CHAPTER 180: CHAPTER 180: INVITATION FROM OLD LADY HAWTHORNE

Hospital.

Cindy Lynn had just had her back redressed and was lying on the bed.

Meanwhile, Joy was sleeping in the small bed next to her.

Vincent Hawthorne came in and saw Cindy Lynn enduring discomfort while tucking Joy in.

This warm scene somewhat alleviated his chaotic mood caused by Tanya Sinclair over the past couple of days.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Mm." Cindy Lynn smiled gently at Vincent Hawthorne, her pale face eliciting sympathy, "You should go rest. You’ve been by my side all night; I’m really fine now."

"The doctor said it was fortunate your clothing was made of corrosion-resistant material. Otherwise, your whole back would have been ruined!" Vincent Hawthorne shuddered at the thought of such a consequence, pursing his pale lips and speaking hoarsely, "Cindy, I owe you too much."

This was already the second time she had risked her life to save him...

"I don’t like hearing you say these things." Cindy Lynn’s eyes reddened slightly, drawing a restrained smile, "I told you, whatever I do for you is voluntary. Just consider me a fool; loving someone isn’t about questioning whether it’s worth it."

Vincent Hawthorne frowned with a sense of empathy, "Cindy..."

Cindy Lynn gently interrupted him, "I know you still care for Ms. Tanya in your heart, and that’s okay. You protect her; I’m willing to protect you."

No man could resist such a confession.

Especially in contrast with Tanya Sinclair’s recent indifference, Cindy Lynn seemed even more pitiful.

Ultimately, Vincent Hawthorne softened, stepping forward to support Cindy Lynn as she struggled to sit up.

"Don’t move around."

"I’ve been lying down too long, I want to get some fresh air by the window..." Cindy Lynn’s tone was soft, almost coquettish, as she looked up at him.

"Wait a moment." Vincent Hawthorne first carefully picked up the sleeping Joy.

This hospital room was a suite, with a small additional room attached.

Then Vincent Hawthorne came out and gently lifted Cindy Lynn, avoiding her wounds, and carried her to the window.

Cindy Lynn’s eyes showed a trace of shyness, and she naturally wrapped her arms around Vincent Hawthorne’s neck, resting her chin against his shoulder, smiling contentedly.

"Vincent, is Ms. Tanya still angry?" Cindy Lynn observed Vincent Hawthorne’s expression and sighed, "Even though this time your mother and Yvonne went a bit too far, if Ms. Tanya hadn’t asked for a divorce, wanting both this and that, I think your family wouldn’t have resorted to such measures..."

"Ms. Tanya is really too much. Despite Yvonne calling her sister-in-law for so many years, she treats her like this, her heart is too ruthless!"

Thinking about Tanya Sinclair’s cold and heartless demeanor last night, Vincent Hawthorne’s guilt had mostly dissipated.

Cindy Lynn clung to Vincent Hawthorne’s neck, snuggling into his embrace, and whispered, "I truly didn’t expect that Ms. Tanya, who always seemed so gentle and quiet, could be so cold-hearted. No wonder she made enemies so quickly after joining Westgard Pharmaceuticals."

"For the other party to resort to throwing acid, Ms. Tanya must have pushed them too far, driving them to desperation." Cindy Lynn said, clutching Vincent Hawthorne in fear, "It’s a good thing I got there in time. What would have happened if the acid had been thrown on you?"

Vincent Hawthorne looked down at the delicate and charming Cindy Lynn in his arms, feeling more disappointed with Tanya Sinclair by the moment.

He said coldly, "If Tanya Sinclair wants a divorce so badly, I’ll grant her wish."

Cindy Lynn suppressed her inner joy, pressing her face into Vincent Hawthorne’s chest.

Rhys Lucas and Cody Crawford hurried in to visit, opening the door to witness this scene.

Cody Crawford deliberately coughed to get their attention.

"Cough, cough, sorry. It seems we came at a bit of an awkward time."

Cindy Lynn blushed in embarrassment, her head lowering into Vincent Hawthorne’s embrace.

"Senior Brother Crawford, don’t tease me."

Rhys Lucas, witnessing the scene, had a shadow cross his eyes. He looked away and directly went to insert the flowers he brought into the vase at the foot of the bed.

Vincent Hawthorne gently placed Cindy Lynn back on the bed, adjusting her position to make her comfortable while sitting up.

Rhys Lucas leaned against the side, looking at Cindy Lynn with a slight frown, "How’s your wound? I contacted a very renowned dermatology expert. He’s abroad attending a conference but will come right over as soon as he’s back in a couple of days."

The news that Cindy Lynn had shielded Vincent Hawthorne from acid had spread swiftly across their social circle last night.

Yet it’s unclear where the information initially emerged from.

Rhys Lucas had been punished by his grandfather due to the previous incident involving the suppression of Tanya Sinclair, which also implicated The Pierce Family, leaving him bedridden for three days.

