CHAPTER 274: CHAPTER 274: WHAT DO YOU CALL HER?

Vincent Hawthorne licked his dry lips, feeling slightly parched as he explained to Tanya Sinclair.

"Your senior, Cameron Wenworth, called me. Indeed, the sachet Cindy Lynn gave Joy contains some hallucinogenic ingredients... that’s also the main culprit causing Joy to be lethargic and in poor condition recently! And... Cindy Lynn’s mother, Shelly Sullivan, is an advanced hypnotist."

The hypnotic scent, combined with hypnosis, is enough to turn a five-year-old child into a puppet under her control.

Vincent Hawthorne painfully and guiltily closed his eyes.

"It’s my fault for not protecting Joy. And it’s my fault for not protecting you..." He finally admitted his weakness and incompetence, "Tanya, after you went missing, I also hired a search and rescue team to find you. And I have barely shut my eyes these past couple of days, waiting for any news about you..."

Vincent Hawthorne tried to find a trace of emotion on Tanya Sinclair’s face.

But there was nothing.

The Tanya Sinclair who once had eyes full of him had long died, perhaps on that operating table five years ago.

The Tanya Sinclair in front of him now only looked at him coldly and indifferently, with nothing but disgust in her eyes.

"So, in the past two days, did you call the police? Did you tell Officer Crawford about Cindy Lynn’s dirty deeds, making her pay for her crimes?"

Vincent Hawthorne was momentarily stunned, his eyes flickering.

"Tanya, I..."

"You keep saying you’re sorry, but in the end, you still choose to protect Cindy Lynn, don’t you? Even though you know everything she did, know that she’s hurting Joy! You still want to shield her!" Tanya Sinclair had long seen through Vincent Hawthorne’s hypocrisy.

He’s always better at talking than acting.

Vincent Hawthorne rubbed his face harshly with his palm.

"Tanya, let me handle Cindy Lynn, okay? Give me a little more time."

Tanya Sinclair stared at Vincent Hawthorne, suddenly realizing something. Ignoring her pain, she excitedly rushed forward and grabbed his collar tightly.

"You haven’t done anything, have you? Vincent Hawthorne, are you still allowing Cindy Lynn to have access to Joy!" Tanya Sinclair was enraged, her hands trembling, filled with a hatred that made her want to tear him apart.

Though her body was too weak and her strength was not great, Vincent Hawthorne didn’t dare to struggle, fearing he might hurt her.

"Tanya, rest assured, I’ve arranged bodyguards for Joy, and the house is already equipped with surveillance. She has no chance to harm Joy again. It’s just that the news of my engagement with Cindy Lynn has just been released. With the company undergoing a new round of financing recently, nothing negative can be exposed these days... Tanya, trust me once more, I..."

Tanya Sinclair was fuming, she slapped Vincent Hawthorne’s selfish and shameless face hard.

"Get out, get out of here!"

At this moment, the door of the ward was knocked from the outside, Felix Kendall entered with a bouquet of flowers for visiting the sick, just in time to witness this scene.

"Oh, it seems I’m here at the wrong moment." He said, but still stepped in with his long legs.

Vincent Hawthorne didn’t expect Felix Kendall to show up here, he frowned and raised his hand to straighten the clothes that Tanya Sinclair had just wrinkled.

"Mr. Kendall, what brings you here?"

Felix Kendall didn’t bother to respond to him, put down the flowers, and walked toward Tanya Sinclair.

"How are you? Grandpa asked me to personally come and check on your condition, see if you need any assistance."

Vincent Hawthorne was baffled.

Didn’t Old Master Kendall already know that Tanya Sinclair is not Sean Lynn’s daughter? Why is he still taking such good care of her?

Tanya Sinclair had been too emotional just now, straining her wounds, causing severe pain.

She said with a pale face, "Thank Grandpa Kendall for his concern... but there is indeed something I need your help with."

She glanced coldly at Vincent Hawthorne.

"Please help me chase out the irrelevant people!"

"Tanya..."

Vincent Hawthorne tried to step forward, but Felix Kendall turned around and blocked him directly, speaking unceremoniously, "You heard Ms. Sinclair’s words, please leave."

Felix Kendall, who had served long in the military, had been on real battlefields. Though he usually appeared gentle and detached, once he turned cold, his presence carried a sense of soldierly, sharp-edged severity.

Ordinary people simply couldn’t withstand it.

Vincent Hawthorne was clearly overwhelmed by Felix Kendall and could only settle for second best.

"Tanya, I’ll come back to see you later..."

