CHAPTER 266: CHAPTER 266: INVESTIGATE CINDY LYNN AND SHELLY SULLIVAN!

Cindy Lynn had never seen Vincent Hawthorne so angry and fierce; the slap he delivered was heavy, half her face was still numb, and her ears buzzed.

But Cindy Lynn still heard Vincent Hawthorne’s teeth-gritted voice clearly.

He was taking out his anger on her because of Tanya Sinclair...

That bitch Tanya Sinclair must be dead!

Thinking that the thorn in her eye, the thorn in her flesh, was finally dead, Cindy Lynn felt that slap was nothing. From now on, no one would ever threaten her happiness again!

"Vincent, I know you’re this angry and upset because something happened to Tanya Sinclair..." Cindy Lynn used her best acting skills to keep herself from laughing; she put on a weak and enduring look, "I know, after all, she was once your wife. It’s normal for you to feel sad..."

"If venting on me makes you feel better, then I have nothing to say." Cindy Lynn raised her hand to embrace Vincent Hawthorne’s slender waist, large tears falling down in grievance.

But this time, Vincent Hawthorne did not soften as he usually did, did not feel guilty towards her, did not coax her.

He merely pulled away her arm that was hugging him indifferently, those peach blossom eyes usually so gentle and shining, now only reflected endless fatigue and a trace of disgust.

"Today was supposed to be Tanya Sinclair taking Joy to the Ferris Wheel Park; why is it that when something happened to her, you took Joy back home instead?"

Cindy Lynn had naturally prepared her explanation long ago.

"Vincent, you’ve really misunderstood me. I was worried Joy was dressed too lightly today and would get cold, so I went to bring her clothes. But when I got there, I saw Joy alone; Tanya Sinclair had disappeared to who knows where. Joy said she wanted to go home, so I took her..." She insisted, "If you don’t believe me, you can ask Joy! Kids don’t lie."

Vincent Hawthorne listened and suddenly let out a peculiar, mocking laugh.

"If it’s to protect you, Joy would lie."

He’s seen it happen.

When Tanya Sinclair had just returned, Joy felt Cindy Lynn had been wronged and wanted to avenge her, she first stole Yvonne Hawthorne’s necklace and put it in Tanya Sinclair’s bag, falsely accusing her of being a thief!

Joy was essentially raised by Cindy Lynn, her yet undeveloped views manipulated by emotions, in other words, controlled by Cindy Lynn!

Conversely, it was Abby, that child, who truly wouldn’t lie...

"Vincent! What do you mean by this?" Cindy Lynn was extremely aggrieved, "You’re now suspecting that Tanya Sinclair’s death is related to me, did I cause her to be captured by Old Ninth King? If it weren’t for me just happening to take Joy away, Joy might have ended up today too...ugh!"

Her words were incomplete as Vincent Hawthorne fiercely grabbed her throat.

His face shadowed with anger, he said coldly, "Don’t curse my daughter!"

Cindy Lynn helplessly and fearfully struggled under his hand, tears seeping from the corners of her eyes, burning his hand... Vincent Hawthorne forcefully closed his eyes, regaining his composure.

He loosened his grip, and Cindy Lynn slumped to the ground, gasping for air.

"Vincent, how can you suspect me like this?" She cried pear blossom with rain, choking, "How could I deliberately curse Joy? For Joy, I underwent sterilization, gave up the chance to have my own child! Just because Tanya Sinclair died, you feel you have to humiliate and torment me like this? In your heart, do you still hold onto her?"

Vincent Hawthorne closed his eyes, exhaled heavily.

"...Who told you Tanya Sinclair was dead?"

"..." Cindy Lynn’s sob choked, she squeezed out a dry smile, "Was she rescued? Well, that’s great..."

"Without a body found, there’s a chance she could still be alive." Vincent Hawthorne pinched his brow, suppressed his emotions, and opened his bloodshot eyes, his expression now much gentler.

He bent down to help Cindy Lynn up, his gaze fell on the bright red slap mark on one side of her face, he frowned slightly, touched it, hoarsely muttering, "I’m sorry, my mood was poor today..."

Cindy Lynn shook her head, burying her face in his chest, softly saying, "I know. After all, Tanya Sinclair had many years of feelings with you, it’s normal for you to feel bad. As your fiancée, there’s nothing wrong with bearing it for you...I hope Ms. Tanya can be safe."

Her words were gentle and soft, yet in the depths of her eyes, there was a growing resentment.

That useless Old Ninth King!

He couldn’t even kill one woman, Tanya Sinclair!!

Vincent Hawthorne raised his hand to stroke the soft long hair of the person in his arms, gentle in action, his eyes were equally cold.

He released Cindy Lynn, gazing at her pure and harmless face, intimately said in a hoarse voice, "I’m a bit tired; I want to take a bath. Go and run some bath water for me, Mrs. Hawthorne-to-be."

Although the title had a prefix, it was enough to make Cindy Lynn ecstatic.

"Alright, I’ll go now!" She tiptoed to kiss Vincent Hawthorne’s face sweetly and then left the study with a full smile.

But Cindy Lynn did not go straight to the master bedroom; instead, she went to Joy’s room.

