CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO SCARE WITH THIS ACT?

Over there, Yvonne Hawthorne was clamoring to call the police and show Tanya Sinclair what she could do. Mother Hawthorne was shouting that she wanted to throw Tanya out of the house.

"How can The Hawthorne Family have a daughter-in-law who is dishonest? It’s simply an insult to our family! Vincent, you need to divorce her immediately!"

As the situation grew increasingly chaotic and the scene escalated, Joy tightened her lips, her little face turning pale—she was genuinely scared now.

If the police came, would they take her away as a thief?

The diamond bracelet Auntie had was so expensive; would she be locked up for a long, long time... She didn’t want to be locked up!

The more Joy thought about it, the more frightened she became, her large grape-like eyes gradually filling with tears.

She didn’t notice that behind her, her father Vincent Hawthorne was looking at her with a very complex expression.

At this moment, Father Hawthorne, as the head of the family, finally spoke.

"Enough! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?" Father Hawthorne heavily placed his teacup down, his stern face commanding authority without anger, "We’re all family. Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock if this gets out?"

Yvonne Hawthorne and Mother Hawthorne were both intimidated by him; seeing Father Hawthorne angry, the mother and daughter quieted down considerably.

"..." Yvonne Hawthorne still had a temper and couldn’t hold it in, "Dad, are you also siding with that woman? Clearly, Tanya Sinclair stole my things! If we don’t call the police, I at least want Tanya to kneel and apologize to me!"

Hearing this, Father Hawthorne frowned, he contemplated for a few seconds, planning to be a peacemaker and suggested a compromise.

Father Hawthorne: "Tanya is your sister-in-law after all; have her apologize to you, and we’ll let this matter go!"

Yvonne Hawthorne pouted dissatisfiedly, "Dad!"

Today she was determined to make that witch Tanya Sinclair kneel and admit her mistake!

However, the next second, Tanya Sinclair’s cold voice, word by word, crystal clear, spread throughout the entire living room.

"Hello, I want to report a theft!"

Everyone turned their heads in unison to see Tanya Sinclair, who at some point had reached the nearby landline, directly dialing the police!

Holding the receiver, her delicate and serene face showed no excess expression, as she calmly stated, "Someone here is accusing me of stealing a diamond bracelet worth three million dollars. The address is..."

Just as she was about to say the address, the call was cut off, leaving only a busy tone in her ear.

In Tanya Sinclair’s line of sight was Vincent Hawthorne’s well-defined hand, his index finger pressing down hard on the landline’s hang-up button. Tanya was momentarily distracted, noticing he was still wearing their wedding ring on his ring finger.

At this moment, Vincent Hawthorne’s handsome face was slightly tense, his brows slightly furrowed, as he spoke with a hint of warning in his tone, "Tanya, are you sure you want to continue this?"

According to the surveillance video sent by Caden, he clearly saw the diamond bracelet had been taken out by Joy from her own pocket and put into Tanya’s bag when she squatted down.

Vincent Hawthorne also guessed the reason why his daughter did this.

Because Cindy Lynn’s hand was injured and couldn’t drive, while he was picking up Caden and Joy, he also gave Cindy Lynn a ride back. At that time, when they got into the car, Joy noticed Cindy Lynn’s hand was injured and cried out of heartache.

Vincent Hawthorne had to stop the car and let Cindy Lynn pacify Joy in the backseat for a while. It must have been during that time that Cindy Lynn told Joy it was Tanya Sinclair who accidentally pressed on her hand.

But in a child’s world, they can’t tell the difference between intentional and accidental. In Joy’s mind, Cindy Lynn holds a high place, and her thought was simple—she wanted to vent out on behalf of Cindy Lynn...

Looking at Tanya Sinclair’s face, which showed a calm indifference, Vincent Hawthorne frowned, his eyes complicated.

Based on what he knew of Tanya Sinclair, she must have guessed the truth on her way here, having been called by the housekeeper. Yet, even though Joy wronged her deliberately, as Joy’s biological mother, she actually intends to escalate matters by calling the police!

Doesn’t she understand that doing so would scare Joy?

Yvonne Hawthorne and Mother Hawthorne had no idea of the actual situation. Seeing the scene, they assumed Tanya Sinclair was pretending to be a victim while Vincent Hawthorne was trying to save face by giving her a way out.

"Tanya Sinclair, enough is enough! Stop being so shameless!" Yvonne Hawthorne sneered, rolling her eyes.

Tanya Sinclair didn’t explain. She calmly put down the phone and turned to call, "Aunt Flora."

Aunt Flora, being suddenly named, paused for a moment and stepped forward, "Ma’am, what can I do for you?"

Old Lady Hawthorne had actually asked her to come over and keep watch, in case the lady was bullied by the other Hawthorne family members. She wasn’t clear on the situation, but seeing it was a critical moment, she naturally had to step up.

Tanya Sinclair said, "Please help me call the police."

"Do not call the police!" Vincent Hawthorne’s tone grew heavier.

Aunt Flora stood there, looking troubled, actually unable to call the police at the moment. The phone she was holding behind her was in a call with Old Lady Hawthorne, who was listening in on the situation here.

"..." Vincent Hawthorne looked incredulously at the determined Tanya Sinclair, "Tanya, do you know what you’re saying?"

Why must she insist on calling the police?

To scare her own biological daughter with the police?

Is it because she didn’t raise Joy that she’s so ruthless to her?

Mother Hawthorne was completely unaware that the real culprit was her darling granddaughter.

She stepped forward and pulled Vincent Hawthorne, casting a disdainful glance at Tanya Sinclair, her face arrogant, "Vincent, don’t stop her, let her call the police! When the officers arrive, she’ll be in for a good cry! Once she’s taken away and locked up for a few years, she’ll behave herself. Who does she think she’s scaring with her act?"

Who would have thought that Tanya Sinclair, whom they bullied and underestimated, had grown a stronger personality after being in a coma for five years and waking up? Surprisingly, she turned more confrontational!

Mother Hawthorne secretly resolved that today she would teach Tanya Sinclair a lesson!

Even if the police did come today, with her family Chester’s standing in the media industry, Wendy Chester can ensure no scandal leaves these walls! Much less allow that little pest Tanya Sinclair to tarnish The Hawthorne Family’s reputation!

In the corner, Joy at this moment had been frightened out of her wits, clawing at the couch, her delicate face filled with clueless panic and fear.

The development of things was entirely different from what she imagined!

Initially, she didn’t actually want Auntie and Grandma to report Tanya Sinclair to the police; she just wanted to see the bad woman who bullied her beloved Cindy Lynn be taught a severe lesson by Auntie... But now, that bad woman was insisting on calling the police.

When the police came, they would surely find her fingerprints on the diamond bracelet... they would take her away and lock her in a little dark room!

Then she would never see Cindy Lynn, Daddy, and her brother ever again.

Being a five-year-old child, the thought alone made Joy tremble with fear, and soon tears welled up in her eyes.

"..." Vincent Hawthorne, exasperated with his mother who was still oblivious to the situation and aggressive, was about to speak.

Joy’s sobbing voice interrupted first.

"No!"

At the sound of her daughter’s voice, Tanya Sinclair felt a prickle of pain in her heart.

"Don’t call the police..." Joy’s large eyes were brimming with tears at this moment, her tears streaming down her cheeks, her nose red, she clutched at the hem of her dress in a frightened and helpless way, "Grandma, Daddy... Joy doesn’t want the police to come..."