Almost tripped by his alarming grip, Ann Vaughn hurriedly took three quick steps to catch up, feeling utterly frustrated.

"Annie." Sutton Jennings watched the scene with deep eyes, promising Ann Vaughn word by word, "If he ever dares to betray you, I’ll always be your support."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ann Vaughn felt the strength in the large hand gripping her wrist suddenly increase, almost making her fear her wrist bones would break.

Just as Ann Vaughn was silently annoyed, the man suddenly stopped walking, and she, unaware of it, "Boom" crashed into his back.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Ann Vaughn stepped back two steps, clutching her nose which was now aching faintly, her eyes filled with tears, looking at him accusingly, "Why did you suddenly stop?"

Cyrus Hawthorne’s side-eyed gaze fell on her, his cold face expressionless, with no emotional fluctuation.

It was like an unfathomable ancient pond, barely perceiving a shadow, yet unable to fathom his inner thoughts.

Sensing the dangerous aura surrounding him, Ann Vaughn shrank her neck, softly explaining, "He just came to say goodbye—it’s just a farewell hug. Don’t overthink it."

"What do you mean, overthink it?" Cyrus Hawthorne’s expression was indifferent, his voice ice-cold.

"You’re not overthinking? Then why the scary face and nearly crush my wrist for what?" Ann Vaughn raised her reddened right wrist, snorting.

Cyrus Hawthorne didn’t speak, only deep eyes silently watching her, suddenly making Ann Vaughn feel helpless.

This man...

Ann Vaughn bit her lip, then stood on tiptoe, as Cyrus Hawthorne used to cup her cheeks and kiss her, heavily biting his shallow lips!

His lip shape was exceptionally good-looking, pale in color, set upon a visage as poetic and picturesque, accentuating his abstinence.

But at this moment, those thin lips bore a small, delicate tooth mark, adding a hint of alluring charm and a unique seductiveness.

"There’s no ambiguity or past between him and me. You can be jealous, but if you cause a rift between us because of him..." At this, Ann Vaughn’s eyes sparkled, "Mr. Hawthorne, be careful you might end up bedridden."

This line sounded so familiar.

When Ann Vaughn was lost in thought because of Miya Yates, wasn’t it someone who threatened her in this way before?

The dark mist surrounding Cyrus Hawthorne suddenly dissipated, a trace of surprise flashed through his narrow dark eyes, which was soon replaced by a subtle smile.

He gazed at Ann Vaughn, who seemed quite pleased with herself for countering his move, raised a hand to pinch her delicate cheek, and blandly said, "You think too much."

What did he mean she was thinking too much?

Ann Vaughn rubbed her still aching wrist, grumbling inwardly.

"I was just wondering about the man you wrote about in your diary whom you waited for fifteen years, who exactly he was." As soon as he finished the sentence, Cyrus Hawthorne sharply noticed the fleeting panic in Ann Vaughn’s eyes.

His eyes narrowed abruptly and the line of his jaw gradually became taut.

Ann Vaughn’s slender fingers rubbed and pressed the acupoint on her hand continuously, trying to ease the intense blush on her cheeks.

She never thought he would remember the matter of her diary after such a long time.

No way.

If he knew she had been waiting fifteen years for him all along, she’d soon find herself thoroughly trapped in his grip, unable to escape...

If he found out she was secretly harboring a crush on him, who knows how smug he’d get...

Ahhhhh!!

Just imagining herself deeply confessing to Cyrus Hawthorne made Ann Vaughn feel like she was about to combust, the shame was spreading all over her body.

What Ann Vaughn didn’t know was that the temperature on her cheeks may have cooled down, but the redness on the tips of her ears betrayed her.

She was nervously shy because of that man—

The narrow, deep-set eyes of Cyrus Hawthorne grew even more profound and shadowy, his face seemed to be struck by a fierce wintry gale, so cutting that no one dared to meet his eyes.

The servants passing by all bowed their heads, tiptoeing from the farthest corners to avoid getting caught in the storm.

Ann Vaughn bashfully pressed her lips together, and when she looked up again, the crescent-like bright eyes were filled with radiant laughter, "I’m not waiting for him anymore."

