However, the fact is, Ann Vaughn didn’t hear anything apart from Cynthia saying that Cyrus Hawthorne had agreed to divorce her.
She stood absent-mindedly, her figure frail, waiting for a taxi by the roadside of the mountain path, her eyes downcast.
Her mind seed out of control, replaying everything that had happened at the manor recently, trying to find the oddities.
Even during the days she slept in the master bedroom on the fifth floor, she hadn’t approached Cyrus Hawthorne’s study.
So, how did her fingerprints get onto the safe in the study?
From the items she’s touched... pasted onto it?
Ann Vaughn furrowed her delicate brows and sank into deep thought, unaware of a car slowly approaching.
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she beca; she should have waited to figure out everything thoroughly before leaving.
Being driven out in such a muddled and unclear manner, what was that all about?
Just as Ann Vaughn wanted to turn back, the car suddenly stopped beside her, the sound of the door opening harsh in the dim light.
Before Ann Vaughn could react, several people swiftly got out of the car and covered Ann Vaughn’s mouth and nose with a damp cloth.
Ann Vaughn instinctively struggled, but her limbs gradually lost strength, her vision blackened, and she fainted.
Soon, the car sped away.
-
One day later.
"Breaking News! The Young Madam Hawthorne’s chaotic private life during high school—is it her true nature or is there another reason?!"
Three years ago, the "scandalous photo incident" that disappeared from the internet suddenly re-erged with the lead actress revealed as the wife of Hawthorne Group’s CEO, Cyrus Hawthorne!
Also the most beautiful Divine Doctor who recently shot to fa due to a traditional dicine show!
Once these two explosive pieces of news combined and were exposed, nearly all major dia platforms faced software paralysis.
If Ann Vaughn were just an ordinary person, this matter, put three years later today, might not stir any waves.
But as long as her na appeared beside Cyrus Hawthorne’s, she was destined to face everyone’s questioning and harsh looks, not to ntion being publicly exposed in such a manner.
Those unsightly large-scale photos and the video of Ann Vaughn standing in front of the dia and admitting it three years ago went up on the internet.
The more popular she was before, the bigger her fan base, now the more severely and terrifyingly criticized she was.
"I’m fed up! What kind of slut was I even a fan of before? It’s so disgusting!"
"She acted so tranquil and detached on the show, but she rolled around with n since high school. If I were her mom, I’d strangle her!"
"I just want to vomit now. I used to worship her as a goddess, but is such trash worthy? Ugh!"
"I feel bad for the Hawthorne Heartthrob, sitting at ho while the green hat falls from the sky. How can such a filthy woman be worthy of my heartthrob? A petition for divorce!"
"A petition for divorce signed by two people!"
So even started a post calling for the head office to ban Ann Vaughn, ensuring she never appears on any show again to avoid corrupting children.
The glass windows of Vaughn Clinic were maliciously painted with bloody words, and everything in front of the clinic was maliciously destroyed by venting people.
The scandalous photo incident intensified online, Ann Vaughn’s reputation plumted, to the point where everyone was cursing her.
Because of this incident, Hawthorne Group’s stocks were directly affected, and all the high-level officials of Hawthorne Corp. entered the eting room with angry faces.
"President Hawthorne, the bid failure hasn’t been resolved yet; now, such a scandal of yours has exploded, shouldn’t you give us an explanation?"
"President Hawthorne, I heard the bid failure was also due to your wife leaking the information, leading to our failure; how do you explain this?"
"Such an absurd scandal has never occurred since Hawthorne’s founding; the impact on the group’s image is enormous!"
"You cannot cover for her just because she’s your wife; you must punish her!"
"In my opinion, it’s not just the Young Madam who needs punishnt; I refuse to believe no one condoned this behind the scenes."
The eting room suddenly split into two distinct factions among the high-level officials.
One faction clamored for an explanation, pushing for Ann Vaughn’s punishnt, consisting of the company’s veteran figures.
The other faction remained still, cautiously observing the situation.
"If President Hawthorne can’t give us a satisfactory answer, don’t bla us for appealing to Old Master Hawthorne, jointly applying to replace the CEO!"
This statent further tightened the tension in the eting room.
All the high-level officials awaited the response of the esteed man seated at the top, yet only received his indifferent gaze sweeping over them, causing them to fall silent.
Though he was much younger than them, in his presence, everyone felt an unseen pressure and coercion.
Since Cyrus Hawthorne took office in recent years, he never made a mistake; if they missed this chance, pulling him down next ti would be difficult.
As the saying goes, seeking fortune amidst dangers.
"President Hawthorne, what do you an?"
Cyrus Hawthorne turned his narrow eyes towards the one who clamored the most ferociously, his thin lips curved in a faint smile, "Explanation? In what capacity are you asking for an explanation?"
Leaning on Old Master Hawthorne’s past grace, enjoying dividends after Hawthorne Corp. rose again, without doing real work?
If so, it’s quite amusing.
All high-level officials who understood Cyrus Hawthorne’s implied aning subtly smiled.
The veteran high-level officials’ faces turned red in anger, so even slapped the table, "Even when your grandfather was in charge, he never mocked us like this!"
Cyrus Hawthorne slightly raised the corner of his eye and chuckled dismissively, turned to others and said, "In two days, you’ll naturally see the answer you seek, eting adjourned."
With a brief remark, Cyrus Hawthorne stood and led the departure from the eting room.
The ignored faction of veteran high-level officials were furious, repeatedly scolding, "This is outrageous! Does he plan to single-handedly bear the losses the company faces in two days?"
"We ought to consult with Old Master Hawthorne, have him see the good reputation Hawthorne built over the years ruined by one woman..."
"If there’s no punishnt for that woman, I’d rather submit my resignation!"
The other faction of high-level officials didn’t get involved; although this incident indeed exploded too heavily, affecting Hawthorne substantially.
Yet they all witnessed President Hawthorne’s decision-making and ability.
Moreover... the one with absolute authority in Hawthorne isn’t Old Master Hawthorne, nor these old-fashioned veterans.
Cloudre Manor.
A gentle breeze blew, the shadows of the bamboo slanted, the faint fragrance of bamboo leaves perfud the air.
A square area within the courtyard was covered with a thick and soft cashre rug, topped with a dainty and exquisite chess table, next to it two tea cups, the shadow of bamboo faintly floating on the green water.
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