Chapter 551: Chapter 551: My Heart Delights in You
The room once again plunged into a deathly silence.
The pair of usually gentle almond eyes now looked at Ann Vaughn, for the first time, with an intense emotion, deep and burning.
It was so candidly and directly exposed in front of Ann Vaughn.
Just as he once looked at her from angles she couldn’t see, with no difference.
Only she had never noticed this.
Under the intense gaze of those almond eyes, Ann Vaughn’s delicate fingers resting casually on her knees gradually stiffened, her mind went blank for a moment, confusion and disbelief alternating.
No...possible.
Ann Vaughn’s fine brows knitted tightly, then she stood up, and said tactfully, "Brother Shane, I think you need to rest, to avoid an overload on your brain."
As if sensing her intent, Sutton Jennings reached out and grabbed her arm, not giving her the chance to turn and leave.
Life and death experiences can allow people to see through many things they couldn’t understand while living.
Such as love, such as obsession.
If some words are not spoken now, perhaps there will be no opportunity later.
"Since the day you saved me in the alley four years ago, your image has been in my mind ever since."
"At first, I was merely curious about you, nothing more... But later, I gradually became greedy, wanting to protect you, to be able to see you at all times."
"Ann Vaughn, I am telling you very clearly, I have feelings for you."
Sutton Jennings’ voice was neither light nor heavy, but it carried an inestimable deep emotion, like raindrops crashing down on Ann Vaughn.
It left her dumbfounded.
There was astonishment, panic, and disbelief.
But there was no shyness or excitement.
Even that heart was calmly and cruelly considering how to reject him without damaging their years of friendship.
She hadn’t answered yet, but the hand of Sutton Jennings holding her arm began to sweat from tension.
After a long while, Ann Vaughn pulled herself from her thoughts and looked up at Sutton Jennings, speaking seriously.
"Thank you for your affection, and thank you for taking care of me and Kenny those years. Without you, there might be no Ann Vaughn today."
"But I am clear, gratitude is not affection. I have no romantic feelings towards you, never have."
"I don’t want to vaguely reject you or give you unwarranted hope, as that would be damaging and irresponsible to you. So, I’m really sorry, thank you for your affection."
She earnestly said thank you for his affection twice.
Once meant sincere thanks, and the second time meant... rejection.
As she said, if she were vague, or acted like nothing happened and continued as before with Sutton Jennings.
Since she can’t give him the opportunity to blossom into a relationship, why not nip the chance at the bud, to avoid unnecessary hurt.
He and Eli Sheridan were both brothers and friends she deeply respected, which is why she used the most direct way.
She cut off his hope.
"You truly are..." Sutton Jennings’ almond eyes dulled, he released her arm, his handsome face somewhat pale, "heartless."
No.
She was full of emotions.
Just not towards him, that’s all.
Ann Vaughn pressed her red lips together, "Grandpa told me, I’m very stubborn, once I set my mind on something or someone, I won’t turn back even if I crash and bleed."
Thinking of that slender indifferent face, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and a faint smile spread on her lips: "And I don’t regret it."
Her straightforward and frank intention made Sutton Jennings even more stifled.
If he could win her favor, it would be so fortunate.
But all her love was given to that man named Cyrus Hawthorne.
Sutton Jennings had never been so jealous of someone in his life, jealous to the point of feeling blood stirring in his throat.
"Take care of yourself, I’m leaving first." Ann Vaughn saw his face grow increasingly pale, yet she didn’t step forward to show concern, instead, she stepped back a few paces and turned to leave.
"If... he were no longer in this world, could you give half of your heart to me?"
Just as Ann Vaughn was about to step out of the hospital room, a hoarse voice suddenly called from behind her.
Her steps abruptly halted, she slowly turned around.
"No."
"Because he will always be by my side."
Are you so sure?
Sutton Jennings watched Ann Vaughn’s silhouette disappear into the distance, a low laugh escaped his lips.
After leaving the hospital building, Ann Vaughn didn’t hurry to drive away; she sat in the driver’s seat, frowning in deep thought.
Every time she recalled Sutton Jennings’ last words, an inexplicable unease filled her heart.
She sensed a... storm brewing.
What Ann Vaughn didn’t notice was that Leo Lowell and Levi Lowell, who had followed her out of the hospital, got into the car behind hers.
"Ha, this woman is truly promiscuous, with no sense of propriety!" Levi Lowell sneered as he looked at the footage captured by a drone, "I’ve long said she has an unusual relationship with Yama’s Gate, and see, isn’t this evidence enough?"
Leo Lowell did not stop his actions, just said, "This doesn’t prove anything."
They were just a few photos of holding hands and couldn’t really do much to Ann Vaughn.
Levi Lowell, however, didn’t care: "She has something with Lord Sean of Yama’s Gate, and that’s enough. Do you think the Family Head will tolerate a woman with ulterior motives?"
"What the Family Head is thinking isn’t something you or I can fathom," Leo Lowell said, "Moreover, the Family Head is currently abroad, let’s not add unnecessary worries."
The words indeed made sense.
But Levi Lowell just wasn’t thinking that way.
"The Family Head isn’t here, but isn’t Miss Miya here? Reporting these things to Miss Miya is the same."
After speaking, Levi Lowell transferred all photos to his phone and sent them to Miyi Yates.
...
Meanwhile.
At the training ground on the west side of the main house.
As Miyi Yates received the photos sent by Levi Lowell, all the Shadow Guard members had just finished a training session and were resting on-site.
She walked to the side with her phone and opened it to check the messages.
Upon seeing the ambiguous photos, Miyi Yates suddenly laughed.
It was like having a pillow delivered just when one was about to fall asleep.
Levi Lowell had indeed done her a big favor.
...
Henry Hawthorne seemed to be at odds with Ann Vaughn.
Every time Ann Vaughn came to give him acupuncture, he always mentioned that she should "retire," and allow the Hawthorne Family to fully manage the clinic, just stay home to care for her family.
A woman’s primary focus should be her family, not her career, the focus should be right.
Every time she heard these words, Ann Vaughn couldn’t resist arguing back.
The key was reasoning with an old-fashioned person, he always believed he was right, only thinking about her and the bigger picture.
So much so that Ann Vaughn wished she could finish the acupuncture once in a go and never meet him again.