Chapter 453: Chapter 453: The Envelope
Upon suddenly hearing Kenny say this, Ann Vaughn was stunned for two seconds, then she asked him, "What do you mean by that?"
Kenny said "Hmm," as if he didn’t know where to start explaining to Ann Vaughn. After a while, he finally said, "Mommy just needs to trust Kenny!"
"Pfft." Ann Vaughn laughed out loud, "You’ve even learned how to keep secrets from Mommy."
Seeing he was a bit troubled, Ann Vaughn didn’t press further. Instead, she watered the Bone-removing Vine and then led Kenny out of the conservatory.
Since she promised Kenny to sleep with him tonight, Ann Vaughn took a shower and got ready, then went to the children’s room with a storybook.
But the room was pitch black, and Ann Vaughn hesitated in her steps, instinctively turning on the light switch on the wall.
"Click——"
The moment the light turned on, countless petals and confetti descended from above Ann Vaughn’s head, followed by a birthday song sung in various languages, each singing a line in the room!
Today didn’t seem to be Kenny’s birthday?
Ann Vaughn was startled for a moment and then saw Little Dumpling dressed in a black gentleman’s tailcoat bouncing over, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the bedside.
"Mommy," Little Dumpling’s eyes were shining brightly, "It’s time to countdown!"
This made Ann Vaughn, who hadn’t figured out the situation, also become nervous.
"Three! Two! One!" As the last word was spoken, Little Dumpling moved away from in front of Ann Vaughn. With a wave of his small hand like performing a magic trick, the night sky outside the window suddenly bloomed with spectacular fireworks!
And when all the fireworks bloomed at once, several big characters lit up in the dark night sky!
They combined to say——
Mommy, Happy Birthday!
Upon seeing this line, Ann Vaughn was suddenly stunned, her heart feeling like it was wrapped in warmth, so moved she couldn’t stand it.
It turns out today is her birthday.
She had actually been so busy she forgot, but not only did Kenny remember, he prepared such a wonderful birthday surprise without knowing if she would return home or not.
If she hadn’t returned home early, wouldn’t all of Kenny’s preparations have been in vain?
Thinking about it, the softness in Ann Vaughn’s heart kept collapsing; thankfully, she came back early. Otherwise, how disappointed would Kenny have been?
"Mommy, there’s more!" After the fireworks finished, Little Dumpling tugged on Ann Vaughn’s hand and then ran to the piano in the room, which was usually just for show. He sat down gracefully and looked over at Ann Vaughn.
Ann Vaughn smiled as she watched him, and he then turned his head back and began to play the piano.
It was a piece Ann Vaughn had never heard before, with a melody that was sometimes cheerful and lively, sometimes gentle and soft, seemingly imbued with various emotions, unconsciously drawing people into its ambiance.
After finishing the piece, Kenny picked up the gift he had already prepared and ran back in front of Ann Vaughn, his little cheeks red as he handed her the gift, "Happy Birthday, Mommy!"
Ann Vaughn hugged both Kenny and the gift tightly in her arms, her eyes slightly moist, "Thank you, baby, for remembering Mommy’s birthday. Mommy really, really loves the surprise you prepared!"
Little Dumpling’s expression, which had been tense for a long time, finally relaxed as he stretched out his hand to hug Ann Vaughn back, "As long as Mommy likes it!"
What Ann Vaughn didn’t know was that all of this was something he had secretly experimented with for a long time. Only then could the fireworks display those words at exactly midnight, neither a minute more nor less.
Even that piano piece just now was something he had thought about in his room for a long time and then composed after seeking advice from Eve.
When Ann Vaughn opened the gift box, she was once again pleasantly surprised, "Have you been hiding this all along, not letting me see it, just to make it for me?"
She had caught sight of Kenny messing with these things over a month ago, but he hid them well, and Ann Vaughn hadn’t realized it was meant for her.
Seeing Little Dumpling vigorously nodding his little head, Ann Vaughn’s eyes and brows were filled with delight. She then took off the silver chain around her neck and put on the platinum-like necklace that Kenny gave her.
The pendant in the shape of a cloud was also set with a few translucent blue diamonds, and combined with its simple and elegant style, it perfectly matched Ann Vaughn’s taste.
"Mommy looks just as beautiful as Kenny imagined when wearing it!" Little Dumpling cheered and giggled, holding his little face in his hands.
Ann Vaughn chuckled and picked up Little Dumpling, "You little flattery expert, it’s time for you to sleep!"
It was already past midnight, long past Little Dumpling’s bedtime, seemingly all for celebrating her birthday immediately.
Thus, when The great President Hawthorne, who had barely finished his work five minutes before midnight and returned to the master bedroom, found it empty and cheerless: ...
In the first round, Little Dumpling won hands down!
The next morning.
Ann Vaughn’s jet lag still hadn’t adjusted, and she was feeling a bit lethargic while having breakfast, her eyes vacant.
Watching her, Kenny was worried she’d bury her face into the plate in front of her, so he kept glancing at her from the side.
Sitting in the main seat, Cyrus Hawthorne narrowed his eyes, glancing at her with calm disdain. When his gaze landed on the necklace on her fair neck, it coolly swept over at Little Dumpling, who was drinking milk.
This little brat really had some tricks up his sleeve.
"I just happen to have some free time today. Would you like to go to the old house?" Cyrus Hawthorne casually pushed the corn juice toward Ann Vaughn and asked as if it were a mere afterthought.
This sentence immediately pulled Ann Vaughn back to full consciousness, her eyes bright and longing as she looked at him, nodding her head vigorously, "Yes!"
But Little Dumpling had to go to kindergarten and naturally couldn’t go with them.
And after expressing his protest, he was forcefully and irresistibly stuffed into the car by Cyrus Hawthorne.
In this round, The Archfiend won!
The old house was in Sudland, not too far from The Imperial Capital. It only took an hour to drive there, through a pine forest, and up a cobblestone path.
Until she personally saw this vintage house that had only existed in her memory, Ann Vaughn couldn’t believe it was real.
"Don’t you want to go in and take a look?" Seeing her standing still in the same place, Cyrus Hawthorne lowered his gaze and took her slightly cold hand, "Let’s go."
The feeling of nearing home that Ann Vaughn had not yet shaken off was soon replaced when he took her into the house. Her heart beat nervously.
It always felt like... she shouldn’t be stepping inside here.
But upon stepping inside, the suppressed grievances and bitterness buried deep in Ann Vaughn’s heart somehow rushed through her body, spreading throughout her entire heart.
It felt as though the old man who would be harsh, scolding, encouraging, consoling, and loving her was still here.
No matter what grievances she had, as long as he patted her head with his rough yet warm hands, they would disappear without a trace.
"Click——"
In a daze, Ann Vaughn accidentally knocked down the chessboard her grandfather used to play with, which was placed at the corner of the table. She immediately squatted down to pick up the chessboard.
But she discovered an old and yellowed envelope that had fallen out from the chessboard’s compartment...