Chapter 287: Chapter 287: You Must Stay by My Side Forever
The little guy’s body temperature drops severely whenever she gets her period, yet she stubbornly loves the cold. She enjoys sitting in a warm room while eating ice cream.
He stopped her a few times, and although she agreed on the surface, she secretly continued eating, leaving him defenseless.
"Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her." Uncle Dexter felt a bit guilty as he was one of the culprits sneaking ice cream to Ann Vaughn when he couldn’t stand her feeling aggrieved.
After all, who could bear to see Miss Vaughn looking even a bit unhappy?
Meanwhile, in Cyrus Hawthorne’s room.
Ann Vaughn realized too late that she had underestimated the computer. No matter which page she tried to access, it would soon be automatically brought back to the start.
No matter how fast she tried to crack, the computer had learned to automatically defend itself!
...It really is a case of like master, like machine!
Ann Vaughn was so angry that she almost wanted to shove it into the toilet and flush it away, but considering there might be important files inside, she refrained from doing so.
Besides, Sutton Jennings also said remote control was impossible. If she couldn’t crack it, she’d have to think of another way, so she gave up on breaking through with this computer.
Just as she was about to shut it down and leave, the lights in the room suddenly went out, plunging her into complete darkness.
"Rumble—"
With the thunder rolling outside, Ann Vaughn’s heart jumped; why did the power go out so suddenly?
She didn’t dare stay there, fumbling her way toward the door.
Suddenly, a blinding white light flashed from outside the window, illuminating everything in the room instantly.
Simultaneously, it cast a clear silhouette of a tall figure leaning against the door, who had been standing there for who knows how long.
Ann Vaughn’s steps halted abruptly. It felt like being suddenly doused with cold water on a freezing winter day, freezing her entire being and mind.
How long had he been standing there watching her?
Ann Vaughn stood rooted in place, unaware of when Cyrus Hawthorne had walked up to her, her eyes filled with a slight panic.
Cyrus’s deep eyes glanced over her, landing on the computer on the desk. His thin lips lifted slightly, "So, you cracked the password?"
"...Mhm." Ann Vaughn lowered her eyes, responding sullenly.
"Not bad." A faint smile spread in Cyrus Hawthorne’s eyes, "Many who covet this computer have been stopped by the password."
What he said was true. At the very least, all those famed hackers who came with challenges failed to get past the password and had to admit defeat.
Yet, for some reason, hearing this made Ann Vaughn feel chills deep in her heart.
Cyrus Hawthorne seemed oblivious to her expression, opened the computer with one hand, and demonstrated a procedure in front of her to unlock the restrictions after a few quick keystrokes.
The room was pitch black, lit only by the glow from the computer screen, accentuating his already chiseled features, making them even more striking in the dim atmosphere.
Ann Vaughn watched his deliberately slowed demonstration, her brow tightly furrowed as the distress and unease within her surged.
"Once the restrictions are lifted, you can use it however you like." His voice was so calm that it was impossible to discern any emotion, "Whether it’s for gaming, or destroying the MX Plan files."
Ann Vaughn’s clear eyes suddenly contracted, her mind went blank, as if the sound of thunder exploded through her consciousness.
All she was left with was a ringing in her ears, her thoughts in a complete mess.
"When did you find out?" It wasn’t until the computer screen dimmed again that Ann Vaughn found her voice, her breathing heavy.
"That’s unimportant." In the darkness, Cyrus Hawthorne’s voice was so low it felt like shards of ice piercing one’s heart.
Without any light, the room plunged back into a menacing darkness, accompanied by the booming thunder outside, as though it aimed to shatter her last mental defenses.
Ann Vaughn felt a slightly cool hand cover her cheek, its rough finger pads gently caressing her skin, making her shiver uncontrollably.
Even though his tone hadn’t changed much, she could clearly sense the chilling danger approaching from all directions.
It felt like she was trapped in an unyielding cage, unable to escape.
"So, you’ve been testing me all along." Ann Vaughn bit her lip tightly as her delicate fingers gradually clenched, her heart aching as if it were being tugged.
He had known her motives for clinging to him all along, yet he let her do it, not because he condoned it.
But because he knew fully well that whatever she did, she was still within his control, and needn’t bother paying it any mind.
Like toying with a pet.
"Silly girl." She heard Cyrus Hawthorne’s deep voice sigh, tinged with an unfathomable sense of helplessness, "If you want the MX Plan, I can give it to you."
"On the condition that you stay by my side forever."
"And your biggest mistake was attempting to escape from me with another man’s help."
With each word he spoke, his voice grew increasingly icy and aggressive, his fingers clutching her chin tighter as if trying to crush it.
The sharp pain from the grip on her chin made Ann Vaughn frown deeply, and she suddenly realized, her eyes filled with shock, "You’ve seen my messages with Sutton Jennings?!"
When did he tamper with her phone? How did she not know at all?
The color on Ann Vaughn’s face completely drained, her heart beating wildly as her mind raced to ascertain whether Kenny’s existence had been exposed.
"Heh," Cyrus Hawthorne chuckled softly, his icy aura seemingly capable of freezing, he pressed his finger against her lips, warning her coldly, "I don’t like hearing another man’s name from you, understand?"
"Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to make him disappear forever."
Ann Vaughn clutched her numb, cold fingertips, her nose suddenly feeling sour upon hearing his words.
Without thinking, she opened her mouth and bit down hard on the finger pressed against her lips, only releasing it when she tasted blood.
As expected, even with his memory loss, Cyrus Hawthorne was still Cyrus Hawthorne.
His inherent dominance and possessiveness would never change even with lost memories.
But why should she endure this?
"I am not your possession, nor am I your appendage. Do you want to control everything about me?" Ann Vaughn grabbed Cyrus Hawthorne’s tie, forcing him closer, then said sarcastically, "Dream on!"
Cyrus’s narrow eyes were as deep as the night, clearly capturing Ann Vaughn’s reddened nose and defiant little mouth at this moment.
She was endearing yet made one want to destroy her.
"And I won’t concern myself any longer with what you plan to do with the MX Plan. Whatever you intend to do, go ahead, I won’t try to stop you anymore!"