Because he’s already waited upon.

Faraway yet right before me.

"But I can tell you, that man is the moon." As she spoke, Ann Vaughn used a finger to poke Cyrus Hawthorne’s chest, while stepping upstairs, "Mr. Hawthorne is so smart, surely he can guess who it is?"

Cyrus Hawthorne lifted his eyelids slightly, fixing his gaze on the petite figure who slipped upstairs after saying that, his brow gradually knitted tightly.

She held that man in such high regard?

The moon?

So tediously cliché.

In the master bedroom.

Ann Vaughn buried herself under the blanket, making a marmot-like sound, unable to calm down. To ease her tension, she sent Susie Sommers several messages consecutively.

The Love I Used to Know: ?? So what are you trying to say with that line? Is President Hawthorne the white moonlight in your heart?

Little Rose: You guess.

The Love I Used to Know: This humble servant’s literary understanding is limited, and Your Majesty’s words are too profound, leaving this humble servant utterly bewildered...

Ann Vaughn chuckled, wishing she could pull this woman with her split personality from the screen and shake her awake.

The Love I Used to Know: Do you really think I don’t understand? Humph, just messing with you, why so serious!

The Love I Used to Know: "The moon in the sea is the moon in the sky, the one in front of you is the one in your heart," right? But your man hardly seems like someone who’d know what that line means, unlike me, who gets you.

It was followed by a shy butt-wiggling emoji.

Absolutely blinding to the eyes.

Little Rose:... Don’t force me to block you, you better change your WeChat name back!

The Love I Used to Know: I won’t! My beloved consort said this name is unique and exquisite; I plan to keep it for a lifetime!

Little Rose: Who is the consort?

The Love I Used to Know: Naturally, it is my favored consort, whose beauty and wisdom surpass that of all the palace—my Little Uncle.

Ann Vaughn: "..." Alright then.

What was it that made her leave the computer un-repaired and read the love-hate drama between Her Majesty and her consort?

Ann Vaughn set down her phone, stared at the beaten-up computer parts on the desk for a while, then decisively gathered them up and headed to Cyrus Hawthorne’s study.

"Quinn." Ann Vaughn entered the study with an ingratiating smile, approaching the man sitting behind the desk, looking innocently at him, "You might not believe this, but this computer was naughty and drank a bit, so it got sick."

Cyrus Hawthorne’s gaze lightly moved off the documents, lingering on her innocent and delicate face for a few seconds, his Adam’s apple faintly rolling.

"Set it down."

"Okay!" Ann Vaughn swiftly placed the items in front of him, picking up the coffee pot beside her to pour him a cup, shedding her earlier mischievous antics to act obsequiously.

To ask for help, one must adopt a humble attitude; Ann Sommers understood this well.

Cyrus Hawthorne raised a brow and cast her a glance, accepting the coffee she handed over and taking a sip, then asked plainly, "Does this computer have a preference for drinking sulfuric acid?"

"Can’t help it, kids don’t always listen to their moms; it can only be disciplined by its dad." Ann Vaughn used her small hands to pat Cyrus Hawthorne’s shoulders, speaking in a righteously solemn tone.

The words, however, appropriately pleased Cyrus Hawthorne. After setting the document aside, he sent a message to Mark Joyce.

"The computer’s components are specially customized; no substitutes are possible." After scrutinizing the damaged parts for a while, Cyrus Hawthorne explained calmly, "At the latest, it will be repaired by the day after tomorrow."

"Will everything inside be retrievable?" Ann Vaughn’s small face fell.

If the data couldn’t be recovered, how could she prove J Country Research Institute was talking nonsense... ahem, creating trouble?

"It can."

Cyrus Hawthorne’s concise words immediately made Ann Vaughn nearly leap with excitement.

Whenever he nodded, things almost always got done.

The heart that was hanging in Ann Vaughn’s throat finally settled back into her stomach, the joy on her little face was evident.

"So I leave my little baby in your capable hands! Mwah!"

After saying that, Ann Vaughn wanted to retreat from the study, giving the space back to him.