Felix Kendall watched as Vincent Hawthorne left, then stepped forward to close the ward door.

Besides the flowers, Felix Kendall had also brought a thermos lunch box, filled with easily digestible foods.

Felix Kendall casually placed the dining board by Tanya Sinclair’s bed onto her lap, opened the thermos box, and laid out the steaming food item by item in front of her, even preparing chopsticks and a soup spoon.

Sitting on the sofa next to her, Felix Kendall took out his phone and snapped a photo of her.

Tanya Sinclair: "?"

Felix Kendall calmly explained, "Grandpa wants me to report with pictures. By the way, I have to take another photo once you finish eating."

Tanya Sinclair: "..."

Even though Tanya Sinclair hadn’t eaten all day, her mind was too preoccupied to have an appetite. She only ate a little before putting down the chopsticks.

"Thank you for visiting me, Mr. Kendall. Please convey to Grandpa Kendall that he doesn’t need to worry; I’m fine."

The person with real issues wasn’t her...

"Very well." Felix Kendall obligingly replied, stepping forward to personally clear away the dining table she had finished with.

Tanya Sinclair felt somewhat flattered.

"Mr. Kendall, I can do it myself."

Felix gently blocked Tanya’s outstretched hand, her fingertips brushed over the back of his hand like a dragonfly skimming the water, leaving a slight chill behind.

"Grandpa asked me to take good care of you, so I must do my best." Felix glanced at her subtly, "Are you sure... there’s nothing you need my help with?"

As long as she asked, he wouldn’t mind using his privileges to do something for her.

Including dealing with her troublesome ex-husband...

"There actually is something, and I want to trouble you with it." Tanya said earnestly, a hint of urgency in her eyes.

Felix smiled, "Tell me."

"Mr. Kendall, are you on good terms with The Pierce Family?"

Felix hadn’t expected her to suddenly mention The Pierce Family, his eyebrows raised slightly.

"Our families do have some connections."

"If it’s convenient, I would like to ask you to visit someone for me—the second son of the Pierce Family, Declan Pierce." As she mentioned Declan’s name, Tanya’s heart trembled, as if she could still see the image of Declan collapsing in front of her.

"You mean that illegitimate child Declan?" Felix faintly frowned.

No matter how well he hid it, a trace of contempt lingered when he mentioned Declan.

Tanya noticed it and felt slightly uncomfortable, but she hid it well since she needed his help.

"Yes, I want to know how he’s doing now and whether he’s out of danger."

Felix didn’t immediately agree, instead, he looked at her with a meaningful gaze for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Alright, I’ll do my best."

"Thank you..." Tanya lay back down, "Mr. Kendall, I’m a bit tired and would like to rest for a while."

Felix knew she was politely asking him to leave, so he courteously took his leave. As he reached the door of the hospital room, he hesitated slightly and turned back to ask, "Do you like it?"

Tanya was taken aback, "What?"

Following Felix’s gaze, she saw the lilies he had brought.

"They’re alright, quite nice," she replied politely.

Felix had his own interpretation, "Then you don’t like them."

Before leaving, he took the bouquet with him and casually tossed it into the trash bin next to the elevator.

The elevator doors opened slowly, and an eager little boy rushed out, almost bumping into Felix. He extended his hand to steady him.

"Be careful."

In front of him stood a delicately sculpted little boy, "Thank you, uncle."

Caden politely thanked him and turned to sprint towards his mother’s hospital room!

Felix watched his two small, flapping legs quickly disappear from view. He squinted slightly, guessing the child’s identity.

Aunt Tawny was following behind while holding Abby’s hand.

"Caden, slow down!"

Abby was slightly smaller than other children her age, tiny and only reaching Felix’s thigh. She looked up at the tall uncle with wide eyes.

Suddenly, he seemed very familiar.

Initially, Felix didn’t notice the little one until he was about to enter the elevator when his pant leg was gently tugged.

Felix looked down to see a little girl with unusually large eyes, staring up at him expectantly.

"Uncle..." she called out timidly, her grip on his pant leg tightening once she clearly saw Felix’s face.

Felix couldn’t help but find it amusing.

He seemed to have a good rapport with children today.

"What can I do for you, little one?"

Aunt Tawny noticed something was off and asked Abby, "What’s wrong, Abby? Do you know this uncle?"

Abby didn’t speak, only continued to hold onto Felix’s pant leg tightly.

Felix slowly sensed that something was wrong.

He frowned slightly and asked Aunt Tawny, "What did you call her?"