Chapter 328: Chapter 328: She Wants Luna Dead!
Sheridan Residence, second floor study.
"How did things go?" Behind the broad desk made of ancient mahogany, Stanley Sheridan looked up, quite authoritatively, at the assistant in front of him.
"According to your instructions, everything is settled. She is currently detained at the police department, and as long as you don’t speak up, she’ll remain locked up there," the assistant detailed.
Stanley Sheridan nodded, "Well done. Without giving her a lesson, she’ll think our Sheridan Family is weak, daring even to bully my dear daughter whom I’ve only just found and have yet had time to cherish."
Previously, Luna had told him about this Ann Vaughn who, since childhood, would bully her, both openly and secretly, in an effort to compete for parental affection. Bound by blood and familial ties, Luna had to endure her.
If it were just typical childhood squabbles, it might be forgivable. But Luna has a weak heart and frail body, unable to withstand her repeated abuse.
Finally, even when Luna was on the verge of undergoing a heart transplant, Ann suddenly backed out and left Luna behind, escaping on her own.
Stanley Sheridan has always despised people who break their promises. This Ann Vaughn likely harbored ill intentions long ago, pretending to agree to the heart transplant.
She backed out at the crucial moment, not out of fear of death, but because she wanted Luna’s life!
Coupled with the recent series of events, and Ann’s ambiguous involvement with Eli Sheridan, it only fueled Stanley Sheridan’s disgust further.
Such a woman, he would never allow Elliot to marry.
"Don’t worry, Third Miss only has a common cold, and with Second Miss by her side taking care of her, there’s likely no issue," the assistant dared not say more, only reassuring Stanley Sheridan this way.
Stanley Sheridan frowned, "Tell me, how is Luna’s relationship with Jane?"
"Second Miss cares for Third Miss in every aspect, and Third Miss seems heavily reliant on her. Their relationship is as good as biological sisters."
Although Jane Sheridan was discovered years ago not to be the actual daughter of the Sheridan Family, her status and entitlements remained unchanged.
This matter wasn’t disclosed outside by the Sheridan Family; they kept it deeply hidden to preserve Jane’s dignity.
Even after Cynthia Sheridan was acknowledged, the Sheridan Family publicly stated she was another lost daughter from years ago, only recently found.
And the person who found Cynthia was precisely Jane.
The entire Sheridan household was profoundly grateful to her, not only refusing to grow distant despite the lack of blood ties, but rather they were immensely thankful.
Listening to his assistant, Stanley Sheridan nodded thoughtfully, then gestured for him to leave, dialing the Imperial Capital Police Department.
The assistant exited the study, coincidentally running into Ethan Chaney heading towards there.
"The Chairman called you this late? What for?" Ethan Chaney asked, puzzled.
Ethan Chaney was a trusted confidant of Stanley Sheridan and a veteran of the Sheridan Group, so the assistant didn’t think much and revealed the entire context.
"The Chairman ordered you to have Ann Vaughn detained in the police department!?"
"Yes, it seems Second Miss suddenly called the Chairman, telling him Third Miss was bullied by Ann Vaughn, and is now sick. You know how protective the Chairman is, so..."
For someone in Stanley Sheridan’s position, targeting a "traditional medicine practitioner" with little background is exceedingly easy.
Moreover, just detaining her for a few days without demanding more consequences is already quite generous.
Ethan Chaney found himself at a loss for words; considering the Chairman’s affection for the Third Miss, if he voiced his suspicions, he’d likely be expelled on the spot.
But if the truth was indeed as he suspected, that Third Miss wasn’t the Chairman’s biological daughter, and Ann Vaughn was...
If he kept quiet, wouldn’t he be betraying Madame Sherman’s kindness from years ago?
"You better be cautious, don’t go overboard, lest you regret later," Ethan Chaney resignedly shook his head, sighing as he walked away.
The assistant was left utterly bewildered, standing there rooted; it’s just a traditional medicine practitioner without power or influence, what was there to regret?
Not far away, Uncle Vance clearly overheard their conversation and silently worried.
The old madam was fond of Dr. Vaughn; even her old persistent ailments were cured by Dr. Vaughn.
Stanley Sheridan’s actions now would be ungrateful, wouldn’t they?
He needed to quickly inform the old madam of this matter!
...
Inside the detention room, there was no clock, hence Ann Vaughn couldn’t discern the exact time, only feeling that time flowed exceptionally slow in this space.
Slow enough that the light on the wall dimmed little by little, the blurred shadows tightening around her heart like a giant hand.
Ann Vaughn’s slender fingers on her knees slowly clenched, her lowered face delicate and beautiful, overly serene.
Gradually, the light dimmed such that Ann could scarcely see the outlines of the table and chairs before her, prompting her to narrow her bright eyes, her rosy lips pressed tightly.
She had heard Sutton Jennings say that after the interrogator left, the detention room would only have the suspect alone.
The lights here follow a pattern, transitioning from dark to bright, and from bright to dark, followed by a long, extended period of darkness.
Subconsciously, the suspect would feel they were close to the light, yet no light would appear from then on. With this approach, even the most composed suspect would become agitated, restless.
This is a form of psychological pressure; the longer one stays in the dark, the more fragile their nerves become without the awaited light, possibly leading to mental breakdown for those of weaker will.
This tactic is generally employed for interrogating key offenders.
Unexpectedly, she was forced to experience it.
Ann Vaughn let out a sarcastic laugh, tightly closing her eyes as the darkness descended.
In the surveillance room, two officers were observing Ann Vaughn’s every move.
"Quite gutsy, huh? I thought she’d scream out in fear."
"Using the methods meant for serious offenders on a girl like this doesn’t seem right; she hasn’t done anything wrong."
"She has only herself to blame for offending those she shouldn’t have; beyond that, it’s none of our business."
While the two officers were murmuring, the surveillance room’s door opened, and the male officer who had escorted Ann Vaughn in earlier entered.
He glanced at the surveillance footage and lowered his voice, "The Sheridan Family has instructed that she must be taught a lesson; you know what to do, right?"
The two officers exchanged glances, nodded, then proceeded to operate the controls on the console.
"Not enough, intensify it," the male officer prompted discontentedly, "Lower the room temperature and use the newly input A-level psychological pressure music."
"But the person inside might suffer mental instability and become mentally impaired..."
"This is a target appointed by the Sheridan Family. If she becomes impaired, it’s her fate. Proceed."