CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: SO CONSIDERATE IT HURTS

Westgard Pharmaceuticals Headquarters.

Rest area.

Silas Hawthorne held the business plan in both hands, sitting there waiting for three hours.

The black marble table in front of him reflected his sour face, with eyes full of impatience and anxiety.

In Aris, although Silas Hawthorne wasn’t as successful as Vincent Hawthorne, he was still a legitimate young master from a prominent family, even the mayor would give him some respect. It was the first time he had been made to wait for three hours!

"Mr. Hawthorne, thank you for waiting." From behind, Janne Hayes, in a well-fitted suit, walked over quickly with an apologetic smile, "I’m sorry, our President Pierce had an important meeting today, and it ran a bit long."

Silas Hawthorne’s previously cold expression softened, becoming extremely understanding: "Not at all, President Pierce has so many duties, it’s my honor that he’d even want to see me!"

As he spoke, he intended to follow Janne Hayes to see Declan Pierce with the document in hand.

However, Janne Hayes smiled apologetically and said, "President Hawthorne, you can just give me the document. President Pierce is quite tired after the meeting, and unfortunately, he won’t be able to meet with you today."

The fake smile on Silas Hawthorne’s face froze, but he knew very well that Janne Hayes before him was no ordinary assistant, but the right-hand man of Second Young Master Pierce, someone he couldn’t offend.

"Alright, I’ll leave it to you then, Assistant Hayes. I won’t disturb you any longer."

"Take care, Mr. Pierce."

As Silas Hawthorne shook hands to bid farewell to Janne Hayes, he said with hidden meaning: "Assistant Hayes, take extra care for me."

After Janne Hayes watched Silas Hawthorne leave, he glanced at the bank card that had been slipped into his palm, sneered, and threw both the card and the document into the nearby trash can.

He made a phone call and reported respectfully.

"President Pierce, the person has already left."

...

On the other side, Tanya Sinclair finished her dinner alone.

After she suggested collaborating with Zenith Group for development, Vincent Hawthorne was clearly no longer focused on the dinner table.

Midway through, Father Hawthorne, Theodore Hawthorne, called, and after Vincent took the call, he got up and left in a hurry.

Tanya Sinclair didn’t mind.

She slowly finished her meal alone, clearing the table a bit.

In the kitchen, the nutritious meals prepared for the two little darlings were ready, and she personally carried them upstairs.

Just as she reached the door and was about to knock, the door suddenly opened.

Caden looked anxious: "Joy seems to have a fever!"

Tanya: "?"

She immediately set down the nutritional meals and quickly walked over to Joy’s bed.

Joy’s eyes were still closed, her little face flushed, with a slightly furrowed brow, looking very uncomfortable.

Just seeing her in such a pitiful state, Tanya felt her heart wrench.

She gently placed her hand on Joy’s forehead; it wasn’t very hot, just a mild fever.

She also checked Joy’s pulse, examining her eye whites and tongue.

"Joy baby, let mommy see your tongue."

Joy, half asleep, mimicked, constantly complaining of a headache.

Tanya roughly understood; it was from playing outside today, the exposure to the wind, and her body got cold without promptly adding layers.

"Your sister just has a mild fever, caught a chill." Tanya reassured the worried Caden, "Don’t worry, mommy will make her some soup, give her some medicine, and after a nap, she should feel better."

Caden breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Joy in such discomfort, he frowned, like a little adult, couldn’t help but rebuke: "So disobedient, the aquarium’s air conditioning was cold! I wore a jacket, and she refused to, just because Aunt Cindy said she looked nice in the little cape, so she wore it the whole time."

Caden pursed his small lips, his voice lowering, "I should’ve been firmer then..."

Though it sounded like he was scolding Joy, Tanya saw Caden’s self-blame.

He was feeling guilty for not taking better care of his sister.

"..."

Seeing Caden so mature, Tanya felt her heart break, lovingly pulling her son into her arms.

"How could it be your fault?" Her eyes turned red, she softly said, "Baby, you’re only five, only born a few minutes before Joy. Taking good care of yourself is already amazing. Plus, you’re the best brother in the whole world."

Held by Tanya, Caden was a bit at a loss, unaccustomed to being pushed away, but when he raised his hand, he hesitated.

Her embrace...so warm,

He caught a whiff of Tanya’s scent, fragrant, but not like perfume. He couldn’t quite describe it, just that it smelled very nice...

How could someone even have such a warm aura?

"Caden baby, you go eat first. Mommy will look after Joy." Tanya released Caden, stroked his face, and softly said.

Caden was still a bit worried, "Are you sure we don’t need Dr. Sullivan?"

"No, mommy is also a very skilled doctor." Tanya smiled gently.

"..."

Looking into her eyes, Caden couldn’t refuse, he was really getting hungry, so he turned and went to eat first.

Tanya withdrew her gaze from Caden. She glanced at the blue cape Joy treasured, hung by the bed, and an undefined fire surged in her heart.

If she merely found Cindy Lynn disgusting before, paired with Vincent Hawthorne, a pair of wretches! Now, she wished she could slap Cindy Lynn a few times!

Joy depended on her so much, cherished her words like an oracle. Had Cindy Lynn just told her to wear a jacket, Joy would have listened!

But she did nothing; she didn’t truly like or care for Joy.

And Vincent Hawthorne... He probably only had eyes for Cindy Lynn, invisible to his own children!

Tanya clenched her fist, suppressing her anger.

She brought over a basin of hot water, used a damp towel to wipe Joy’s body.

Joy, in a daze, half-opened her eyes, couldn’t clearly see the person in front of her, but felt the warm and gentle aura.

In her haze, she reached out her little hand, gripping Tanya’s hand about to withdraw, muttering something.

Tanya leaned in to listen.

"Mommy Cindy... I feel bad..."

"..."

Tanya lowered her eyes, her long lashes hid the shattering in her eyes.

Even sick like this, she thought of Cindy Lynn...

Tanya touched Joy’s face, gently saying, "Joy, are you feeling uncomfortable? Mommy’s here, you’ll feel better soon."

This isn’t Mommy Cindy’s voice...

Then who is she?

Joy whimpered in her discomfort, Tanya promptly held her daughter, gently massaging the acupoints on her head to help her relax.

Once Joy fell back asleep, Tanya carefully put her down, and went downstairs to brew medicinal soup.

Considering Caden was also tired today, Tanya planned to have him temporarily sleep in the guest room tonight, to avoid disturbing him while she cared for Joy.

But Caden shook his head.

"I’ll stay with my sister at night; she easily gets scared during thunderstorms and rain."

Tanya’s eyes stung with pain, she stroked Caden’s face.

"Why are you so mature?" Mature enough that she ached for him.

Caden didn’t quite understand why the woman before him seemed so sad while praising him, her eyes even teary.

But grandpa and grandma, dad, aunt, and others, when they praised him for being mature, they always smiled happily.

"Why are you crying?"

Tanya wiped off her tears, full of soft sorrow.

"Because mommy feels sad, had I always been by your side, my Caden wouldn’t need to be this mature, this burdened."

At times, she even wished Caden could be a bit more willful like Joy...