CHAPTER 181: CHAPTER 181: JOY, YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE MOM

Aunt Tawny took out her phone and specifically made a video call to Old Lady Hawthorne.

"Madam, look here, I’ll ’invite’ Ms. Lynn back for you right away!"

Cindy Lynn was still wearing her hospital gown, almost being dragged along the ground, in a sorry state. She bit her lower lip in humiliation and hatred, her eyes glaring venomously at Aunt Tawny from beneath her long hair.

You damn old hag!

She would make her pay sooner or later!

"Vincent, save me!" Cindy Lynn’s eyes lit up when she saw Vincent Hawthorne striding over and immediately cried out pitifully for help.

Vincent Hawthorne suppressed his anger, "Everyone, stop right now!"

Rhys Lucas had already rushed forward to push away a bodyguard holding Cindy Lynn.

"Don’t touch her!"

Seeing Cindy Lynn’s pitiful appearance, Rhys Lucas felt both heartache and anger, silently clenching his fist.

"Are you all crazy? Daring to kidnap someone in a hospital? Do you believe I won’t call the police right now!"

Old Lady Hawthorne saw Rhys Lucas storming in through Aunt Tawny’s camera, she frowned, her voice aged but still authoritative: "Rhys, I’m handling Hawthorne family affairs. Why are you interfering here? Step aside for me!"

The Hawthorne and Lucas families were long-time friends, and Old Lady Hawthorne had watched Rhys Lucas grow up. Rhys pursed his lips and said coldly, "Ma’am, what did Cindy do wrong for you to treat her like this?"

Being experienced, Old Lady Hawthorne saw through Rhys’ feelings with one look.

"Seems like you’re also fond of that vixen."

Rhys flushed slightly, firmly denying, "Ma’am, please don’t speak nonsense. My feelings for Cindy are purely like a brother and sister."

Old Lady Hawthorne sneered, "Then I’ll have to ask your parents if they acknowledge Cindy Lynn as their sister! Rhys, I watched you grow up. Grandma Hawthorne will give you a piece of advice; what kind of decent girl would grab onto a man with no blood relation and call him her brother?"

"If a man has no ulterior motives, there’s no way he’d be inexplicably good to a woman!" Old Lady Hawthorne bluntly pierced through, "And if that woman enjoys the man’s kindness while pretending to be innocent of his intentions, it’s just shameless!"

Two can play at that game!

In her younger days, Old Lady Hawthorne had dealt with countless women scheming to climb ranks, and Cindy Lynn’s little tactics were transparent to her.

It was just that Cindy had hidden well before, and Old Lady Hawthorne had been secluded in the old house for too long. By the time she noticed this vixen Cindy Lynn, she had already secured her place by Vincent Hawthorne’s side.

She was also deeply trusted by the two children, especially Joy.

Considering Tanya Sinclair hadn’t woken up then, Old Lady Hawthorne turned a blind eye, treating Cindy Lynn as a free nanny at Vincent’s side.

But what she didn’t expect was that Cindy Lynn was even more resourceful and scheming than she had thought, and her family...

Old Lady Hawthorne’s brows furrowed tightly.

She found some clues, although there was no concrete evidence, they were enough to make her heart race in fear!

Cindy Lynn’s eyes were brimming with tears, "Ma’am, I know you only like Ms. Tanya and have always disliked me... I never intended to compete with Ms. Tanya."

She looked tearfully at Vincent Hawthorne, "Mr. Hawthorne has never crossed boundaries, and Senior Brother Lucas is even more innocent. If you must blame someone, just blame me. It’s all my fault... I’ll kneel and bow to apologize. Will that satisfy you?"

As she spoke, Cindy Lynn was about to kneel.

Rhys Lucas’s heart tightened, wanting to step forward, but Vincent Hawthorne was quicker, rushing to shield Cindy Lynn.

"..." Rhys Lucas’s hand, just raised, froze in midair, clenched tightly, and slowly withdrew.

Vincent Hawthorne shielded Cindy Lynn behind him, completely protective.

He slightly frowned, staring directly at Old Lady Hawthorne on the screen.

"Grandma, Cindy was doused with acid trying to protect me last night, she’s very weak and needs rest. Can anything be discussed when I return?"

