Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Downfall
"Dad." A trace of sadness swept across Laura Quinn’s gentle face, Phoenix’s eyes were red with tears, "I’m sorry to you, it’s all my fault that I invited the wolf into the house, giving her the opportunity she seized."
Hearing her revealing secrets from years ago, Wanda Chamberlain suddenly panicked.
She fell to her knees in front of Laura, clutching her leg and crying out: "Sister, I was wrong, I know it was all my fault, I shouldn’t have treated you and Nathan Hawthorne like that! Please forgive me this time, I will repent and redeem myself to you!"
"Back then, I was just blinded by greed, I really didn’t intend to kill you, it was truly an accident!"
Initially determined to deny everything, Wanda Chamberlain had no choice but to admit now.
The moment Laura Quinn appeared, the conspiracy she had painstakingly cultivated for decades immediately turned to dust!
She was the one who killed Nathan Hawthorne, the one who pushed Laura Quinn into the sea...
There’s no way the Hawthorne Family would spare her. So, Wanda Chamberlain could only hope that Laura would soften her heart.
These shameless words made Old Master Hawthorne’s heart ache, causing his body to lean backward uncontrollably.
Ann Vaughn quickly stepped forward to support him, taking out Golden Needle from her sleeve to administer some pinpricks on his wrist, allowing his pallid face to gradually regain some color and his breathing return to normal.
"Kick her out." Originally unwilling to interfere too much, Cyrus Hawthorne’s thin lips opened slightly, his voice coldly crushing Wanda Chamberlain’s hopes, "Mark Joyce, take her away."
"Yes, President Hawthorne." Mark Joyce replied, instantly ordering people to drag Wanda Chamberlain away.
And pulled her ghostly wails away, until they completely disappeared at the doors of the council room.
For the rest of her life, Wanda Chamberlain would likely spend it with cold iron bars and ill-tempered inmates.
Everything had settled.
Old Master Hawthorne was assisted by Ann Vaughn, coming over with a face full of tear stains, indescribable feelings spreading through his heart, "It’s good to be back, it’s good to be back..."
"Dad..." Laura’s eyes were moist, tears falling at once, "Are you willing to let me return to this home?"
"Why wouldn’t I be? You’ll always be a member of this family, the mother of Cian and Vera White, no one can change that."
The council room was filled with the sounds of low sobbing, prompting the Hawthorne Family members sitting dryly in their seats to join in crying.
They felt bitter.
Years of flattering and gifting expensive brand names, all ending up benefiting an impostor.
How could anyone not cry??
Having suffered blow after blow, had it not been for the prior good care, Old Master Hawthorne’s health might not have sustained.
Seeing fatigue appear on Old Master Hawthorne’s face, Ann Vaughn summoned servants, intending to help escort him upstairs, only for Cyrus Hawthorne to suddenly grasp her wrist, making her heart slightly anxious.
She needed some psychological preparation!
Laura Quinn, still not fully recovered from her emotions, wiped the tears from her face with her hand. Despite feeling sad, she saw a black-bordered white handkerchief, a understated luxury appear before her.
Laura was stunned, looking up at Cyrus Hawthorne’s handsome but indifferent face, feeling a warmth inside, then accepting the handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes, "Little Cian, you’ve grown up."
"Hmm." Cyrus Hawthorne responded lightly, without much small talk or comfort.
This made Laura’s eyes feel even more sour, wanting to embrace him, yet worrying it might be too abrupt, she held back the impulse.
"Let me introduce," Cyrus Hawthorne tightened the slightly sweaty soft palm in his grip, his thin lips slightly curving up, "This is Ann Vaughn, my wife."
Ann Vaughn didn’t expect Cyrus Hawthorne to be so direct, not giving her time to mentally prepare, thrusting her directly before Laura Quinn.
She couldn’t help but turn and glare at him.
Cyrus raised his eyebrow lightly, his deep gaze meeting hers.
—A young wife must meet the mother-in-law.
Trying to escape? No chance.
At this stage, Ann Vaughn could only brace herself and step forward to greet Laura Quinn, "Nice to meet you."
The word "mom," she really couldn’t bring herself to say.
Unexpectedly, as she drew closer to Laura Quinn, Ann Vaughn pausing slightly.
Everyone has unique body fragrances, unless it’s heavy perfume, making it difficult to discern.
But that faint floral and herb mix scent, Ann Vaughn only smelled it on the flower-selling woman.
Aside from vastly different appearances, this woman’s physique and attire were identical to that lady!
No way!?
The biological mother-in-law had been right under her nose for so long... She hadn’t even noticed!?
Regardless of inner shock, Ann Vaughn showed no outward signs, her lips carried a warm, gentle smile.
"Hmm." Laura seemed to not recall Ann Vaughn, indifferently nodding and glancing at her before withdrawing her gaze.
A strand of oddity arose within Ann Vaughn.
Had she guessed incorrectly?
But there... were too many similarities.
"By the way, where’s Vera?" Thinking of her younger daughter, Laura felt a bit excited.
Mentioning Vera White, slight worry surfaced in Ann Vaughn’s heart.
Vera had been messaging updates since arriving in Lyncroft, each seeming ordinary.
But perhaps she’s overthinking, as Vera’s purpose in Lyncroft didn’t feel so simple.
"Vera’s in Lyncroft, returning in a few days." Cyrus glanced at the slightly distracted Ann Vaughn, gently squeezing her small hand.
Laura gently nodded, wanting to inquire more about Vera but was drawn away to chat with Clara and Charlotte Hawthorne, so she stopped.
"What’s on your mind?" Taking Ann to the terrace, Cyrus quietly asked her.
Ann raised her head, her clear eyes somewhat dim, "Nothing, just feeling... it seems like your mom doesn’t like me."
Apparently, she naturally lacks mother-in-law relationships.
With this thought, Ann’s whole self seemed to wilt.
"She’s also your mom." Cyrus raised his hand, lightly flicking her forehead, explaining rarely: "She’s endured a lot, hard to easily accept someone, it’s not directed at you."
Is that so?
Ann quietly glanced at Laura conversing eagerly with Charlotte and Clara from afar, deeply sensing Cyrus again cajoling a child.
Still, such matters shouldn’t be forced; she needn’t worry too much.
Just let nature take its course.
...
Throughout history, power seekers had only two routes: successfully ascending or ending miserably.
If unable to achieve the former, one inevitably becomes the latter.
This truth manifestly proved true for Harold Hawthorne.
Besides vying for power, Harold allied with Wanda Chamberlain to hire people to burn five Hawthorne warehouses, framing Ann Vaughn and the Azure Gate.