Chapter 741: Chapter 741: Winning the Prize
"Wait a minute..." Susie Sommers finally caught her breath and sensed something was off, "You just said the mountain behind your grandmother’s house... is it private or public?"
"Private."
Susie held her forehead, looking like she was about to faint, "Give me a moment to take this in, what kind of family is this that comes with a mountain."
An uncultivated mountain would be one thing, but that’s a mountain adjoining Viridian Palace, where every inch of land is worth gold!
Ann Vaughn had already been through the shock of this and was now used to it. She immediately messaged Ian Vaughn to ask him to check how much Luoxiang was on the mountainside.
Then she went into the room to produce the sample product, to take advantage of Susie Sommers’ enthusiasm and have her try it for a few days.
Besides Luoxiang, Ann Vaughn also appropriately added a few other herbs to the mix, making its effects not only relieve menstrual pain but also benefit the uterus and overall health.
The samples were divided into two types: one was a balm sample, crystal clear and transparent, with a faint fragrance, needing just a dab under the nose to feel at ease all day.
The other was an herbal patch, embroidered with a plum blossom shape by Ann Vaughn, with a scent stronger than the balm that was noticeable upon close contact.
Susie Sommers hadn’t used the balm for more than two days when she suddenly switched her affection to the patches and even started going out more frequently than before.
Ann Vaughn was busy with a series of tasks following the launch of the new product’s project and visiting the company much more frequently and for longer durations than before.
If she weren’t worried about Kenny being home alone, she would probably immerse herself in the company endlessly until the new product hit the market.
"President Vaughn, this is the latest progress report from the Research and Development department, these documents need your signature, and this is..." The assistant placed the papers needing Ann Vaughn’s review or signature on the desk, reminding her nearby.
Looking at the mountain of folders, Ann Vaughn suddenly understood why Cyrus Hawthorne was often so busy that he forgot the time and even missed meals.
... Hold on.
Stop!
Why was she thinking about him in her free time?
Ann Vaughn initially forced herself to calm down and continue working, but the image of his aloof face seemed to be rooted in her mind, impossible to dispel, making it so she couldn’t focus on a word.
Forget it.
Ann Vaughn got up, grabbed her white coat and handbag, saying to her assistant as she walked: "When Elias Hawthorne returns, have him handle the remaining documents. I have something else to do."
"Okay." The assistant replied.
Saying she had something to do, it was actually Ann Vaughn meeting with Quinn for a lunch date at The Jade Pavilion.
She arrived nearly an hour early; Quinn wasn’t there yet, so she ordered some desserts and fruit drinks to snack on while waiting.
It’s often said that desserts can brighten one’s mood, and indeed, the stifling feeling in Ann Vaughn’s chest gradually dissipated along with the gentle guzheng music playing in the store.
"Is your father back this time about you and Cian?"
A familiar voice suddenly pulled Ann Vaughn from her immersion in the music, making her instinctively turn her head.
There she saw Charlotte Hawthorne and Miyi Yates emerging from behind a screen.
Miyi Yates pursed her lips into a reserved smile before softly replying, "My matters are trivial, no need for my father to make a special trip; perhaps there’s something more pressing."
"Don’t hide it from me." Charlotte Hawthorne dismissed her words, "Your father has always hoped that Cian could marry you, but first there was Cynthia, then Ann Vaughn; the timing was never right."
"From the Hawthorne Family’s perspective, you are indeed the most qualified Young Madam of the family, even the Old Master wouldn’t say much."
"You’re flattering me, Miya only does what she should, unworthy of such high praise from you." Miyi Yates humbly said, "Moreover..."
Before she could say more, Miyi Yates saw Ann Vaughn sitting at the table eating, and immediately fell silent.
Charlotte Hawthorne, puzzled, looked in the direction Miyi Yates was staring, and the cheerful smile on her face immediately turned cold.
"What a mood killer." Charlotte Hawthorne sneered coldly, "She is no longer Mrs. Hawthorne, nor has anything to do with the Hawthorne Family. Just a woman blinded by a wild man; there’s no need to worry about speaking in front of her, it’s irrelevant to her."
Ann Vaughn’s face suddenly turned pale, her lips tightly pressed together.
A hint of mockery flashed in Miyi Yates’s eyes as she nodded in acknowledgment, "I understand."
The two left briskly, not lingering long.
Even though Charlotte Hawthorne hadn’t openly insulted Ann Vaughn as she used to, her words were enough to make Ann Vaughn feel humiliated and upset.
For Charlotte Hawthorne to know about her and Cyrus Hawthorne’s conversation at the airport... it meant the whole Hawthorne Family knew she insisted on divorcing Cyrus Hawthorne for a "wild man."
That also included Old Master Hawthorne.
But their understanding of the "wild man" and what Ann Vaughn meant at the time were two entirely different concepts.
Charlotte Hawthorne had just said that Miyi Yates was the most suitable Young Madam of the Hawthorne Family, and even Grandfather wouldn’t have much to say.
Does that mean Grandfather has already accepted her and Cyrus Hawthorne...
Ann Vaughn suddenly felt like the warmth from a comforting hot bath had been wiped away by a chilly wind, leaving her cold from the outside in.
"Excuse me, miss, sorry to interrupt." The manager of The Jade Pavilion, wearing a uniform, approached Ann Vaughn’s table with a warm smile, addressing her enthusiastically.
"It’s like this: today is our fifth anniversary, so we’re running a lucky draw event with generous prizes, and all guests dining with us today can participate. Would you like to join?"
What a coincidence?
Ann Vaughn’s attention was barely drawn back a bit, and she reached into the lottery box as the manager instructed.
She pulled out a small golden ball.
The manager instantly looked surprised: "Congratulations, miss! You’ve won our store’s grand prize!"
"Grand prize?" Ann Vaughn looked at the small ball in her palm, eyes slightly widened, really?
"Yes!" The manager nodded affirmatively, "Today, everything you consume at The Jade Pavilion is on us, and you will also receive a special prize from our store, which will be given to you when you leave."
Lucky draws like this usually depend on luck, and Ann Vaughn wasn’t typically very lucky in these aspects.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have drawn a ’999 Styles of Love Talk’ kind of prize before.
She was stunned for a moment, then joy gradually spread across her beautiful face, even curving her lips into a small, delighted smile.
The manager sitting across from her was briefly dazed by her blossoming smile, his heart inexplicably pounding intensely a few times.
Even she, a woman, was somewhat dazzled by the lady’s smile opposite her...