"Doused with acid?" Mrs. Hawthorne sneered at Cindy Lynn’s frail appearance, "She looks perfectly fine to me! Doesn’t seem disfigured anywhere."

Vincent Hawthorne drew a deep breath to steady himself, "Does the acid need to reach her face for you to be satisfied? Grandma, I think you’ve been brainwashed by Tanya Sinclair!"

Old Lady Hawthorne was about to retort when she lifted her eyes to see Tanya Sinclair entering alongside Aunt Flora.

Old Lady Hawthorne couldn’t be bothered to continue the argument with Vincent, coldly instructing, "Aunt Tawny, bring her back for me!"

"Yes!" Aunt Tawny replied swiftly, "If Ms. Lynn won’t cooperate, just bind her and bring her back!"

Vincent Hawthorne’s anger surged, "I’d like to see who dares to touch her!"

Tanya Sinclair came over just in time to hear Vincent Hawthorne’s declaration.

She didn’t need to look to know that Vincent was protecting Cindy Lynn. Tanya’s expression remained calm, revealing no excess emotion.

Old Lady Hawthorne noted Tanya’s reaction and sighed inwardly.

It seems Tanya truly doesn’t care anymore.

If she still had anger or felt wronged, maybe even jealousy or hatred would be good.

At the very least, it would prove she still cared for Vincent Hawthorne...

But now, her lack of reaction indicated she really had let go.

"Aunt Tawny, don’t grab Cindy’s mom!" Suddenly, a tear-choked voice from Joy broke in.

"..."

Tanya Sinclair’s breath stalled for a moment.

Joy’s call of "Cindy’s mom" felt like invisible claws, tearing her heart to pieces.

She walked over slowly, and from a position not visible on screen, she saw tiny Joy rushing into the frame, arms spread wide to shield Cindy Lynn.

Tears, like tiny beads, rolled down Joy’s face one by one.

"Don’t hurt Cindy’s mom, great-grandmother, I beg you..."

Hearing her daughter’s plea, Tanya Sinclair closed her eyes briefly, nearly losing her balance from the pain.

Not long ago, she still feared Joy would be threatened or harmed by Cindy Lynn, wishing she could tear Cindy apart with her own hands.

She thought she had found her way into Joy’s heart, at least enough for Joy to call her mom...

Yet, between Cindy Lynn and her biological mother, Joy’s inner balance always tipped unconditionally towards Cindy Lynn.

Old Lady Hawthorne frowned in displeasure, "Joy!"

Tanya Sinclair’s clear, cool voice rang out at that moment.

"Ma’am, let Vincent come back. It wouldn’t be a good look to cause a scene in the hospital."

Tanya’s voice came through clearly on the other end of the video, and everyone, including Joy, heard it.

Is mom here too?

Her previously outstretched arms hesitated and dropped due to unease.

Her big eyes nervously watched the screen, but there was only great-grandmother; she couldn’t see Tanya’s figure...

But she heard her mom’s voice, she was right beside great-grandmother, which meant she must have also heard her calling Cindy ’mom’ just now.

Joy didn’t know why, but she felt uneasy and restless.

She hesitated, wanting to step forward and say a few words to her mother, no matter what. She felt that she had to talk to her mother...

But just as Joy took a step, Cindy Lynn rushed over and pulled her back, holding her tightly in her arms.

"Sweetheart, don’t worry, don’t cry, Mommy Cindy is fine." Cindy deliberately spoke loudly, wanting Tanya Sinclair on the other end of the video to hear clearly!

To her precious darling, the daughter she always wanted to please, only she could be recognized as Mommy Cindy!

Cindy felt a surge of pride as she held Joy even tighter.

Five years... she had spent five whole years on this little girl!

After all, Joy was a piece of flesh fallen from Tanya Sinclair, and also the sharpest and most useful knife to stab that bitch Tanya Sinclair!

The Hawthorne Gardens.

Old Lady Hawthorne quickly hung up the video, looking at Tanya Sinclair with a bit of guilt and unease.

There was guilt, heartache, and a touch of apprehension.

"Tanya..." Old Lady Hawthorne extended her wrinkled hand to hold Tanya’s, her eyes slightly teary. "It’s the Hawthorne Family that has wronged you."

