Chapter 750: Chapter 750: Kicked Down with One Kick
Several months had passed, and Ann Vaughn never expected she would return to the room that was called the "Sheridan Family’s Forbidden Zone."
The number of valuable crystal dolls in the glass cabinet embedded into the wall seemed to have increased, and the child’s princess bed in the center of the room had been replaced with a large pink lace bed, with several chubby teddy bears adorning the headboard.
Walking further in and turning a corner, there was a walk-in closet with all the wardrobes open, revealing the clothes inside at a glance, leaving Ann Vaughn frozen in place.
This...
"All these were prepared during your absence because your grandmother and I always felt you would return at any time, and unknowingly we accumulated so many,"
Stanley Sheridan had walked in without her noticing, his tone unusually gentle: "Even though we knew you couldn’t use them, this habit continued to this day."
As for the impression Stanley Sheridan had left on Ann Vaughn in previous encounters, it was so poor that, although she could accept the fact she was the Sheridan daughter, it was difficult to accept him as her father.
Moreover... her mother had died because of him.
Ann Vaughn clenched her palms and didn’t respond to him.
Stanley Sheridan didn’t mind; a rare gentleness appeared on his usually stern and dignified face.
"Your room was arranged by your brother and Wilder together. If there’s anything you don’t like, you can tell the butler to have it redecorated or redesigned to your liking."
Ann Vaughn neither nodded nor shook her head, her expression unchanged.
Seeing this, Stanley Sheridan sighed: "I know I said a lot of harsh things to you before and did things I shouldn’t have done. It’s only natural for you to resent me and not want to acknowledge me."
"I don’t expect you to forgive me, I just hope you don’t estrange yourself from the family. After all, we are your family."
From Elliot and Wilder’s attitude towards her, it was likely those two had long been aware of her background, and perhaps even the Grand Empress Dowager knew as well.
The reason they never mentioned it could very well be because Ann Vaughn herself didn’t want to return to the Sheridan Family.
But this bitter result was brewed by Stanley Sheridan himself, and now he would have to swallow it.
Chairman Sheridan, who would not say an extra word in meetings, rambled on and on to himself, seeing that Ann Vaughn still didn’t want to engage with him and seemed a bit impatient.
He had no choice but to reluctantly halt the family talk, "I’ve placed the medicine prescribed by the doctor outside for you, you must be tired, so I won’t disturb your rest."
Ann Vaughn nodded slightly, watching him leave without a word.
After Stanley Sheridan left, Ann Vaughn sat down, took out her phone, and made a call to Ian Vaughn, nervously explaining everything that had happened.
Her uncle had always worried that the fact she was the daughter of the Sheridan Family would be exposed, but now, with those socialites and young gentlemen at the party talking about it, by tomorrow, all of Marinia would know.
"Throwing a party by the pool in early spring, was Jane Sheridan really that afraid others wouldn’t know her intentions? Was she deliberately trying to harm you?" Ian Vaughn’s focus was evidently elsewhere, "If you hadn’t been kind enough to save her, things wouldn’t have ended well for her."
Ann Vaughn coughed lightly, "Indeed, I was the one who pushed her in, and I made her drink a lot of pool water before bringing her back to the surface."
Saying "pushed" was an understatement.
At that time, she had directly kicked her in.
Thanks to Jane Sheridan, who had arranged an inconspicuous "good spot" for her, coupled with her having observed there were no cameras, she hadn’t held back at all.
She returned the favor of Jane Sheridan pretending to fall into the water to frame her in another way.
Ian Vaughn chuckled softly, "She provoked you first; no matter what you do to her, it’s not excessive. Even if something happens, your uncle will back you up."
"Moreover, before your background was exposed, I had already thought of ways to handle it. You don’t need to worry; it’s not as serious as you think."
"Yes, yes! I’ll listen to Uncle!" Ann Vaughn was relieved and stopped worrying about this matter.
What she didn’t know was that after hanging up, Ian Vaughn’s expression turned extremely grave, not as relaxed as when he was comforting Ann Vaughn.
With danger approaching from both ends, staying in Marinia was ultimately not the safest option for Annie.
Ann Vaughn stood up and left the walk-in closet, only to see Wilder Sheridan rushing in excitedly from outside, holding up his laptop and announcing to Ann Vaughn: "Sis! I’ve got something good!"
"What good thing?" Ann Vaughn curiously walked over to take a look.
"I hacked into dad’s study’s surveillance. Big brother just went in, let’s listen to what they’re talking about."
"..." Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but give this foolish brother a light tap on the back of his head, but said, "Be careful not to get caught."
She was also curious about when Stanley Sheridan had learned about her background, maybe she could find some answers in it.
In the surveillance footage, Stanley Sheridan and Elliot sat across from each other, the teacups on the table emitting wisps of steam, but neither seemed in the mood to savor tea at this moment.
"The moment you saw your sister, you knew who she was, didn’t you?" Elliot’s hand paused over the Buddha Beads, and his seemingly gentle face bore no smile.
Stanley Sheridan did not deny it, "And when did you find out?"
"After my eyesight was cured, the first time I saw her," Elliot didn’t conceal it either, "but I always remembered your initial words, not daring to acknowledge her hastily, pretending to have nothing to do with her, only secretly watching over her."
"You did well." Stanley Sheridan nodded with satisfaction.
Elliot smirked slightly and bluntly said, "But you did not."
He was referring to Stanley Sheridan publicly acknowledging Ann Vaughn’s identity in front of everyone.
"You had previously humiliated her several times to force Sweetie away from the Sheridan Family and Marinia, thinking that things could be mended between you later, so even letting her misunderstand you didn’t matter."
"But you couldn’t stand others humiliating and trampling on her self-esteem. You didn’t want her to really think she was the kind of person they said she was... I understand your feelings at that time, so I didn’t stop you."
Elliot spoke slowly, his voice gentle yet firm, rich and full in sound.
Ann Vaughn’s heart stirred, and her head felt slightly warm.
At that moment, she heard Elliot continue, "Dad, if I’m not mistaken, the DNA report of Cynthia Vaughn at the time was also fabricated by you."
What!?
Ann Vaughn and Wilder exchanged shocked glances, their astonishment unspoken.
"Oh?" Stanley Sheridan’s expression remained inscrutable, "Continue."
Elliot took a sip of tea to wet his mouth before proceeding, "Not just that report, her swift establishment in the Sheridan Family was also aided by you. But what others could see was how much you adored and protected Cynthia Vaughn."