Chapter 273: Chapter 273: A Misunderstanding That Ends in Ruin
The call quickly connected, and a somewhat cold voice was heard.
"Have you eaten at this hour? I heard from Kenny that you’ve once again landed yourself in the hospital. I just left the country for a while, and you’re making it so hard for people not to worry, aren’t you?"
Elliot’s slightly chiding words reached Ann Vaughn’s ears. Normally, she would argue with him, but today she wasn’t in the mood.
"Elliot, can I ask you something? When you found me four years ago, what did you do, and why is the head surgeon’s memory so strange? He believes I died under his scalpel."
"Strange? The Sheridan Family’s top hypnotist isn’t kept for nothing. That doctor’s memories were altered; it’s exactly what he believes now."
Altered...
Ann Vaughn’s heart skipped a beat, and she surprised herself with the next question, "Did I... undergo surgery for uterine fibroid removal?"
"You know?" Elliot’s voice showed some surprise, "That’s right, but it was after you gave birth to Kenny. Your mental state wasn’t very good during those months, you almost suffered from prenatal depression."
"But why do I have no memory of it at all!" Ann Vaughn’s tightly clenched fingers almost pierced her palm, and her voice sounded slightly unstable.
Elliot was even more surprised, "Your emotions aren’t right. Did something happen?"
Ann Vaughn fell silent, her throat felt locked, unable to articulate a single word.
"I owe you an apology for this, forgive me for deciding on my own, but at the time, I asked a hypnotist to partially suppress your memories, altering everything from those months." Elliot explained softly.
"You looked too dangerous at the time, I feared you wouldn’t make it despite all the resources dedicated to saving you."
It was clear he was joking, but Ann Vaughn didn’t feel like laughing, as a sense of sourness began to rise in her eyes.
"Although I don’t know where you learned all this, it’s best not to know those memories from those months; it was nothing good, you almost lost your life because of it..."
It wasn’t due to anything she did, but because Kenny almost didn’t survive, pushing Ann Vaughn’s already overwhelmed mind to the brink of collapse.
Fortunately, the Sheridan Family’s hypnotist was well-paid and effective in altering Ann Vaughn’s memories nicely. She lived on without remembering everything.
Even if given another chance, Elliot would do the same.
His feelings for Ann Vaughn were far too complicated.
If it weren’t for Ann Vaughn’s biological parents still being alive, and her clear background having lived with her grandfather in the countryside since childhood, he might have considered her a long-lost sister.
Yet, for this little one, Elliot inexplicably wanted to protect her.
"Elliot, I’m not blaming you." Ann Vaughn’s eyes, previously numb and empty, regained a touch of warmth. She spoke lightly, "Thank you for everything you did for me back then, which led to the person I am today."
"Good girl, I’ll bring you a gift when I return to the country." Elliot said with a smile, and after a few more instructions, he hung up to continue his meeting.
Ann Vaughn set down the phone, covered her face tightly with both hands, pushing back the sourness lingering in her eyes and nose, but the mist hovering over her heart left her unsettled.
For four years, she learned to forget Cyrus Hawthorne, learning not to mention his name, not to keep things related to him in her heart.
Though she could control her heart and actions, she couldn’t stop herself from occasionally remembering.
Very occasionally.
For instance, seeing a beautiful rose garden would remind her of him.
For instance, when faced with difficulties while developing new medicine, without realizing it, she’d wonder what he’s doing now.
For instance, while watching a meteor shower on the Isle of Flora, she’d uncontrollably think of whether the stars in his sky were as beautiful.
They were under the same sky but separated by thousands of miles, not just physically.
But when all her efforts over the past four years turned out to be a misunderstanding that vanished upon realization, it felt like the blood in her veins was suddenly drained.
Left blank and bewildered.
Ann Vaughn couldn’t remember how she managed to finish her meal, only feeling like she was chewing wax, holding the miniature version of Cyrus Hawthorne close, her mood even more complex.
Even upon arriving at Azure Gardens, Ann Vaughn couldn’t snap out of what Rowley and Elliot had said.
Forgot to say goodbye to Sutton Jennings and just carried the Little Dumpling upstairs.
"Keep a good eye on her, her emotions are really off." Sutton Jennings worriedly instructed Sherry, "Make some lemon juice for her, she likes to drink it to relieve stress when she’s upset."
"Don’t worry, Annie’s always been optimistic and easy-going, she’ll be fine." Sherry, hearing this, felt even more pleased with Sutton Jennings.
But Annie didn’t seem to have the spirit, so it’s best not to interfere too much.
During their conversation, Ann Vaughn carried Kenny upstairs. Before exiting the elevator, Kenny tucked away his handheld mirror and ran toward another apartment.
"Mommy, Kenny’s going to build Lego tonight, I’ll sleep over here!"
After saying this, the Little Dumpling rushed off quickly.
He took off running to another apartment and darted inside, only then taking out his handheld mirror, with his delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, looking at the scene above.
With empty arms, Ann Vaughn’s eyes dropped in slight disappointment as she proceeded to walk home with heavy steps.
As she approached, she saw a familiar tall figure leaning sideways against the apartment door, someone she least wanted to see now.
"Cyrus Hawthorne?" Ann Vaughn tentatively called out.
As the man turned to face her, revealing that familiar, handsome face, Ann Vaughn’s heart skipped a beat.
Why was he here at this time?
The sense of bewilderment and anxiety she had suppressed surged back, her hands clenched tightly at her sides, unsure what expression to wear when facing him.
In just a moment, Ann Vaughn realized she was being embraced, and above, came a low magnetic voice, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"
What was he talking about?
Ann Vaughn widened her eyes in disbelief, but just as she tried to push him away, Cyrus Hawthorne let go, looking down at her gently like a large plush animal.
"You are Annie." He said with a smile, his tone firm.
"What’s going on with you?" Ann Vaughn looked at Cyrus Hawthorne’s face, displaying an unfamiliar expression, carefully examining him before noticing something off about him.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s face, strikingly handsome and seemingly calm, with penetrating dark eyes, making it impossible to discern any emotions.