Tanya Sinclair remained silent.

She didn’t want to say any perfunctory words; the truth was the Hawthorne Family did wrong her.

Old Lady Hawthorne, with the last bit of hope, trembled as she asked, "Is it really impossible for you and Vincent to go back this time...isn’t it?"

Tanya gently pulled her hand away from the old lady’s grip, speaking calmly, "Madam, I came today to discuss the divorce terms with Vincent Hawthorne."

"..."

She was even unwilling to call her "Grandma" now.

Old Lady Hawthorne gazed at Tanya’s delicate and slim face, unable to hold back her tears. She took the handkerchief Aunt Flora handed her and wiped her eyes.

"I know I can’t keep you here. Tonight, let it be the last meal you have with me as my granddaughter-in-law."

...

When Vincent Hawthorne returned with Joy, the sky was already dark, but the courtyard was brightly lit.

The aroma of food wafted over.

Vincent paused momentarily, and when he walked inside, he saw Tanya Sinclair sitting at the dining table, serving soup to the old lady.

Under the warm light, this scene seemed so familiar and comforting.

It gave him a momentary illusion that everything between him and Tanya Sinclair in recent days was just a dream.

That now, awakened from the dream, she was still his Tanya, here taking care of the old lady, waiting for him to come home for dinner.

But the next second, the look in Tanya Sinclair’s eyes when she lifted her gaze woke Vincent up instantly.

Her gaze had no warmth, cold as ice.

Vincent composed himself, walking over with a blank expression.

Joy rushed toward Old Lady Hawthorne first.

"Great-grandmother."

Although the old lady was displeased with Joy siding with Cindy Lynn, the generational bond softened her, and she reached out to receive her seeing Joy’s cute face.

"Grandma," Vincent also called.

The old lady glared at him, "I don’t need a grandson like you! Opposing me publicly in the hospital for the sake of a woman like Cindy Lynn!"

She paused, recalling Rhys Lucas, further incensed, "That clueless boy from The Lucas Family! I think Old Master Lucas didn’t discipline him enough last time!"

Vincent didn’t want to argue with Old Lady Hawthorne, listening quietly to her criticism.

After venting her anger, the old lady calmed down a bit.

"Joy, go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

"Okay," Joy replied. Since entering the door, she had been watching Tanya Sinclair from the corner of her eye,

but the smiling, gentle mother who usually called her ’darling’ hadn’t even looked at her properly today.

Joy, a bit uneasy, pursed her small lips.

On the way, she had asked her father if mom would be angry today.

She had called Cindy ’mommy’ again, and Tanya Sinclair must have heard it...

Her father said she wouldn’t be.

He said no biological mother would not forgive her daughter. Moreover, since Cindy had been taking care of her for so long, it was normal to have deep feelings for her...

But now, watching Tanya Sinclair sitting there calmly and indifferently, without smiling at her,

Joy was uncertain.

She declined Aunt Flora’s offer to take her to wash her hands, hesitantly walking over to Tanya Sinclair, gently tugging at her coat corner.

Tanya turned to look at her, "What’s wrong, Joy?"

Pretending nonchalance, Joy said a bit nervously, "Could you take me to wash my hands?"

"Sure," Tanya agreed.

The tension in Joy’s small tight fists slowly released, and she sighed with relief inside.

Thankfully, dad was right.

She then followed Tanya to wash her hands.

Since she was not tall enough, Joy stood on a little stool to wash, with Tanya squeezing the soap for her.

While washing her hands, Joy peeked at Tanya, beginning to chatter away about having a long nap today and even dreaming.

She spoke animatedly.

Tanya listened with a calm expression, not responding.

As Tanya dried her hands, Joy couldn’t hold it back any longer and asked softly, "Mom, are you mad at me?"

"..."

Tanya knew since Joy entered, she had been observing her, asking her to take her to wash her hands, chatting continuously, all as an indirect way to reconcile.

Before today, Tanya thought she would have been moved.

But now, she was too exhausted.

Tanya lowered her gaze, drying her small hands. Then she raised her eyes, looking calmly at her daughter.

"Joy, you can only have one mother," Tanya told her clearly, word by word, "If you choose Cindy Lynn, I will no longer be your mother."