CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: CHOOSING BETWEEN CAREER AND CHILD

"Miss Vaughn, what are you doing here?" The person in charge looked at Ann Vaughn with surprise, then nodded as if understanding, "You’re here to see the president, aren’t you?"

Unlike the respectful and polite attitude of the past few days, his tone now had an indescribable strangeness and disdain.

Ann Vaughn nodded lightly, then asked, somewhat puzzled, "How do you know?"

The smile on the person’s face deepened, "I advise you not to waste your efforts. No one can question the president’s decisions, let alone such a major matter as replacing the spokesperson."

Replacing the spokesperson?!

Ann Vaughn immediately widened her eyes, looking at the person in charge’s perfunctory manner in shock, her heart feeling as cold as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.

Did she... misunderstand?

"If you’re sensible, it’s best to take the penalty fee and disappear. Clinging on is neither a rational choice nor a pretty sight."

It was clear that the person in charge regarded Ann Vaughn as someone dissatisfied with the replacement of her endorsement and wanted to stir trouble, seizing the opportunity to ridicule and pressure her into giving up.

As he spoke, he positioned himself to block the surveillance camera in the elevator, greedily and maliciously scanning Ann Vaughn without hiding his gaze.

"You’ve been with the president anyway, so being my mistress wouldn’t be much different. I assure you, I won’t treat you poorly."

The Imperial Capital never lacks beauties, but one as breathtakingly beautiful, soft and delectable, is hard to come by.

Ann Vaughn’s mind was still muddled, but she heard the disgusting words from the person in charge and saw his intrusive hand extending towards her.

A flash of coldness crossed her clear eyes; her right hand turned and pierced the Golden Needle into his acupuncture point!

"What did you... do..." The person in charge looked at Ann Vaughn in fear, wanting to react, only to find his entire body paralyzed!

"Scum." Ann Vaughn wrinkled her fine brows in disgust, spitting out the word before stepping out as soon as the elevator stopped.

The Golden Needle would leave him immobile for three hours, even visiting a hospital would reveal nothing, and it would naturally wear off, although the process would be uncomfortable.

Ann Vaughn wondered just how many young women this scum had harmed. The thought alone made her feel nauseous.

But thinking about the words the person in charge just said, Ann Vaughn suppressed the complexity and ire in her heart, took the elevator next door to the top floor, and headed straight to the president’s office.

Mark Joyce happened to be coming out from inside, looking somewhat surprised upon seeing Ann Vaughn—not because of anything else, but due to the command given by President Hawthorne moments ago.

"Special Assistant Joyce, is Cyrus Hawthorne inside? I need to talk to him." Ann Vaughn glanced at the office, her voice unsettled.

"I’m sorry, Miss Vaughn. President Hawthorne isn’t here. If you have anything to discuss, I can convey it for you." Mark Joyce closed the door, blocking Ann Vaughn’s view.

"I saw him inside; there’s no need to lie to me."

"Since Miss Vaughn can guess I’m lying to you, then surely you can also guess President Hawthorne’s reason for not wanting to meet you. Even if I let you in, it’d be of no use, wouldn’t it?"

Mark Joyce’s words were reasonable, and his expressionless face showed no sign of a flaw.

If Ann Vaughn couldn’t understand by this point, she’d be fooling herself—Cyrus Hawthorne had commanded to stop her TV program and replace the endorsement, now refusing to see her as well.

Simply to make her fully experience the consequences of defying him.

And now, she indeed felt it deeply.

Ann Vaughn pressed her red lips tightly, a deep sense of powerlessness clouding her clear eyes, "Has he mentioned when he’d be willing to see me?"

"President Hawthorne’s stance is that, as long as Miss Vaughn is sensible, she should naturally know what to do."

After leaving the Hawthorne Group Tower, Ann Vaughn walked aimlessly down the street, her heart congested like a blockage she couldn’t relieve.

Her head hung low, her eyes bereft of starlight fixed on her abdomen, her red lips involuntarily twisting into a bitter, muted smile.

The smile made her eyes redden.

Ann Vaughn imagined what Cyrus Hawthorne wanted was for her to agree to terminate the pregnancy, so that there’d be no hindrance in giving Cynthia Vaughn the heart swap.

Choosing between her cherished career and the equally cherished child—each is hard to relinquish.

Ann Vaughn had always known Cyrus Hawthorne to be ruthless and decisive in dealing with adversaries in the corporate world.

She just didn’t expect to be treated the same way by him.

-

On Sunday night, Susie Sommers drove over to pick Ann Vaughn up for drinks at Aurelia.

"I went to great lengths to sneak this card out tonight. Drink as much as you like, I’m treating!" Susie Sommers held up a prestigious platinum card from Aurelia, her previous gloom already lifted.

Ann Vaughn watched her gleeful look, her eyes curved slightly.

"You might be disappointed; I can’t drink."

Seeing Susie Sommers’ puzzled and disheartened face, she added, "I hadn’t had the chance to tell you before—I’m pregnant."

The news instantly erased Susie Sommers’ dejection over not being able to drink the night away with Ann Vaughn. She quickly pressed her ear against Ann Vaughn’s belly, "I’m going to be a godmother?!"

"If this child can be delivered safely, I’ll make sure to have him/her call you godmother." Ann Vaughn replied softly.

Susie Sommers froze, lifting her head to see the profound melancholy in Ann Vaughn’s eyes, seemingly understanding something.

Yet she said nothing nor asked, pulling Ann Vaughn’s hand and heading to the elevator, "Tonight, let’s not talk about any troublesome matters. I’ll drink, you drink milk, whoever passes out first is the fool!"

Ann Vaughn was both amused and helpless, knowing full well Susie Sommers would inevitably be that fool.

"Wait a minute." Just as they reached the elevator, Susie Sommers suddenly stopped, staring intensely in a certain direction.

Following her gaze, Ann Vaughn saw only a couple seated intimately on a couch in the lobby, wrapped in each other’s arms.

Ann Vaughn didn’t recognize the woman, but she had encountered the man before.

"That man seems like he can’t go a day without a woman, or his lifeline would break!" Susie Sommers gritted her teeth, glaring towards them, thoughtlessly shoved the card into Ann Vaughn’s hands, "Go to the room first, I’ll be there soon!"

After saying that, Susie Sommers stormed in their direction.

Recalling Susie Sommers’ opinion on Silas Master Moore, Ann Vaughn couldn’t shake the familiarity of the name and face.

Suddenly, she remembered something, and her eyes widened in astonishment at Susie Sommers who was now pulling the woman from Silas Master Moore’s embrace, her red lips parted.

No wonder she didn’t recall—the name was first mentioned in high school when the tomboy Susie shyly announced she wanted to confess her love to him.

Apparently, the confession didn’t happen, and the name never surfaced from Susie Sommers’ mouth again.

If Ann Vaughn hadn’t accidentally seen Silas Master Moore’s photo in Susie Sommers’ diary, this incident probably wouldn’t have crossed her mind.