Chapter 533: Chapter 533: Is She Even Worthy?
"Grandpa." Ann Vaughn walked to Old Master Hawthorne’s side and politely greeted Third Master Hawthorne sitting opposite, "Hello, Third Uncle."
Henry Hawthorne’s sallow face showed little expression. Hearing her greeting, he merely nodded lightly and said to the still-hesitant Old Master Hawthorne, "If you don’t make the next move, I’ll assume you’ve conceded."
"You’d better be careful now, my helper has arrived." Old Master Hawthorne changed his expression from glaring at the chessboard to a smiling one, looking at Ann Vaughn, "Annie, come help Grandpa with the last move."
Henry Hawthorne snorted but did not stop him.
In his eyes, the outcome of the black and white pieces on the board had long been decided; Old Master Hawthorne was bound to lose this game, so it wouldn’t hurt to let him struggle a bit.
Seeing that Old Master Hawthorne wasn’t joking with her, Ann Vaughn turned her gaze to the chessboard, thinking briefly before placing the black piece in her hand.
The seemingly lost situation for the black pieces was instantly turned around, transformed into a stalemate.
Even Henry Hawthorne, who was certain that Old Master Hawthorne would lose, showed surprise on his face and looked at the position of the black piece placed by Ann Vaughn, "This... The black’s last stand has brought new life, and the white cannot advance—it is a stalemate."
Upon hearing this, Harold Hawthorne and the others standing by were all astonished.
One must know that Henry Hawthorne was once a national chess master in his youth, having won several international awards, naturally not to be underestimated.
That Ann Vaughn could turn the losing situation for Old Master Hawthorne with a single move spoke volumes about her formidable skill in chess.
"Hahaha, Annie didn’t disappoint me indeed." Old Master Hawthorne laughed heartily, "This was a best of three, and this bet ends in a draw."
A bet?
Ann Vaughn was momentarily amused and exasperated, realizing that in making the last move for Grandpa Hawthorne, she was essentially cheating openly.
However, Henry Hawthorne didn’t mind too much. He hadn’t stopped Old Master Hawthorne initially, as he was confident in himself and hadn’t taken Ann Vaughn seriously.
Who knew such a young girl would not only have a unique perspective but also the courage to turn a last stand into an opportunity?
If not for this, the black pieces would have undoubtedly lost this game.
Henry Hawthorne couldn’t help but give a proper look at the polite Ann Vaughn standing beside Old Master Hawthorne, who merely smiled gently at the compliment and maintained her composure, and he nodded approvingly, "Good chess skills."
Chess, like a person’s character, reflects a person’s nature. From these two points alone, this young girl doesn’t seem to be the kind of schemer capable of disrupting the household peace.
"You’re too kind." Ann Vaughn’s smile was perfectly poised, giving people a very comfortable and gentle feeling.
Seeing this, Old Master Hawthorne’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he added, "This girl’s chess skills are truly passed down from her grandpa, not inferior to yours."
Mentioning Old Master Vaughn, Henry Hawthorne set down the pieces in his hand and grumbled, "Hmph, her grandpa doesn’t even know how many times he lost to me."
"But you also often lose more than win, right? Always cheating and stealing his pieces, it’s a good thing her grandpa never held it against you."
Being called out like this by Old Master Hawthorne, Henry Hawthorne felt a loss of face, his sallow complexion reddening with frustration.
At first, Ann Vaughn thought this Third Master was an extremely serious and pedantic person, but she didn’t expect he had once resorted to cheating and stealing her grandpa’s pieces...
How to describe this feeling in an instant, it’s probably that... his persona suddenly crumbled?
All the way to the dining table, Henry Hawthorne, with his childish heart, still held onto Old Master Hawthorne’s words, stubbornly ignoring him.
"Since when did some random riffraff become capable of entering our household so freely? And even sit at the same table with us; don’t they have any self-awareness of their status, as if they belong?"
Just then, a sarcastic voice came from across the table.
Initially, everyone didn’t know who Harold Hawthorne’s wife was referring to, but when they saw her side-glancing at Ann Vaughn, it became clear.
Harold Hawthorne immediately reprimanded her, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"How am I talking nonsense?" Joy Pierce did not restrain herself; instead, she retorted more fiercely, "Everyone present knows Ann Vaughn and Cian have already divorced. So, she is no longer the Young Madam of the Hawthorne Family. On what grounds should she sit at the same table as us?"
"Just say less!"
"Everything I said is true; what’s wrong with that? Even if she wants to somehow ingratiate herself with the Hawthorne Family, she should wait until she marries back before doing so. Her behavior now isn’t very dignified."
Joy Pierce has always spoken straightforwardly. Even though her family’s background doesn’t match the aristocratic Hawthornes, it has given Harold ample support and help, so she speaks without restraint.
Moreover, aside from Old Master Hawthorne, who among the Hawthorne Family, seeing Ann Vaughn, an "outsider" being favored by him after being "expelled" from the Hawthorne Family, isn’t watching her like a play?
The reason is simple, they all think that with Ann Vaughn’s status, she is simply unfit to be the Young Madam of the Hawthorne Family.
Naturally, Ann Vaughn was aware of what these people were thinking, but she didn’t show a trace of anger, smiling faintly at Joy Pierce, "Thank you for teaching me, Aunt."
"I certainly cannot compare to you, Aunt. When it comes to turning an improper standing into justifiable means... I think aside from Aunt, no ordinary person can do it."
Joy Pierce’s expression suddenly changed, and she harshly asked, "What do you mean by that! Are you insinuating that my standing is improper?!"
Ann Vaughn merely looked innocent, "Aunt is straightforward in nature, and can express any dissatisfaction candidly. I am learning from Aunt, speaking honestly."
This statement was like striking right at Joy Pierce’s core.
Who in the Hawthorne Family doesn’t know she married Harold with a pregnancy, with the child naturally being Harold’s, otherwise, she couldn’t have married him.
But—
This also proves to be the evidence of an affair between Harold and Joy Pierce outside of marriage.
Just Harold’s former wife had passed away, no matter what had been done before, she took it to the grave, and no one would be foolish enough to bring it up in front of them.
So much so that Joy Pierce almost forgot that she originally married Harold through improper means.
Now being subtly exposed by Ann Vaughn in front of everyone, how could she not be fuming!
"No matter what, Joy is your elder; is this how you speak to your elders? If your parents knew, they’d blame themselves for not teaching you well." Harold Hawthorne shook his head, looking at Ann Vaughn with a reproachful expression.
Insinuating that she had no parental education, thus lacking manners?
Ann Vaughn raised her delicate eyebrows slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.
These so-called elders truly have the skill to freely judge and even slander the juniors.