CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: OUTACTING EACH OTHER

"..."

Tanya tightly gripped the knife in her hand.

"Tanya." Vincent rested his chin on her neck, his voice low and magnetic, "Stop cooking, I’ve already called someone to send the food over."

"..."

She could almost smell the lingering scent on Vincent, belonging to a woman’s perfume.

The scent wasn’t unfamiliar to her. She had smelled it the night she woke up and later at the company.

It was a perfume beloved by Cindy Lynn.

Tanya suppressed the urge to vomit, glanced down at the hands wrapped around her waist.

It was these hands that, hours ago, had embraced and touched another woman...

"Ugh—" She could no longer suppress her physical reaction, she abruptly pushed Vincent away and rushed to the trash bin to retch.

She hadn’t eaten much today, and what she vomited was mostly bile.

Vincent’s face turned slightly green, visibly uneasy.

He was embracing his wife, and she became so nauseous she had to throw up?

Moreover, this wasn’t the first time!

Ultimately, Vincent still considerately poured Tanya a glass of water to rinse her mouth and gently patted her back.

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"..."

Looking at Vincent’s worried expression, Tanya couldn’t help but feel a cold shiver.

She truly admired him; he had been playing the role of a good husband for so many years, he probably even believed it himself!

Since Vincent enjoyed acting, she might as well play along with him!

"I didn’t get you dirty, did I, Vincent?" Tanya said with an anxious and remorseful expression, "I’ve privately asked a doctor, who said my stomach would be much weaker after I woke up. Vomiting is a normal occurrence, and it will take some time to recover. I’m sorry, Vincent..."

So that’s how it is.

The discomfort in Vincent’s heart faded away, he gazed at Tanya’s pale, beautiful face which was now thin to the point of being skeletal, frowning slightly with genuine concern.

"Then take good care of yourself." He reached out, wanting to pull her into his embrace.

Tanya felt some resistance.

"Vincent, you’re a clean freak. I’ve just vomited, I’m dirty."

But such an excuse wouldn’t push him away.

"How could I despise you?" Vincent lovingly touched her face, "My Tanya, no matter the circumstance, you’re never dirty in my eyes."

With that, he didn’t let Tanya refuse, pulling her into his embrace.

Tanya: "..."

She endured the discomfort, leaning against Vincent, a cold and hurt gleam flashed in her eyes.

Not dirty?

She remembered most clearly the matter on the day she gave birth.

At that time, she was still basking in the halo of being a medical genius, while Vincent was not only Zenith Group’s youngest director and general manager in history, but also his outstanding appearance made him unrivaled in Aris. On the day she gave birth, many reporters camped outside the delivery room.

Vincent, to establish his image of a loving husband, personally accompanied her into the delivery room.

She would never forget, while she was in excruciating pain during childbirth, Vincent stood beside her, the undisguisable look of disgust in his eyes.

The pain of childbirth was severe, yet at that time, it couldn’t even compare to the chilling look he gave her...

In fact, Vincent’s disdain for her had long been traceable, more accurately, he never viewed her equally.

He wouldn’t take her to upper-class family circle banquets.

He said she wasn’t suited for such occasions.

"My Tanya is different from those women covered in designer brands."

At that time, she naively believed his nonsense.

But now thinking about it, it was nothing more than him seeing her ordinary family background as inferior to the socialites and heiresses, unfit to be displayed, utterly mismatched with those branded jewels.

She indeed didn’t like those things, but whether she was worthy of them was an entirely different matter!

In Vincent’s eyes, her only value as Mrs. Hawthorne was likely producing results in the research lab, creating a ladder for him to climb higher...

Tanya’s lips curled slightly, her eyes cold.

With a voice as gentle as usual, she said, "Vincent, you treat me so well."

So well...

That he almost wants to devour her!

Vincent made a call for takeaway.

Yet Tanya insisted on making the nutrition meal for the two children.

She had never truly been their mother for even a day, now, she only wanted to seize every opportunity to let the two little ones feel her love as their mother.

Vincent didn’t stop her.

When Tanya’s nutrition meal was halfway done, two gourmet chefs personally delivered the food Vincent ordered.

"Tanya, these are all dishes you like." Vincent said considerately.

Tanya glanced at them indifferently, these dishes weren’t what she liked, they were Vincent’s favorites.

Tanya from the past always placed her own preferences behind Vincent’s.

But now, she wouldn’t do that.

However, she didn’t bother to correct Vincent.

After all, their time eating together would likely not be much in the future.

The two sat down at the table to eat.

Tanya could feel Vincent glancing at her several times, evidently wanting to say something, so she patiently waited.

"Tanya." Vincent finally got to the point, "I remember you conducted some research on Alzheimer’s disease during university, didn’t you?"

"Yes, what about it?" Tanya asked without showing any emotion.

"After Second Young Master Pierce bought Westgard Pharmaceuticals, his most interested area for research happens to be Alzheimer’s disease." Vincent was a bit excited, putting down his chopsticks and saying seriously, "Tanya, I need you to give me a convincing research proposal for Second Young Master Pierce within a week! Tanya, you can do it, can’t you?"

He knew Tanya would never refuse him.

Sure enough, Tanya put down her spoon, looked up at him and smiled, "Of course."

Vincent secretly breathed a sigh of relief, smiling, "My Tanya will never let me down."

His peach blossom eyes were so deep that it was no wonder she used to have the illusion of being deeply loved by him.

"Vincent, but I have a condition..." Tanya slowly pulled out the hand Vincent was holding, lightly placing it on his hand.

She looked directly at Vincent, her smile becoming softer and more innocent, "Regarding this research on Alzheimer’s disease, I would like to develop it in collaboration with the company, with the company providing equipment and funds, while I provide the entire research team."

Vincent, after all, was a businessman, exceedingly sensitive to interests.

He instantly became alert, scrutinizing Tanya, "What do you mean? Using Zenith Group’s money for your private project?"

"Of course not." Tanya feigned innocence, sitting beside Vincent, elaborating further, "Vincent, actually, the main person in charge of the Alzheimer’s project at the time was my mentor, Professor Truman."

Tanya sighed, "Now that I’m fully responsible, honestly speaking, I can’t guarantee success. But I can create a perfect project proposal, allowing you to secure cooperation with Westgard Pharmaceuticals first! Stabilize your position in the board, and afterward, should there be issues during the research phase, I’m merely outsourcing a collaborative team and it won’t affect you personally."

Seeing Vincent still somewhat hesitant.

Tanya proceeded, "We could specify in the contract that after recouping costs, the profits are split with the company taking eighty percent and I only getting twenty. The remaining after team wages and bonuses naturally belongs to The Hawthorne Family."

No matter from which angle, Vincent would be the one benefiting without any loss in this deal.

But he was inherently suspicious, especially in business, never trusting anyone easily.

"Alright, let’s eat first. We’ll discuss this on Monday." Vincent shifted the topic.

Tanya was not impatient.

She compliant, "Okay, I’ll follow whatever you decide."

She glanced at Vincent, lowered her gaze to drink soup, her eyes clear and bright.

Vincent was so eager to have her produce a research proposal within a week, clearly Westgard Pharmaceuticals was already considering new collaboration candidates.

He was running out of time.

Tanya subtly curled her lips.

She aimed to establish her own research team and the ownership of the team-developed medication!

As for the money, it was merely incidental.

In this light, the mysterious Second Young Master Pierce inadvertently helped her a great deal...