Chapter 550: Chapter 550: Returned to Its Rightful Owner
After speaking, she immediately hung up the phone.
Bella Hawthorne, although her tone feigned calmness, seemed to have lost her usual vitality, appearing cautious everywhere.
Ann Vaughn stared at her phone screen in a slight daze. She had intended to call Cyrus Hawthorne to ask if he had arrived safely, but recalled Bella Hawthorne mentioning that his phone was continually off.
He must be very busy right now.
She remembered that the company Bella was with was under Hawthorne Corp., so no one should dare bully the little princess of Hawthorne Corp.
Just as it happens, she has some friends over in Lyncroft who could help look after Bella Hawthorne for her...
However, what Ann Vaughn did not know was, somewhere in a corner of the Imperial Capital Airport.
Bella Hawthorne crouched on the ground, covering her face as tears streamed ceaselessly between her fingers, forming a small puddle on the ground in front of her.
"I’m sorry... I’m sorry..."
...
Thanks to the rapid spread of the suppressant news, Ann Vaughn was immediately met with Sherry’s resentful glare upon entering the clinic.
"Annie, if you were going to announce the suppressant’s details, couldn’t you have given me a heads-up? Do you want to know how far your appointment queue has been extended?"
Ann Vaughn felt a slight pain in her temples and took the day’s appointment list from Sherry. After flipping through it, she said, "I’ve already instructed my assistant to remove the trending searches and news. If any customer asks, just tell them to be patient and don’t say much more."
"But that’s only if they believe it," Sherry sighed. "With the Young Master of the Crawford Family as such a prominent figure, this issue might not just fade away easily."
Upon hearing this, Ann Vaughn furrowed her brows, "It’s just as challenging to mass-produce the suppressant, as it’s different from the formula for a miracle drug. A pharmaceutical plant can’t manufacture it in bulk."
The most unique aspect of a suppressant is the extracted essence. To most people, just hearing those words would leave them perplexed unless they are a pharmacist.
However, to this day, the lineage of pharmacists has gradually declined, with very few left.
Ann Vaughn always remembered her grandfather’s dying words to her, urging her to hide her trump card well from others.
Otherwise, if people with ill intentions found out, it would bring about a fatal disaster.
Thus, over the years, very few people knew about her secret.
Understanding her difficulty, Sherry did not dwell on the matter further and handed Ann the day’s appointment list while updating her on other matters.
"There were reporters pretending to be patients this morning, but thankfully, they were all tight-lipped and didn’t reveal anything to the journalists."
"Furthermore, the clinic received many invitations to dinners and parties today, along with a membership application from the pharmaceutical association, which I’ve already forwarded to your email."
Ann Vaughn nodded slightly, took the appointment list and glanced through it, saying, "You can handle those as you see fit. I’m too lazy to attend those parties anyway."
She would rather spend the entire day engrossed in the laboratory, among herbal medicine books and tools, than outwit a bunch of old foxes.
It’s mentally exhausting.
Sherry couldn’t help but chuckle, "I know you dislike them, so I’ve already turned them down for you. By the way, there is one thing I probably can’t turn down."
"What’s that?"
...
First Hospital.
Ann Vaughn walked into the ward holding a bouquet. She immediately saw Sutton Jennings leaning against the bed, listening to his subordinates report on matters within the gate (hypothetical organization).
Just as Ann Vaughn was contemplating whether to step out and come back later, Sutton Jennings seemed to sense her presence and looked in her direction.
His previously sharp and charismatic almond eyes instantly softened: "Annie, you’re here."
Since she had already been noticed, Ann Vaughn dismissed the idea of leaving and forced an awkward yet polite smile, "If you’re busy, I can come back another day."
"Not at all; in fact, our Lord Shane is the most idle in the world!" Before Sutton Jennings could respond, his subordinates standing by the bed answered for him.
"Exactly, Miss Vaughn, please have a seat. We won’t disturb you!"
"We’re counting on you to take care of Lord Shane for a while; we simply can’t bear to see him this idle anymore."
With that, the subordinates swiftly exited towards the door, disappearing from sight.
Ann Vaughn: "..." She couldn’t tell if Brother Shane was idle, but it seemed they were restless.
Sutton Jennings understood what those bold subordinates were up to, so he didn’t get upset. He gently smiled at Ann Vaughn, "Please have a seat. I’ll peel you an apple."
"Wait!" Ann Vaughn placed the bouquet down and immediately stopped Sutton Jennings, "You still have injuries! I’m not some witch who exploits the sick."
After speaking, she picked out the reddest apple from the fruit tray and slowly began to peel it.
Sutton Jennings rested his chin on one hand, his almond eyes fixed intently on Ann Vaughn, a smile playing on his lips.
No matter what she did, she was always so earnest. Even peeling an apple, she was so serious that it made one feel treasured by her.
A wisp of curled hair fell from behind Ann Vaughn’s ear, playfully brushing against her fair cheek, making one’s fingertips itch inadvertently.
Sutton Jennings’ gaze lingered on that strand of hair at her cheek, his almond eyes, hiding surging emotions, flickered gently.
He lifted his hand and gently tucked the strand behind her ear.
His fingers unintentionally grazed her cheek, which was as warm and soft as he imagined, making it hard to let go.
Sutton Jennings felt his mind sway, momentarily forgetting to withdraw his hand.
Immediately, an expression of confusion and astonishment appeared on Ann Vaughn’s face, vividly reflected in his almond eyes.
Like a bucket of cold water, it brought his rationality back all at once.
"I..." Sutton Jennings momentarily lost his voice, quickly retracting his hand, "Your hair was messy."
"I can handle it myself; I’m not a child anymore." Ann Vaughn lowered her gaze slightly, masking the fleeting surprise in her eyes, and smiled nonchalantly.
Yet within that smile, there was a trace of something that had never been present before...
Distance.
An indescribable pain emanated from his heart, slightly dulling the brilliance on Sutton Jennings’ face.
Both fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the ward grew unusually quiet and awkward.
Ann Vaughn felt a bit uncomfortable and suddenly remembered the issue with the diamond ring, feeling relieved at heart.
"By the way," she took the diamond ring from her purse and placed it on the nearby table, "This is something you mistakenly gave to me when you mistook me before you passed out. Now, it’s returned to its rightful owner."
Returned to its rightful owner?
Sutton Jennings’ gaze swept over the dazzling diamond ring, feeling an inexplicable lump in his throat.
"Do you truly believe that this ring was mistakenly handed to you by me?"