Chapter 573: Chapter 573: She Just Doesn’t Like Her
The value of those five warehouses alone would empty out Harold Hawthorne’s entire fortune to cover.
In less than a day, Wanda Chamberlain was imprisoned, and all assets under Harold Hawthorne’s family name were seized for compensation, declaring bankruptcy.
While Harold Hawthorne was furious at Cyrus Hawthorne’s ruthlessness, he had no choice but to run around borrowing money desperately.
—If he couldn’t compensate for the loss of the five warehouses, prison was the only path left.
But now, they couldn’t even step through the gates of the Hawthorne Family. Anyone with eyes could see that the Hawthorne Family had completely severed ties with Harold’s family.
Who would risk offending Cyrus Hawthorne for someone as insignificant as Harold Hawthorne?
Harold watched as former brothers and friends all turned against him; some even mocked him before slamming their doors in his face when he tried to borrow money.
However, that wasn’t the end. The assassin Wanda Chamberlain had previously hired to eliminate Cyrus Hawthorne used Harold’s name and account.
Now with the payment still unresolved and Wanda Chamberlain in prison, who else would the assassin turn to for settlement? The answer was obvious...
...
Fortunately, the Shadow Guard had kept the news tightly sealed, and besides the insiders, almost no one knew about it, nor that the Main Hawthorne Family had secretly reshuffled its core members.
Everything was like an undercurrent beneath a calm sea, coming fiercely and leaving swiftly.
The Hawthorne Family intended to hold a banquet for Laura Quinn to celebrate her return and reintroduce her to everyone.
But Laura Quinn declined the proposal; she didn’t want a grand affair, just being with family was enough for her.
Her demeanor was poles apart from Wanda Chamberlain’s, not craving fame and fortune, nor liking to stand out, treating everyone gently and amiably.
—Except for Ann Vaughn.
Even the Hawthorne Family noticed that Laura Quinn didn’t quite like Ann Vaughn, which pleased those who weren’t on good terms with Ann Vaughn.
The dinner table was not at peace.
Ann Vaughn wasn’t too concerned about the chatter, her mind was set on finishing dinner and returning to the hospital to accompany Kenny.
"Oh, I just remembered," Charlotte Hawthorne suddenly raised her voice from beside Laura Quinn, "Ann, wasn’t your clinic shut down for selling fake medicine? You’re already Young Madam Hawthorne, do you really have to lower yourself like that?"
The implication was that despite holding such a distinguished position, how could she be so foolish to engage in such shameful acts for petty gains.
Ann Vaughn’s brows furrowed slightly; she put down her chopsticks and was about to speak when she heard a low reprimand: "Nonsense!"
...Eh?
If it had been Cyrus Hawthorne or Old Master Hawthorne speaking for Ann Vaughn, she wouldn’t have been too surprised.
But if it were Laura Quinn, who always seemed indifferent to her, she’d almost start doubting her ears.
Even Charlotte Hawthorne looked stunned, "Sister-in-law, what did you say?"
"Oh, I just saw a news push, felt the media was exaggerating, so I couldn’t help it." Laura Quinn smiled gently and then placed her phone face down on the table.
Ann Vaughn: ...Alright.
Charlotte Hawthorne accepted her explanation and continued to say to Ann Vaughn, "It’s not that I’m saying, but if you’re stepping out in public, you shouldn’t keep causing trouble for the Hawthorne Family, letting people know the owner selling fake medicine is Young Madam Hawthorne, that would..."
Plop.
Charlotte Hawthorne’s words were interrupted.
It turned out Laura Quinn had accidentally dropped a cup, and a servant quickly came to clean up.
After that incident passed, Charlotte Hawthorne resumed, "Would make it harder for the Hawthorne Family and Cyrus to maintain face? In my opinion, the loss of the clinic is nothing, just pay that patient extra, hush him..."
Bang.
Again, she was interrupted before finishing her sentence.
With the back and forth, Charlotte Hawthorne was starting to feel gloomy!
About to vent, she saw Laura Quinn suddenly faint to the ground!
Ann Vaughn was startled as well; Laura Quinn’s face looked normal, how did she suddenly faint?
Before she could figure it out, Charlotte Hawthorne suddenly slammed the table, pointing at Ann Vaughn and loudly accusing, "Look what you’ve done; you’ve driven your mother-in-law to faint from anger!"
Ann Vaughn: "..."
Even more absurd, everyone clearly saw Laura Quinn faint suddenly, yet after Charlotte Hawthorne "exposed" the incident at Ann Vaughn’s clinic, they started agreeing with her.
Selling fake medicine.
If that got out, how detrimental would it be to the Hawthorne Family’s reputation?
And worse, Laura Quinn was so angered by it that she fainted, indicating how troubled her life would be from now on.
Upstairs, in the study, Cyrus Hawthorne and Old Master Hawthorne were discussing matters when they got alarmed by the commotion.
Rumors circulated a few times; by the time they reached them, somehow it turned into Ann Vaughn angering Laura Quinn to faint.
Laura Quinn was taken to a room upstairs, where Dr. Kane and several family doctors were examining her.
"What exactly happened?" Old Master Hawthorne asked, leaning on his cane, with an unhappy expression directed at Charlotte Hawthorne, "You kept saying Ann Vaughn angered Laura Quinn to faint; explain how she did so?"
Charlotte Hawthorne’s expression changed, "Well... it’s just when she heard about the fake medicine, defrauding customers, she felt disgraced..."
Heh.
Ann Vaughn’s mouth twitched; she was speechless.
If she had the power to angrily make someone faint, why be an herbalist when she could be a rocket launcher?
"Where did you hear that from?" Cyrus Hawthorne narrowed his eyes coldly at Charlotte Hawthorne, his demeanor displeased.
Charlotte Hawthorne choked, suddenly feeling like a mountain weighed down on her shoulders, restricting her breathing.
"I was... just curious, so I casually mentioned Ann Vaughn a few words."
"Oh? Your way of showing concern is quite unique."
"..." Charlotte Hawthorne dared not speak further, cold sweat forming on her back, unable to meet Cyrus Hawthorne’s eyes.
She had always known that her nephew’s domineering nature could intimidate anyone.
Outside, the evaluation of him could be summed up in two words—tyrant.
But she hadn’t expected that just a few words and a glance could make her wish she could disappear on the spot.
If she had known, why would she deliberately pick a fight with Ann Vaughn!?
"...I just remembered I have something to do at home, Dad, Cian, Ann, I’ll be off first!" Charlotte Hawthorne, not daring to stay longer, hurriedly left with her bag.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s cold gaze shifted to Mark Joyce, "I told you to take care of the Young Madam, how did you do so?"
Mark Joyce looked aggrieved, "President Hawthorne..." He couldn’t just roll up his sleeves and argue on Ann Vaughn’s behalf.
Ann Vaughn: "..." To be honest, I also think it’s inappropriate to have a top assistant help with name-calling.
At that moment, the door finally opened, and Dr. Kane walked out, looking grim.