CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5: NOTHING IS MORE HEARTBREAKING THAN GIVING UP HOPE

On the other side of the night, the neon lights are flourishing.

The Azure Pavilion.

The most exclusive private club in Aris. Declan Pierce steps out with his hands in his pockets, casually swinging a file bag in one hand.

The collar of his black shirt is lazily undone, radiating an air of nonchalant arrogance.

He’s the embodiment of a playboy inheritor.

Janne Hayes quickly steps up to meet him by the car.

"President Pierce."

He’s been with Declan for seven years, and can tell just from Declan’s expression that tonight’s business deal has gone through.

Declan casually tosses the file bag to him.

Inside there’s twenty-five percent of the shares of Westgard Pharmaceuticals.

"From today, Westgard Pharmaceuticals has a new owner—Pierce." He smirks, his typically languid tone unable to mask the innate arrogance and pride, "Pierce as in Declan Pierce."

Janne remarks, "Tomorrow, when young Master Pierce hears about this, he’ll probably be furious. He’s been watching Westgard Pharmaceuticals for half a year and still couldn’t get it... But President Pierce, haven’t you always avoided the domestic medicine industry? Why the sudden interest in Westgard Pharmaceuticals?"

Declan gives him a faint glance, and the pressure of authority is palpable.

Janne shivers, immediately lowering his head, "Sorry, President Pierce, I spoke too much."

He quickly strides forward, opens the car’s back door for Declan, remembering another thing.

"President Pierce, the hospital arrangements are ready. The surveillance and elevators on Ms. Sinclair’s ward floor have been shut down. You can go directly there."

For the past few years, Declan has settled abroad. His returns to the country are discreet and brief, finishing affairs then leaving.

But without fail, whenever he returns, he comes to Aris to visit a woman in a hospital.

To be precise, a woman in a vegetative state.

Once, Janne couldn’t suppress his curiosity and dared to ask Declan: ’President Pierce, who exactly is Ms. Sinclair?’

At that time, Declan was reviewing documents and didn’t even lift his eyelids, casually replying: ’An idiot.’

Janne wanted to retort, "An idiot that you fly back to see every year?"

But he didn’t dare.

Today, however, Declan uncharacteristically refused.

"No need to go anymore."

Janne was a bit surprised but knew better than to pry further, "Alright, straight to the hotel for your rest."

Declan said nothing, bending over and sitting inside the car, closing his eyes with a slight tilt, a faint fatigue spread between his brows.

The car glided forward.

The streetlights flickered through the half-lowered window, casting a shifting light across the man’s sharply defined face.

"Janne." Declan suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Get Phoenix Court cleaned up. Starting tomorrow night, I’ll be moving in."

Janne was both surprised and delighted, "President Pierce, you’ve finally decided to stay!"

Declan lifted his eyelids, glancing at the window.

The dim streetlight bore a strong resemblance to the sunset at the airport seven years ago.

Tanya Sinclair, it’s been seven years.

...

Tanya Sinclair lay in bed, listening to Vincent Hawthorne’s footsteps getting closer outside the door.

In the five years lying in the hospital, she had heard it too many times.

From initial anticipation, later turned into nothing but pain and hatred...

’Click—’ As the door opened, Tanya Sinclair’s face, once filled with hatred, instantly softened.

"Vincent, are you finished with work?"

"Mm." Vincent answered with an unwavering expression.

He approached the bed, gently touched her face and asked, "Why aren’t you asleep yet? Did I wake you?"

Tanya noticed the fresh conspicuous lipstick stain on his white shirt collar. She could almost imagine how Cindy Lynn cuddled up to him like a kitten after their passionate kiss.

"Be good, close your eyes and rest." Vincent whispered soothingly, leaning forward to give her a goodnight kiss.

Tanya caught Cindy Lynn’s perfume scent on him.

He’s about to kiss her with lips that had just kissed another woman!

"Urgh..." Tanya could no longer suppress the physical nausea, suddenly pushing Vincent away, gagging.

"What’s wrong, Tanya?" Vincent was practically frantic, "I’ll call Dr. Thorne right now!"

The worried demeanor, truly like the perfect husband...

That is, if she were truly blind to the cold indifference and disgust flickering through his expression.

She genuinely admired Vincent’s acting skills.

"No need, Vincent." Tanya composed herself, reaching out to grasp Vincent’s sleeve, gently tugging, "I just suddenly feel sick to my stomach, maybe I’m hungry."

