CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: THE 25-YEAR-OLD MANCHILD

Tanya Sinclair walked to the nearby bus stop and hailed a taxi back to the villa.

She sat in the car, feeling terrible.

Professor Truman probably never wants to see her again in this lifetime... and it’s all her own doing.

She composed herself and took out her phone, only to find six missed calls, all from Daisy Bell.

Her phone had been set to silent mode, so she hadn’t heard any of them.

Tanya immediately called back, and Daisy picked up in an instant.

"Tanya, are you alright? Did that bitch Yvonne Hawthorne hit you again? You know you’ve got to fight back, right? If you can’t beat her, scream, throw a tantrum, roll on the ground, and get passersby to call the police on her!" Daisy launched into a tirade, filled with anger, yet tinged with a bit of helplessness at Tanya’s non-resistance.

Tanya opened her mouth, "I..."

But Daisy, like a firecracker, kept going, leaving her no chance to speak.

"Yvonne Hawthorne is so dead, I won’t let it slide! How dare she hit my friend and try to clip my bestie’s wings, I’ll destroy her paradise in a flash!"

Tanya: "..."

Thanks, I feel a bit embarrassed.

She could also hear Daisy’s manager over there, unable to hold back, complaining.

"I beg you, my little ancestor, those are such old jokes, only you still use them. Do you know you’ve earned a nickname online, the Non-mainstream Queen of Corny Jokes?"

"Even as the Queen of Corny Jokes, I’m still a queen!" Daisy replied confidently.

Tanya couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Sometimes, she really envied Daisy, fiery and fearless, brimming with so much vitality that it seemed to overflow.

"Daisy, I’m fine, I fought back too, I’m on my way back to the villa now." She omitted the part about meeting Declan Pierce, really not wanting to bring it up, just thinking about that man sent shivers down her spine.

I guess I’ll never see him again anyway.

"Really?" Daisy was half-doubtful.

Tanya had always been gentle and mild, with a good temper, so she really couldn’t imagine Tanya in a fight.

"Really, I knocked her tooth out, you can check the surveillance if you don’t believe me." Tanya said seriously.

Daisy was amused, feeling relieved.

"That’s more like it." Her tone became serious, "Tanya, I’ve already found out why Yvonne was acting crazy today."

Tanya was taken aback: "...Hmm?"

At the time, seeing Yvonne’s man-eating posture and hearing her accuse her of backstabbing after hitting her, Tanya thought maybe Daisy had retaliated against Yvonne for the video incident two days ago, seeking revenge for her.

So she hadn’t argued much back then.

But seeing Daisy’s reaction now, it was clear she wasn’t aware either.

Tanya was a little confused.

"Tanya, you know the Hawthorne Family funded Yvonne to start a gaming company, right?"

"I have a bit of an impression."

The year Yvonne started the gaming company coincided with the time Tanya was pregnant and giving birth, which was five years ago.

Daisy huffed, "Game companies burn through money like no other. Although Yvonne’s company has developed a few games with decent market feedback, they’re still running at a loss overall. These years, she’s managed to keep it barely afloat with the Hawthorne Family’s support.

The largest gaming company overseas, AU International, plans to enter the domestic market this year. Yvonne spent a lot of money to make connections, hoping the AU International inspection team would visit her company today and establish a partnership, but guess what?"

Daisy couldn’t contain her laughter, "That idiot Yvonne brought it on herself. She secretly filmed a video of you and sent it to John Abbott, the head of AU International, who felt her character was lacking and blacklisted her directly."

"..." After hearing this, Tanya thought it wasn’t that simple.

She had no personal connection with John Abbott, and the Hawthorne Family was a prestigious family. For John Abbott to blacklist Yvonne so unceremoniously was akin to offending the entire Hawthorne Family.

All over a single video?

In the business world, money talks and interests reign supreme. She didn’t believe John Abbott would rashly blacklist Yvonne.

There must be other reasons behind it.

But she couldn’t figure it out.

She felt as though there was an invisible hand, protecting her somehow...

Returning to the villa, while Aunt Lewis was away, Tanya quickly installed surveillance in a corner of the kitchen.

She checked the time; Caden and Joy would be back from school soon.

Tanya had just set the sushi and desserts she brought back on the table when she heard the sound of a car outside.

They were back.

The side of her face where Yvonne had slapped her was still swollen. Tanya pushed her long hair aside to cover it, not wanting the kids to see.

The front door opened, and Caden and Joy were the first to enter, with Vincent Hawthorne following them in, his face appearing somewhat cold.

Tanya guessed from his expression that Yvonne had probably already complained about her.

She didn’t bother with it, continuing to pretend to be oblivious.

"Caden, Joy, is that you back?" Tanya said with a gentle smile, "I brought some delicious sushi and desserts for you, they’re on the table. Caden, why don’t you take your sister to wash your hands first..."

Before she could finish, Vincent interrupted her sternly, "Caden, take your sister to practice piano in the study room first. I need to have a word with your mom."

The curve of Tanya’s mouth dropped.

Joy gave Tanya a resentful look, tossing her head as she walked away. Caden trailed behind, his small brows knitting in worry.

On the way back, Dad had taken a call from Aunt, who was crying on the other end. After hanging up, Dad’s face had been dark ever since.

He rarely saw his father this angry. Caden glanced at Tanya again; she was sitting on the sofa, looking so thin and fragile it seemed a gust of wind might topple her...

"Caden," Vincent called, noticing Caden standing still, his voice grew colder.

Tanya stood up from the sofa.

"Let’s talk on the balcony." She said calmly, "The kids just got back from school, let them rest for a while."

Having said that, she didn’t wait for Vincent’s reaction and made her way toward the terrace with her cane.

Vincent frowned but followed her anyway.

Once on the terrace, Vincent shut the glass door behind them.

With only the two of them on the terrace, Vincent got straight to the point: "I’ve heard from Yvonne that not only did you ruin their company’s collaboration with AU International, but you also hit her? Tanya, give me a reasonable explanation!"

His voice was icy.

It wasn’t a query but an accusation.

Between her and the Hawthorne Family, he was always unconditionally siding with them, without discerning right from wrong.

Tanya didn’t offer any explanations, merely calmly brushed her hair aside, revealing her still swollen cheek.

"Did Yvonne tell you she hit me first?" she retorted.

"..." Vincent looked at her swollen face, slightly furrowing his brow, but he wasn’t surprised, "You know Yvonne’s always been childish and impulsive. You thwarted such a big business deal for her company, she couldn’t help but act out..."

Tanya laughed sarcastically.

"Childish? A twenty-five-year-old child, she truly is a grown-up brat who never matures."