Upon hearing about Cindy Lynn’s injury, he felt a pain as if it were his own, prompting him to rush over immediately.

"Thankfully, it’s not too serious; it shouldn’t leave a scar." Cindy Lynn looked towards Rhys Lucas, "I’m sorry, Senior Brother Lucas, for troubling you again."

Rhys Lucas’s expression softened slightly, "Why are you being so formal with me?"

He shifted his gaze back to Vincent Hawthorne, nodding his head towards the outside.

Cody Crawford quickly said, "You two should chat outside, don’t disturb the patient."

After many years of brotherhood, there was a tacit understanding. Vincent Hawthorne glanced at Rhys Lucas, and then they both walked out one after the other.

Cindy Lynn sensed something was amiss.

She asked nonchalantly, "Senior Brother Crawford, what’s going on with Senior Brother Lucas and Vincent?"

"Oh, they got into a fight in the private room last time because of Tanya Sinclair," Cody casually took an orange and started peeling it, saying, "They’ve been awkward with each other since, and I have been the one passing messages between them."

A glint of thought flashed in Cindy Lynn’s eyes, and she instinctively clenched the quilt, suppressing a trace of jealousy.

"They... fought over Ms. Tanya?"

Vincent Hawthorne actually got into a fight over Tanya Sinclair?!

And with his best brother Rhys Lucas!

"Yeah, but Rhys can be too hard on Tanya sometimes, and his words aren’t pleasant. Vincent happened to overhear him blocking Tanya, and he probably was in a bad mood that day, so he immediately started a fight."

Cody Crawford said this while tossing a peeled segment of the orange into his mouth.

He mumbled, "We were all shocked. Who would have thought Vincent actually cared quite a bit about Tanya Sinclair."

After speaking, Cody realized he spoke too quickly and saw that Cindy Lynn’s expression didn’t look very good.

He quickly tried to make up, "Of course, in Vincent’s heart, Cindy, you’re definitely more important. Otherwise, with the Hawthorne Family in chaos, he’d be here diligently taking care of you. You two are destined for each other, as far as I’m concerned!"

Only then did Cindy Lynn look a bit better, forcing a smile at Cody Crawford and saying, "Senior Brother Crawford, don’t joke, Vincent hasn’t even divorced yet."

Cody Crawford saw through it, "That will happen in a day or two. With things like this between him and Tanya Sinclair, there’s no turning back."

Cindy Lynn’s lips curled slightly upwards.

She wants them to have no way back!

Elsewhere, Vincent Hawthorne and Rhys Lucas walked to the deserted rooftop.

Rhys Lucas pulled out a pack of cigarettes, skillfully biting one onto his lips.

Before he could light it himself, Vincent Hawthorne had already flicked on the lighter and lit it for him.

After years as brothers, the issues between them dissolved just like that.

"I found out something and thought I should give you a heads-up," Rhys Lucas started bluntly, "Tanya Sinclair is more conniving than you think. She previously held eight percent of your group’s technical shares, and she sold those shares to Silas."

Hearing this, Vincent Hawthorne was stunned, furrowing his brow.

His eyes, bloodshot from a sleepless night, looked fiercely intense.

"Tanya Sinclair, she..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, recalling the scene at The Thirteen Courses when he ran into Tanya Sinclair and Silas.

At the time, he hadn’t thought about the shares.

Vincent Hawthorne shut his eyes tightly, his heart seething with rage.

"I really underestimated her!"

"Just be careful at the shareholders’ meeting the day after tomorrow," Rhys Lucas could only warn to that extent.

Vincent Hawthorne suddenly recalled the harsh words Tanya Sinclair once said to him.

She could help him climb to the top, or let him fall and be crushed!

He trusted her too much... trusted in the love she showed him over the years, believing that no matter what, she would eventually be soft-hearted towards him.

So, he had no defenses at all!

The more Vincent Hawthorne thought about it, the angrier he got.

Rhys Lucas patted Vincent Hawthorne on the shoulder, about to comfort him.

Just then, the door to the rooftop was pushed open, and a few of the Hawthorne Family’s bodyguards flooded in.

They were employed by Old Lady Hawthorne and only listened to her orders.

The lead bodyguard approached Vincent Hawthorne and said stiffly, "Mr. Hawthorne, Old Lady Hawthorne has instructed us to bring you back to the old house immediately!"

Vincent Hawthorne dropped his cigarette, extinguished it with his foot, and followed them out.

But when he reached the floor with Cindy Lynn’s ward, he saw Cindy being roughly dragged out by two bodyguards, with Cody Crawford unable to stop it.

Cindy Lynn screamed in pain.

Aunt Tawny stood by, hands on her hips, and said, "Ms. Lynn, didn’t you love going to the Hawthorne Family? Well, this time, Old Lady Hawthorne is personally inviting you!"