CHAPTER 232: CHAPTER 232: TAKING PILLS

Vincent Hawthorne walked into the children’s room.

As soon as he entered, he was struck by a familiar fragrance.

Vincent noticed an aroma diffuser on Joy’s bedside.

Joy had already fallen asleep.

Caden had the habit of reading before bed, and he was now yawning repeatedly.

"Dad, you’re back."

"Hmm, did Aunt Cindy bring this diffuser?"

"Yes." Caden rubbed his eyes. "She said Joy has been having nightmares recently, and this can help her sleep better. It seems pretty effective."

Indeed, Joy was sleeping soundly.

Vincent remembered that the last time he woke up in Cindy Lynn’s hospital room, he had also smelled this fragrance.

"Have you contacted Mom?" Vincent asked tentatively.

Caden shook his head, "Not yet. But she’ll send me a goodnight message before bed."

Vincent paused for a moment, then said, "Caden, it’s getting late. Why don’t you call Mom and check if she’s home yet?"

Tanya Sinclair wouldn’t answer his calls, but she’d always answer Caden’s.

Not realizing anything, Caden just thought his dad was concerned about Mom, so he directly dialed with his small phone.

The phone rang twice, and then it was answered.

Tanya Sinclair’s gentle voice came through: "Caden."

"Mom, are you home yet?"

"I’m on my way."

Vincent Hawthorne, standing nearby, heard it clearly.

She’s still on her way home, with Declan Pierce?

Is he going to visit Tanya’s place tonight?

"Alright, Mom, I’m so sleepy today," Caden yawned, "I’m giving you an early goodnight."

"Goodnight, darling. See you on Saturday."

"Okay."

Caden was about to hang up, but his dad took the phone first.

Vincent walked a few steps toward the window with the phone in hand.

"Tanya Sinclair."

The moment she heard Vincent’s voice, Tanya’s tone immediately turned cold.

"We’ve talked about everything. What do you want now?"

Vincent: "I’ll bring Caden and Joy to your place on Saturday. Send me the address."

He still didn’t know where she lived...

Tanya coldly refused: "No need, I’ll come to pick them up."

Vincent wanted to say more, but Tanya simply hung up.

Vincent’s face darkened. When he turned around, Caden was staring straight at him.

"Dad, do you miss Mom?"

Vincent didn’t answer, just put his son’s phone away.

"Go to sleep now, and no playing with the phone before bed. I’ll give it back to you in the morning."

Vincent left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He initially intended to go to the study, but when passing the master bedroom, its door was ajar, and Vincent glanced inside.

At first glance, he only saw Cindy Lynn lying on the bed. On second glance, he noticed she was clutching something.

Vincent felt an ominous premonition. He rushed in and grabbed Cindy’s hand, only to find a bottle of sleeping pills!

And the bottle was empty!

Cindy’s head lolled to the side, with foam at her mouth!

"Cindy!" Vincent hurriedly slapped Cindy’s face, trying to wake her. At that moment, he noticed a photo crumpled in Cindy’s other hand, one of him and Tanya Sinclair from years ago that he had brought back from a restaurant!

Vincent’s pupils contracted in shock.

She actually took pills to kill herself because of this photo...

Vincent immediately carried Cindy, rushing downstairs, just as Aunt Tawny sneaked out of her room for a sip of water.

He shouted, "Aunt Tawny, open the door! Cindy took sleeping pills!"

Aunt Tawny almost spat out her water.

"Mr. Hawthorne, have you checked? What if it’s just melatonin?"

She didn’t believe Cindy would actually take sleeping pills.

Vincent angrily replied, "I said open the door!"

Carrying Cindy left his hands full.

Aunt Tawny relented and unwillingly opened the main door.

But Vincent wasn’t finished with her, "Come and take care of her in the car!"

Aunt Tawny: "..."

She regretted coming out for a drink!

Left with no choice, Aunt Tawny ended up going with Vincent to the car.

Cindy was placed in the back seat, and since it was narrow, Aunt Tawny disdainfully used a pillow to buffer so Cindy’s head wouldn’t rest on her lap.

She wanted to test if Cindy was really unconscious or faking. She thought about tickling her armpit.

But Vincent noticed and scolded, "Aunt Tawny!"

Distracted momentarily, he almost hit the car in front.

For her own safety, Aunt Tawny dared not make any moves.

Soon, the car arrived at the nearest hospital. Vincent carried Cindy and rushed in to explain the situation, and the medical staff immediately took Cindy for a lavage.

Aunt Tawny called out with concern, "Doctor, make sure to wash it thoroughly!"

Then she turned to see Vincent’s icy gaze, causing her to shrink back.

"Mr. Hawthorne, the kids can’t be left alone at home. I should go back to take care of Joy and Caden."

If not for needing her help on the way, Vincent wouldn’t have brought Aunt Tawny along.

He gruffly instructed, "Go back quickly."

Aunt Tawny hesitated, "Mr. Hawthorne, you’ll need to call me a cab. I didn’t bring my phone or anything..."

"..."

Vincent felt like he had hired an ancestor instead of a nanny.

After sending off Aunt Tawny, Vincent, after some contemplation, called Shelly Sullivan to briefly explain Cindy’s situation and provide the hospital’s address.

After hanging up, Vincent sat on the cold bench in the hospital corridor, burying his face in his hands, utterly exhausted.

He then got up to wash his face.

Upon returning and sitting back down, the phone in his pocket began to ring.

Not his, but Caden’s.

He still had Caden’s phone with him.

He took a look at the screen, seeing a message from Tanya Sinclair: [Mom is home now, goodnight darling.]

Vincent stared at the message for a while, then reflexively began scrolling through the previous chat history between mother and son.

Apart from sharing daily life moments, Caden would ask Tanya many questions, from computing to mathematics and French, which she answered patiently and knowledgeably.

Yes, this was the Tanya Sinclair he originally knew.

She was a genius, not only in the pharmaceutical industry...

Just as he was looking, another message from Tanya came in.

Tanya Sinclair: [Darling, would you like to live with Mom? I’ve already tidied up yours and your sister’s rooms.]

Following that were several pictures of the bedrooms, not large but very cozy.

One of the pictures captured the view outside the window.

Vincent zoomed in and saw the illuminated sign of Westgard Pharmaceuticals Tower in the distance.

So she lives near Westgard Pharmaceuticals...

Just then, the emergency room doors opened, and Cindy Lynn was wheeled out, now conscious.

Vincent quickly put away the phone and stepped forward.

Looking at Cindy’s pale and worn-out face, he frowned slightly and asked the doctor, "How is she?"

"She’s fine now, after resting for a night she’ll be okay." Two nurses wheeled Cindy towards a hospital room.

Vincent thanked the doctor and quickly followed them.

The doctor took off his mask with a hint of exasperation.

"She took non-benzodiazepine medication, the dosage wasn’t enough, and some sedatives were added... A bit of induced vomiting and a night’s sleep at home would’ve sufficed, and yet here we are with a gastric lavage, what a fuss..."