Chapter 373: Chapter 373: Still Legally Married
In the end, Ann Vaughn fell into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted.
Cyrus Hawthorne leaned in to adjust the brightness of the wall lamp slightly, then tucked the quilt around her before straightening up, gazing down at her softly flushed sleeping face.
Because of her fear of the dark, all the lights in this room were custom-ordered from abroad, and at night they would automatically turn on. The light was gentle and had no adverse effects on the human body even when always on.
However, as long as the space wasn’t completely sealed, even sudden darkness wouldn’t scare her as it used to.
He noticed this because occasionally she’d sleep in his arms, and upon waking to find the room in darkness, she’d feel no discomfort and would simply snuggle into him before falling back asleep.
Human psychology often manifests vividly in subconscious behaviors.
He was pleased with her reliance.
Yet tonight, her resistance and defensiveness had grown.
Cyrus squinted slightly, his previously lazy, content expression gradually replaced by gloom—like clouds gathered at his brow that wouldn’t disperse.
Suddenly, the phone on the sofa rang.
Cyrus’s gaze sharpened as he quickly stepped over to cut off the call. After ensuring Ann wasn’t awakened, he picked up the phone and stepped out onto the balcony through the sliding doors.
The call was from Eric Kim, the former top attorney of Hawthorne Corp. Two years ago, after his family went through great changes, he retired from the legal field to focus entirely on raising his only daughter.
"What’s up?" He redialed, and the call was quickly connected.
"President Hawthorne, long time no see," Eric said on the other end. "Today, while organizing past backup files, I came across some things I felt I should inform you about..."
"Hmm?"
"The divorce agreement you signed with Miss Vaughn back then was notarized, but due to my oversight, I forgot to handle the necessary procedures at the civil affairs bureau. Later, it was further confused due to my personal reasons, mistakenly believing it was resolved, which led to me informing you of the divorce result..."
Eric’s voice sounded very apologetic and somewhat ashamed.
As the former top attorney of Hawthorne Corp., not being calm enough to mess up such a significant matter as his boss’s divorce, in the past, this would have truly been ruining his reputation.
If he hadn’t learned from Attorney Chambers about Cyrus’s plan to dispute the child’s custody with Ann Vaughn, his sudden impulse to check the previous records...
Would never have discovered that they hadn’t divorced at all and were still legally married.
That’s why Eric made this call, to prevent a bigger mistake.
Sensing something from Eric’s words, Cyrus’s breath deepened, and as he gazed into the distant night’s landscape, his deep narrow eyes suddenly shrank back, taking a moment before speaking again, "So?"
"If only a divorce agreement was notarized, it is invalid. Legally, you and Miss Vaughn are still married."
Still married.
Those six words were likely the most comforting Cyrus ever heard, far more moving than the entire empire of Hawthorne Corp.
"Thank you for the notice. Should there be a need, Hawthorne Corp. welcomes you back anytime," Cyrus’s tightly knit brows finally relaxed, a gentle yet timeless smile appearing on his handsome face.
Eric Kim, who was prepared to apologize: ???
After hanging up the phone, Cyrus strode back into the room.
His gaze fell straight on the sleeping Ann Vaughn, the indulgence in his long dark eyes seemed almost tangible.
Next morning.
The bright but gentle sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a delicate layer of light in the room, warm and soft.
The tiny figure curled up in the corner of the bed flipped over in her sleep, only to suddenly tumble off the side with a "whoosh".
At that moment, a pair of strong arms caught her in time, pulling her back up onto the bed before she fell onto her backside.
Instantly, Ann Vaughn was wide awake.
She lifted her head to look around the bed, clearly large enough to accommodate three or four more people—how much must she have tossed and turned to roll to the edge of the bed??
As this thought arose, Ann stopped in her tracks, memories beginning to surface in her mind.
"Stay away from me! If you come closer, I’ll jump off!"
After slowly moving to the furthest edge of the bed, she had warned him, curling herself into a ball, pitifully falling asleep.
Even in her deep exhaustion, she remembered to keep her distance.
Thinking of this, Ann’s face turned expressionless.
She actually dared to say something like jumping off the bed...
Right then, a man’s husky and alluring early morning voice sounded overhead, "Awake?"
Cyrus slowly opened his dark eyes, his gaze deep as he looked down at her, then continued, "Last night you mentioned your mother wants to contest Kenny’s custody?"
Ann Vaughn: !!!