Chapter 230: Chapter 230: What Right Do You Have to Hit Me?
Fortunately, Ann Vaughn pulled back in time, so she wasn’t discovered.
Moreover, what Ann didn’t expect was that the new consultant at the QY Research Institute turned out to be Eli Sheridan’s sister, Jane Sheridan.
If there’s nothing amiss at the institute, that’s fine, but if there is, wouldn’t that put Jane in danger?
Based on their lip-reading just now, there was nothing useful mentioned, except for the viral mutation...
"What are you doing here?" Suddenly, a familiar cool, low voice interrupted Ann Vaughn’s thoughts, startling her so much she nearly slipped off the pipe.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s cold eyes constricted, and with a stretch of his long arm, he grabbed Ann’s hand, pulling her up and directly embracing her into the study from outside the window.
"Are you crazy?" His expression was angry, and his gaze on Ann was cold, lips tightly pressed into a line, suppressing his fury.
Ann was startled too, not because she almost fell, but because Cyrus suddenly lashed out at her.
Even if she had slipped down, she could have landed safely, given she wouldn’t dare eavesdropping on the pipe without some skills.
"Why are you being so fierce?" Ann glared back defiantly, trying to shake off his hand, but he held her tightly.
If she could feel it carefully, she might notice that the hand holding her was slightly trembling.
In Ann’s understanding, even if she had slipped down just now, she would have been unscathed.
But Cyrus didn’t know that; all he knew was that Ann had almost fallen from a height of about ten meters right before his eyes.
Who knows, his heart almost stopped beating!
"Mr. Hawthorne, it’s getting late, I won’t disturb you further. Goodbye." Jane Sheridan bent down and arranged the files she brought, smiling as she spoke to Cyrus.
Cyrus gave a cold nod, eyes fixed on Ann Vaughn with a hint of anger.
Jane smiled nonchalantly, then took her things and left, pretending to glance back inadvertently before stepping out of the study.
She saw Cyrus, who had just kept her at a distance, gently placing the woman in his arms onto the desk. Despite his cold demeanor, he was extremely gentle—
Massaging a woman’s ankle.
An act that could never be associated with the Emperor of S Country, yet it truly happened.
It was then Jane first took a closer look at Ann Vaughn, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, followed by horror.
Why does this face...?
The study door soon closed, leaving only Cyrus and Ann Vaughn in the room.
Staring at the scrapes and swelling on Ann’s delicate foot, Cyrus’s narrow eyes were overcast, his voice chillingly cold, "In such cold weather, what were you doing outside?"
"Ow, be gentler, it hurts." Ann scowled, rudely directing him, "Can’t you see where it’s injured?"
Cyrus nearly laughed lowly, applying greater force as he massaged, "If you knew it hurt, why did you climb the pipe? Do you know what could have happened if you fell?"
Even thinking about that scene sent chills through his heart.
"Eavesdropping, you’ve found that out already, why are you still testing?" Ann snorted coldly, without hiding.
There’s no use concealing; any excuse would just deepen his suspicion.
Cyrus raised his eyes to give her a meaningful glance, his voice serious and calm, "You’re quite straightforward. You can come in to listen anytime, no one will stop you."
Though he said it sincerely and calmly, Ann sensed the scent of a trap.
For matters involving secrets, would he really be so kind as to let her listen openly?
They hadn’t discussed secrets just now, which is why he hadn’t done anything to her. But if she ever heard something she shouldn’t...
She wouldn’t even know how she died.
"No need, I’m just interested in the research institute, not in listening to conversations." Ann stared at her sprained ankle, silently cursing her unlucky streak.
Cyrus had already rubbed medicinal wine for her and applied medicine to her scrapes, before finally lifting her off the desk.
Not even glancing at those critically important files she had messed up, he walked directly out of the study, returning to the master bedroom.
Thinking she had dodged a bullet, Ann pulled the blanket to snuggle into bed, only to be unprepared when her backside suddenly received a slap.
The slight sting made Ann stiffen momentarily, initially not quite reacting.
"Cyrus, did you hit my butt?!" Ann was so angry she almost jumped up, but her sprained ankle prohibited it, "What gives you the right to hit me?"
Cyrus, with a cold and stern face, glared at her with an air of a cold-faced Yama, "Will you dare climb the pipe again next time?"
"None of your... Ah!" Another slap landed.
"Hmm?"
"I already said it’s none of your... Ah!"
A few more slaps followed, leaving Ann stunned.
Though not very painful, the humiliation in Ann’s heart felt like a torn opening, and she lashed out at Cyrus, infuriated.
"You’ve gone too far, even my grandpa has never hit me like this!"
Who does he think he is?!
Ann’s eyes were reddened, genuinely angered.
Cyrus raised his arm to catch her small figure lunging at him fiercely, and took the opportunity to hold down her hand clenching the Golden Needle, encircling this prickly little hedgehog into his embrace.
"Promise me, hmm?"
Despite being forcefully held, hearing his deep voice, Ann’s body stiffened momentarily, impatiently pushing him away, "I got it. Does your family live by the sea?"
Why does he care so much.
Once hearing her promise, Cyrus’s tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, the clouds in his eyes dissipating somewhat, replaced by a faint smile, "Good girl."
"..."
She’s seriously angry, and he’s teasing her here??
For the sake of the child, for the child, for the child.
He can’t kill, he can’t kill, he can’t kill!
Muttering a chant akin to a calming spell, Ann finally felt some ease in her heart, breaking free from Cyrus’s embrace and rolling into the covers.
Hopefully, Kenny won’t be angry when he finds out his mom stayed out again.
"Are you really interested in the research institute?" Cyrus crossed his arms, smiling with narrowed eyes at the little woman who wrapped herself up like sushi.
As if afraid he might do something to her.
But hasn’t she figured out yet that if he wanted to do something, a mere blanket couldn’t stop him?
"Yeah." Ann replied absent-mindedly, yawning.
"If you want to go in to play, there’s a pass in the second drawer of the desk; you can go anytime." Cyrus picked out a book from the triangular bookcase, leaning against the bed, his voice casual, "But if you’re interested in participating in research, there’s still a position left at the institute."
Participate in research?
Could he really be kind enough to offer that?