Chapter 670: Chapter 670: It Couldn’t Be Him
She originally just wanted to trick them to find the holes in their words, then investigate further to clear her uncle’s name.
But when this data appeared on her phone, all the difficulties were resolved.
The only thing she couldn’t understand was, she didn’t know many people in Marinia, so who was helping her behind the scenes?
Could it be Eli Sheridan?
"Ann... Ann Vaughn? Is it really you?" a surprised male voice suddenly came from behind Ann Vaughn.
Ann Vaughn snapped out of her thoughts and turned around to see a man in a suit, handsome yet unfamiliar, walking towards her, eyes filled with doubt while looking at her.
"Although we only sat together for half a year in first year of high school, your puzzled expression is a bit hurtful to me," the man said helplessly.
First year of high school? Desk mates?
Ann Vaughn blinked, an image of a chubby boy who always had a bunch of snacks in his hands emerged in her mind, but it was worlds apart from the successful person in front of her.
"...Are you Jonah Lynch?"
Jonah Lynch smiled and sighed, "I thought you looked familiar inside, turns out it really was you. It seems like just yesterday we were desk mates."
"You didn’t bring an umbrella either?" Ann Vaughn changed the subject, avoiding too much small talk with him to avoid touching on some unpleasant memories.
"No," Jonah Lynch scratched his head shyly, "I just saw you standing here alone and thought you probably didn’t bring an umbrella, so I came to ask if you mind, I could give you a ride?"
The rain poured endlessly outside, the cold wind gusted, and Ann Vaughn was wearing a gown that valued style over warmth. Even if she was quite fit, staying out here longer would make her ill.
"Then I’ll trouble you, I’ll treat you to a meal sometime."
As Ann Vaughn nodded, she suddenly felt a chill on her back, like something dangerous was eyeing her.
She turned in amazement to look around, but apart from the hazy curtain of rain, there was nothing.
Jonah Lynch handed the umbrella to Ann Vaughn, then braved the rain to drive his car over from the parking lot.
Ann Vaughn tried to ignore the piercing gaze that seemed to bore into her back from nowhere. She got into the car, took the tissue box from Jonah Lynch, and wiped her rain-drenched face.
"Where do you live?" Jonah Lynch considerately handed her the blanket from the back seat as he drove away from the Halloway Family’s place.
"Thank you." Ann Vaughn sniffled, her little nose red, as she spread the blanket over her knees, "I live at Viridian Palace."
Jonah Lynch nodded and naturally found a topic: "I heard the maple trees in Viridian Palace stay bright red even in winter, the scenery is said to be unmatched in Marinia, I wonder if it’s true."
Having faced the cold wind earlier, Ann Vaughn’s head began to ache, and her voice became a bit hoarse: "It is quite beautiful, I’m discovering such beauty in the world for the first time too."
"I just heard at the venue that you’re now a famous doctor, really impressive."
"Anyone who can attend the banquet must be impressive, yourself included."
Being praised by Ann Vaughn, Jonah Lynch became a bit bashful, "How can someone who runs a company compare to a renowned doctor like you? The news of your cancer cell inhibitor has spread through my company, many people don’t believe you developed it on your own and think there must be a large team behind you."
"It sounds like your company is quite large, still so modest?" Ann Vaughn subtly changed the subject without answering directly.
...
It wasn’t until Ann Vaughn got out of the car that Jonah Lynch realized that it seemed he had asked many questions about her.
But she hadn’t actually answered any of the important questions; rather, he had passively revealed a lot of information about himself, practically turning his pockets inside out...
Indeed, Ann Vaughn was testing Jonah Lynch, so she didn’t refuse his invitation to dinner together the next night before getting out, and then returned to Viridian Palace.
Usually, Old Mrs. Vaughn and Old Mr. Vaughn would have already retired by this time, but today they were still sitting in the living room.
Their eyes were red, and their expressions were off.
Ann Vaughn swiftly exchanged a glance with Little Dumpling, and instantly understood.
She sat down between the two elderly, linking arms with each, and whispered, "Grandma, Grandpa, you heard about it?"
The banquet wasn’t even over and the news had already reached the two elders.
"Silly sweetie, why did you have to get involved in such murky waters? What if the Halloway Family turns against you too?" Old Mrs. Vaughn patted Ann Vaughn’s head with some heartache, her voice full of fear.
Although everything had been resolved smoothly, Ann Vaughn’s heart still chilled thinking about how she was criticized by a thousand people at the venue just now.
If not for that email later, the matter might not have been resolved so easily.
Thankfully...
"Grandma, Grandpa, rest assured, I’m fine, and so are Uncle and the Vaughn Family. I exposed Sylvia Halloway’s scheme in public, if the Halloway Family is wise, they won’t dare come forward to disgrace themselves again."
Old Mr. Vaughn sighed, "We were against your uncle’s engagement to Sylvia Halloway in the first place. The younger sister’s engagement went to the older sister, what kind of affair is that? But your uncle liked her, and we had no other way."
The younger sister’s engagement went to the older sister?
Ann Vaughn’s delicate eyebrows twitched, and an inquisitive gleam flickered in her bright eyes, "So the original engagement of Uncle’s was actually to Sylvia Halloway’s sister, Jacqueline Halloway?"
While investigating Sylvia Halloway, Ann Vaughn also had the Halloway Family investigated.
"But isn’t Jacqueline Halloway..."
"Yes," Old Mr. Vaughn nodded, "She passed away years ago, so the engagement should have been annulled, but the Halloway Family refused to annul it and forcibly pushed Sylvia forward. Your Grandma and I thought maybe she could help shift some of his pain..."
Old Mr. Vaughn didn’t elaborate further, as it was a sad past.
After taking Little Dumpling upstairs, Ann Vaughn caught him and asked, "Sweetheart, did you send Mommy anything tonight?"
Eliminating Eli Sheridan, Kenny seemed the most likely person to have sent her the email.
Little Dumpling blinked innocently, "Sent what?"
...But if it was Little Dumpling, he wouldn’t deny it to her.
Ann Vaughn’s suspicion deepened, and as the image of a cold, handsome face flickered in her mind, she shook her head hurriedly.
It couldn’t be him.
He probably didn’t even know where she was now...
Not getting any answers from Kenny, Ann Vaughn tucked him in, said goodnight, and left his room.
Little Dumpling stuck his tongue out behind her and sheepishly buried his face beneath the covers.