CHAPTER 919: CHAPTER 919: NO ONE CAN SAVE HER

After breakfast, Ann Vaughn was pulled to the glass conservatory by Little Dumpling to water the herbs.

Once they left, Mark Joyce entered the dining room, placing the tablet in front of Cyrus Hawthorne with respect:

"President Hawthorne, we intercepted Warren Vance’s men at the border, but Warren himself did not appear, his whereabouts are a mystery."

Cyrus Hawthorne narrowed his eyes, "What about Gothasen?"

"According to reports from our sources, Warren has not shown up for two days."

Therefore, those men blatantly entering the country are most likely sent by Warren to confuse us.

Of course, there’s another possibility...

Warren has already infiltrated the country.

Thinking about this, Cyrus Hawthorne’s expression turned cold.

"Continue to dispatch people to search, find his location as soon as possible." He ordered in a low voice.

Mark Joyce nodded, "Yes."

...

After leaving the glass conservatory, Ann Vaughn was planning to go upstairs to pack her things and leave, but she was stopped by Cyrus Hawthorne.

"Miss Vaughn, can I ask for a favor?" Cyrus Hawthorne approached Ann Vaughn, one hand in his pocket, casual yet elegant.

"Just say it, as long as it’s something I can do!" Ann Vaughn said, patting her chest.

Cyrus Hawthorne’s thin lips curved slightly, speaking slowly: "Tomorrow is Kenny’s birthday, but due to my long-term preoccupation with work, I’ve neglected to spend time with Kenny. I haven’t participated in his birthdays over the past three years."

Kenny is now three years old, meaning he has never celebrated a birthday with his father’s presence...

Hearing this, Ann Vaughn felt a pang in her heart.

"What does Mr. Vaughn mean?"

"I want to make amends, but I don’t know how." Cyrus Hawthorne’s furrowed brow slightly relaxed, and there was a faint smile in his eyes as he looked at Ann Vaughn, "Kenny really likes you, if it’s your suggestion, it should be very helpful."

After hearing Cyrus Hawthorne’s words, Ann Vaughn agreed without a second thought.

Not just to repay James Vaughn for taking her in, but also for Kenny’s sake.

"Mr. Vaughn, they say to make up for what’s missing. Since Kenny needs company the most, why not take this opportunity to travel with him and cultivate the father-son relationship?" Ann Vaughn suggested.

Parent-child trips are always a great way to build relationships. In a completely unfamiliar place, a child will instinctively rely on the closest person beside them.

By then, any gaps or distances between father and son would gradually disappear as they spend time together.

"Kenny is distant from me, he might not listen to what I say." Cyrus Hawthorne’s voice was resigned, "Compared to traveling with me, he might prefer being alone."

Eventually, Cyrus Hawthorne looked at Ann Vaughn, "If Miss Vaughn could accompany us, I think Kenny would agree."

...She too?

Ann Vaughn was stunned for a moment, and immediately shook her head, "How can that be? This is a family trip, with me, an outsider, it might not be appropriate..."

"You don’t need to be reluctant." Cyrus Hawthorne smiled faintly, "I was presumptuous."

Eventually, Cyrus Hawthorne added, "Besides, Kenny already planned a few days ago to spend his birthday with Miss Vaughn. It was my eagerness to mend the father-son relationship that overlooked this point."

...Huh?

Kenny actually wants to ditch his own dad and spend his birthday with her?

Seeing the faint trace of desolation in Cyrus Hawthorne’s eyes, Ann Vaughn’s slight sense of guilt instantly magnified several times over.

Although Kenny calls her "Mommy," she knows she’s not really his mommy; she has that sense of awareness.

But in Kenny’s heart, maybe he’s already seen her as his real mommy.

Moreover, she has been freeloading off others, and if she doesn’t even help with such a small favor, it seems too unreasonable.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Ann Vaughn hesitantly asked, "Mr. Vaughn, I wonder if you mind, uh... being the third wheel on your trip?"

A fleeting smile flashed across Cyrus Hawthorne’s deep, dark eyes.

"I would love that. At that time, please, Miss Vaughn, offer lots of advice."

"Of course." Ann Vaughn touched her ear, feeling inexplicably warm.

...

To plan what to do for Kenny’s birthday tomorrow, Ann Vaughn didn’t pay attention to looking for a place to stay, and spent the whole night online searching for ideas.

Until she fell asleep in front of the computer.

She seemed to fall into a world shrouded in mist, and as the fog around her was swept away by the wind,

she saw a clear moon and few stars, fireworks in the sky, and clusters of radiant, lush red roses blooming everywhere.

At the end of the flower field stood a tall, slender figure.

When she looked over, that person happened to look at her, but his face was obscured by the hazy mist, only an indistinct silhouette could be seen.

He seemed to smile from a distance, his voice gentle and lingering.

"A maze holds your distant past, in which I never participated."

"If you wish, I will accompany you for the rest of my life."

"Do you really not want me?"

Suddenly, Ann Vaughn’s heart trembled intensely, the feeling reverberating from the dream into reality. Even in her sleep, she could clearly sense her heart trembling.

Forcing her to wake up from the dream.

Ann Vaughn lifted her head from the table, her pupils slightly trembling, the buzzing in her ears making it hard for her to regain her senses.

That dream again...

She had a similar dream the night she woke up in Gothasen Royal City.

But it was far less vivid than this recent dream.

Who is the man appearing in her dreams?

Why does she keep dreaming about him, yet never able to see his face clearly?

Unconsciously, Ann Vaughn suddenly felt her cheeks warm.

She reached her hand to touch, and it came back wet.

Ann Vaughn stared at her hand blankly, her reddened eyes filled with a lack of vitality, yet tears kept flowing from her eyes as if they had a will of their own.

Even she didn’t know why she was crying.

Or what she was crying for.

Ann Vaughn pressed hard on her chest, a feeling as if it had been hit with a heavy hammer, sour and painful, quickly spreading, making her bend down and curl up.

Pain...

It hurts...

She wanted to ask for help, but her voice seemed to be stuck in her throat.

Not that she couldn’t shout, but she knew very well, no one could save her.

Meanwhile.

Outside the room.

Kenny had been listening at the door for quite a while, only to hear the sound of low, suppressed sobbing, causing his small brow to furrow.

"Mommy is secretly crying again." Kenny whispered to Cyrus Hawthorne beside him.

Hearing his words, Cyrus Hawthorne’s expression darkened, "Again?"

"A couple of times before I woke up in the middle of the night and passed by mommy’s room, I also heard Mommy crying in her room." Kenny bit his small lip.

But the next day Ann Vaughn would act like nothing had happened, so Kenny didn’t dare to ask more, for fear of bringing it up and making her sad again.