A Calming Incense was lit by the bedside, Joy was sleeping motionlessly, tears were traceable on her face, as if she dreamed of something terrible; she twitched uneasily in her sleep.

Cindy Lynn silently took her phone placed by the bedside; while heading to the master bedroom, she made a call to Shelly Sullivan.

She whispered, "Mom, that bitch Tanya Sinclair’s body hasn’t been found! I’m worried she didn’t die completely..."

The study was empty.

The terrace door was wide open, and cold wind poured in.

Vincent Hawthorne loosened the collar button, his expensive shirt crumpled from the tugging, the dark thick glass door reflected like a mirror, clearly showing his appearance.

——Embarrassed, unprecedentedly embarrassed.

Vincent Hawthorne lit a cigarette and picked up the call from Cameron Wenworth.

On the other end, the man’s tone was rigid, every word seemed laced with anger.

"Vincent Hawthorne, Tanya asked me to make sure you receive these test results!"

If not for Tanya Sinclair’s request, Cameron Wenworth would never voluntarily interact with Vincent Hawthorne. Back in university, when Tanya was constantly around Vincent, he happened to meet them once.

It wasn’t at school.

It was on the street.

He was on a bus at the time, passing by Crestwood University, and saw Tanya Sinclair standing in a corner by the school gate. Perhaps she’d been standing and waiting too long; her legs were sore as she bent over and pounded them.

Vincent Hawthorne came out at this moment.

He saw his always composed and quiet junior sister happily waving at him, her very silhouette was joyful.

And Vincent Hawthorne, the way he walked towards Tanya Sinclair, was so calm it bordered on cruel.

He knew full well she was waiting for him, knew he’d kept her waiting for a long time, yet he wasn’t hurried at all...

From that day, Cameron Wenworth had no fondness for Vincent Hawthorne.

But he thought, matters of the heart are like drinking water, only the drinker knows whether it’s hot or cold. He had neither the qualification nor position to comment.

If he’d known earlier that junior sister would end up without a trace, he would have definitely rushed off the bus and dragged her away!

Cameron Wenworth’s words were icy.

"The red and white powder found in Cindy Lynn’s sachet given to Joy is a new synthetic hallucinogen. The dosage isn’t large, its effects take time, but prolonged inhalation damages nerves and causes hallucinations!"

"Even adults suffer mental collapse from prolonged inhalation of this hallucinogen, let alone a child Joy’s age! The nerve damage caused by this hallucinogen is irreversible!"

"Vincent Hawthorne, is this how you protect your daughter?! How do you have the nerve to contest Tanya for custody?" Cameron Wenworth ultimately couldn’t suppress his anger; he’s always been emotionally reserved with little fluctuation.

Yet at this moment, thinking of the missing Tanya Sinclair, Cameron Wenworth’s eyes turned crimson with pressure.

Vincent Hawthorne listened quietly, not offering a single rebuttal.

The cigarette clamped between his fingers flickered in the wind, the ash falling like snow.

Autumn had arrived.

The wind was bone-chillingly cold.

Vincent Hawthorne closed his eyes briefly, after a moment, he asked slowly, with difficulty: "...If long-term inhalation of this hallucinogen is combined with hypnosis, is it enough to control a person’s mind?"

"..." Cameron Wenworth was stunned, and moments later he understood the deeper meaning behind Vincent Hawthorne’s words.

He gasped, "Yes, psychological hypnosis is ultimately a form of psychological suggestion. Hallucinogens can numb nerves, and the weaker a person’s mental strength, the easier they are to control. If the target is a child, it’s simply effortless!"

The cigarette between his fingers had reached its end.

Vincent Hawthorne hung up the phone and slowly crouched down.

Actually, when he arrived at that cave, memories from six years ago were resurrected.

He had intentionally forgotten.

At the time, he’d been stripped to his underwear and caged like a dog, devoid of dignity. This humiliating memory was one he’d never wanted to recall.

He even selfishly and despicably wanted to forget the day Tanya Sinclair rushed in to save him.

But in truth, he couldn’t forget.

He remembered how Tanya Sinclair, all alone, rushed in anxiously to save him, how she knelt before the kidnappers, and...her heartrending, hopeless screams as she was dragged away...

A spot on his chest, previously ignored, suddenly throbbed painfully. It hurt enough that Vincent Hawthorne collapsed to the ground, clutching his heart.

’...Joy and her fake mother tricked Aunt Sinclair into going...’

Abby’s tearful words surfaced in his mind.

Vincent Hawthorne squeezed his eyes shut and after a pause, he fished out his phone with numb hands and dialed Jonah Rivers.

"Jonah, check Cindy Lynn and Shelly Sullivan’s accounts, their information... Check everything you can!"

"Yes..." Jonah had already seen the news; with such a big case and the explosion, it couldn’t be contained. He asked tremblingly, "President Hawthorne, is Madam really..."

He couldn’t voice it, already choked up.

"...As long as no body is found, she may still be alive!" After a pause, Vincent Hawthorne’s lips curved into a smile, muttering, "Tanya, she has more vitality than anyone."

Tanya Sinclair had braved death’s door for him several times; this time, she would undoubtedly survive too!!