Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Key Piece That Was Taken
"President Hawthorne, we’ve clarified the situation; the girl has admitted to orchestrating the scandal. We’ve discovered there was someone behind her, but the other party is cunning and has shifted all the blame onto Orion Hawthorne. Therefore, there are no traces left for us to investigate."
"Orion was taken away by the police last night, and Horizon is undergoing a thorough investigation for conducting unauthorized live experiments. However, the news has been suppressed and hasn’t spread because they’ve offended the Sheridan Family."
As he spoke, Mark Joyce placed a stack of photos on the table.
If Ann Vaughn were present at this moment, she would likely recognize at a glance the girl in the topmost photo as the one who collided with her at the library and fled upon seeing her.
"Hmm." Cyrus Hawthorne responded indifferently, his gaze persistently fixed on his phone, showing no reaction even upon hearing the words "Sheridan Family."
Mark Joyce initially intended to ask why President Hawthorne, who clearly has the power to suppress the scandal, chose to go through great lengths to clear Ann Vaughn’s name.
Additionally, the Sheridan Family exerted considerable effort during their public relations efforts this morning, yet the reason remains unclear.
Before Mark Joyce could voice this question, he glanced up and caught sight of Cyrus Hawthorne’s phone, where Ann Vaughn’s contact interface fleetingly appeared.
-
One week later.
"Your complexion is dull, your tongue has dark spots, and your pulse is weak—a sign of head trauma, blood stagnation, and blocked meridians."
A light and pleasant female voice occasionally sounds from within the lounge at the Aurelia East Wing.
The lounge door is wide open, with a line of people stretching from the table inside to the entrance and still growing.
"Hey, hey, does a single girl really have such skills? They’re all probably here to hit on girls, haha." A discordant voice suddenly emerges from the queue.
Instantly, those at the front of the line turn around in unison, casting threatening or disdainful glances at that person.
The one who expected unanimous support from his brothers immediately steps back a few steps, "Why are you looking at me like that? I wasn’t wrong..."
Just a woman, he still believes if someone says she’s playing coy or spending money frivolously, but the notion of healing and saving lives seems far-fetched.
Before he can finish speaking, he’s abruptly silenced as someone covers his mouth from behind.
"Shut your stinking mouth, don’t talk nonsense! Do you even bother to find out who helped Lord Shane’s brother walk again?"
Muting him, the man leaves him speechless, but he instinctively associates the statement with something, revealing an "You can’t fool me" expression.
"Drag him away, don’t let Doctor Vaughn find out and disrupt her mood while treating us!" One influential man in the gang commanded.
Within half a minute, the queue returned to its initial peaceful scene.
They seemed like friendly neighborhood pals rather than dangerous individuals who live on the edge daily.
Inside the lounge, Ann Vaughn writes a prescription swiftly on paper and hands it to the patient in front of her.
"Thank you, thank you, Doctor Vaughn!" The burly man cradles the prescription cautiously, grinning foolishly as he thanks Ann Vaughn before departing.
Ann Vaughn can’t help but rub her sore hands, though her bright eyes harbor a hint of joy, "Next..."
Just then, the door of the lounge is gently knocked twice.
"Doctor Vaughn, consultation hours are over." Sutton Jennings stands casually by the door, his peach blossom eyes sweeping over the queue.
Crash, everyone flees without a moment’s delay.
Seeing this, Ann Vaughn can’t contain a chuckle, "Your people are really interesting."
On her first day of consultations here, Ann Vaughn feared they might snap her neck with their muscular arms if their mood soured.
But not only did such an event not occur, these initially intimidating individuals revealed their own endearing traits, surprising Ann Vaughn.
"Perhaps only you would praise them like this." Sutton Jennings smiles slightly, next taking Ann Vaughn’s heavy bag as they head towards the elevator.
Once in the car, Sutton Jennings casually asks, "The soil suitable for herb growth that you asked to be brought from abroad has arrived. Would you like to see it now?"
Ann Vaughn’s heart moves slightly, but after a day of consultations, she’s exhausted, "Not today, I’m a bit tired."
Consulting and performing acupuncture are draining, especially now she’s pregnant, leaving her feeling even more tired.
Initially, there weren’t so many patients; starting yesterday, the number has more than doubled.
"Alright, I’ll take you home to rest." Sutton Jennings nods, noticing her paled complexion, adds, "Stop the consultations for now, your health is paramount."
Ann Vaughn doesn’t catch his insinuation, resting her head against the seat, chuckles softly, "I’m tired, but using my knowledge to heal and help means my skills aren’t wasted."
The car stops at a garden community distant from the city center.
Ann Vaughn drowsily slept in the car, but senses the stop, and gets off with her bag.
Sutton Jennings escorts her to her apartment entrance, watching her enter before leaving.
Entering the apartment, Ann Vaughn turns on all the lights, changes shoes, and heads to the kitchen.
After dinner, Ann Vaughn retrieves an old box from her room, taking out a white jade plaque, examining it closely.
The jade plaque is carved with complex patterns, its texture smooth and eye-catching.
Besides the jade plaque, there’s an ancient prescription for an epidemic, written in a secret script known only to Ann Vaughn and her grandfather—unintelligible to others even if they possess it.
To prevent misuse, many prescriptions left by her grandfather utilize this script.
Yet...
Ann Vaughn eyes the shallow mark on the box’s edge, her slender fingers pressing against it.
This spot once held something, later taken away.
Besides her parents, no other suspects.
Ann Vaughn can’t imagine what could’ve led her parents to abandon this fine jade and take another item.
What’s apparent is, whatever it was, its value exceeds that of the jade and prescription combined.
Thinking it over, Ann Vaughn fails to comprehend, deciding to set the jade plaque down when she suddenly notices the small engraved words at its bottom, focusing intently.
The tiny words are faint and almost unreadable.
Under the light, Ann Vaughn carefully discerns them as four words.
"Saxon Family Seal".
Ann Vaughn’s brows furrow lightly; this Saxon Family, might it refer to the Saxon Family, one of The Imperial Capital’s elite?