Vincent looked at Tanya holding onto his sleeve, the familiar gesture momentarily making him lose himself.

In his memory, Tanya used to do this often.

He walked fast, and sometimes when she got tired of chasing, she would gently tug at him, acting coquettishly.

’Vincent, wait for me...’

Vincent Hawthorne was caught up in his memories, a genuine smile rarely gracing his lips.

He said warmly, "Shall I go cook something hot for you?"

Tanya Sinclair waited for these words from him.

She smiled softly, her tone tender as if in a playful manner, "Then I want to eat noodles made by your own hands."

He had cooked for her twice before.

"Okay."

Vincent Hawthorne agreed, then turned and left the bedroom.

As soon as his footsteps faded, Tanya Sinclair immediately climbed over to the other side of the nightstand and picked up the phone Vincent Hawthorne had casually placed there when he entered earlier.

A six-digit password.

Tanya Sinclair remembered that Vincent Hawthorne’s password used to be the day he became a director at Zenith Group.

But after she entered that, it was incorrect.

Had he changed the password?

Tanya Sinclair unconsciously bit her finger and pondered for a moment, then entered the date of their two children’s birth.

Also incorrect.

Just then, a WeChat message popped up at the top of the screen.

Cindy Lynn: [President Hawthorne, tonight was the happiest birthday I’ve ever had. Thank you for celebrating with me and the two little ones.]

A heart symbol followed behind.

No wonder Cindy Lynn and the two kids waited for him downstairs at the hospital tonight.

Turns out, before coming to the hospital, he took her two kids out to celebrate Cindy Lynn’s birthday!

Tanya Sinclair closed her eyes hard, coldness creeping through her chest. She felt it wasn’t worth it for herself!

In all those years with Vincent Hawthorne, he never took the initiative to celebrate her birthday, not even once. The only time was when she shamelessly sought backing from the elder Hawthorne, begging and pleading to get it!

The companionship she craved from Vincent Hawthorne was easily given to another woman...

Tanya Sinclair stared at the six-digit password, a faint guess arising in her mind.

Could it be...

Hesitantly, she entered Cindy Lynn’s birthday.

The next second, the lock screen unlocked!

Tanya Sinclair paused, a bitter self-mocking twitch tugging at her lips.

"Vincent Hawthorne, you’re truly affectionate towards her..."

She opened Vincent Hawthorne’s WeChat, and Cindy Lynn was pinned at the top.

While she, the legitimate wife, was no longer in his chat list!

Five years... In these five years, even though Vincent Hawthorne regularly visited the hospital to play the part of a good husband in the eyes of the world, in reality, he had long regarded her as dead!

A chill welled up in Tanya Sinclair’s chest as she flipped through the contacts to find her name.

No surprise to see, Vincent Hawthorne’s note for her was her full name: [Tanya Sinclair].

Tanya Sinclair opened the chat box between him and Cindy Lynn, just in time to see a few photos that Cindy Lynn had sent.

Photos taken during their dinner tonight.

Cindy Lynn smiled brightly in each one.

She wore a birthday crown, hugged Joy and Caden, smiling happily at the camera, while Vincent Hawthorne stood behind her.

Anyone would call them a ’happy’ family of four, a perfectly matched pair of scoundrels!

Tanya Sinclair scrolled back a bit, finding no other messages.

Vincent Hawthorne was always cautious, never leaving evidence in front of others. The previous chat records between him and Cindy Lynn had been wiped clean.

Tanya Sinclair casually forwarded the photos Cindy Lynn had sent to herself.

These were the evidence Cindy Lynn had personally delivered right in front of her.

Afterwards, Tanya Sinclair erased all traces and set Cindy Lynn’s messages to unread.

After completing all this, she placed Vincent Hawthorne’s phone back in its original position.

Tanya Sinclair lay back down, her gaze sweeping across the wedding photo thrown in the corner against the wall, pausing slightly.

In the photo, her face was covered by cloth, but Tanya Sinclair knew just how sweet her smile had been back then.

Yet Vincent Hawthorne in the photo, though his lips were smiling, his eyes clearly held only indifference.

He didn’t love her.

Or rather, he never loved her at all; he only used her from beginning to end.

Tanya Sinclair raised her hand to wipe away the traces of water from the corner of her eyes.

"Vincent Hawthorne." She smiled, relieved, "I finally don’t love you anymore."