"Mommy, come and sit here. Kenny will apply the medicine for you!" The Little Dumpling huffed and puffed as he brought over the medical kit, pulling Ann Vaughn to sit down. Ann Vaughn was so exhausted that she just wanted to sleep, but seeing the Little Dumpling’s big, watery eyes filled with worry, her heart instantly softened. "Thank you, sweetheart. My baby is so capable; Mommy is very lucky." She bent down to kiss the Little Dumpling’s soft, tender cheek, smiling as she spoke. "Of course! With Kenny around, Mommy doesn’t need to do anything!" No wonder they say having a son completes everything. After applying the medicine, there was also the motherwort tea that Kenny had been brewing since early morning. After drinking that, there was a hot late-night snack to eat, the bath water was already prepared, and even the bed was made. Even after lying down in bed, Ann Vaughn’s feelings were still very complicated. Why does it feel like she and Kenny have swapped roles? Who has ever seen a little kid acting like an old caretaker, doing this and that? And when did that little guy learn to brew motherwort tea; she doesn’t remember teaching him? Follow current novels on N()velFire.net "If this goes on, Mommy will be spoiled by this good boy." Ann Vaughn said, half laughing, half crying, as she held the soft Little Dumpling. The Little Dumpling tilted his head up, "Mommy is a little Princess, and Princesses shouldn’t have to worry about anything!" Ann Vaughn’s broken heart was comforted ever so slightly, "Right! Let all those bothersome things go to hell!" After a good night’s rest, Ann Vaughn sent Kenny to school and then remembered she hadn’t replaced the wine she finished at Susie Sommers’ place, so she went to a high-end winery that had recently opened domestically after being imported from abroad. She was acquainted with the winery’s manager, so it didn’t take her much effort to secure a good batch. After arranging the delivery of the wine to Bamboo Creek Villa, Ann Vaughn didn’t leave immediately but went to the upstairs bar at the manager’s enthusiastic invitation. "Ann, I have some business to attend to." The manager, having taken a phone call, apologized to Ann Vaughn, "You enjoy yourself here; today’s on me, okay?" "OK." Ann Vaughn nodded and, after he hurried off, walked further inside. The heavy metal music in the bar was deafening. Ann Vaughn ordered two drinks and deftly bypassed the people dancing in the pit, making her way to a booth by the window. This spot offered a view of the tulip fields outside, with an array of colors creating a scene more brilliant than a rainbow. It must be said, the bar owner had quite a distinctive taste. Finding tranquility amidst noise, peace within oneself. Amid the loud music, a few men with arms draped over each other’s shoulders approached Ann Vaughn’s table, tapping on it. "Miss, just sitting in a bar is boring. Want to come join us for some fun?" The flippant and frivolous voice reached Ann Vaughn’s ears, prompting her to turn her head and glance at them. "Not interested, stay away from me." Her expression was indifferent, which added a touch of cold allure to her exquisite and beautiful face, making them hesitate to tease her. Yet, inexplicably, the men felt a shiver down their spines, and the frivolity on their faces immediately toned down. "Sorry, we didn’t mean to disturb you, just wanted to make a friend." Just as Ann Vaughn was about to decline, another voice outpaced her, "Let me see who’s got the guts to flirt with people on my turf." Julian Ford appeared, holding a glass of wine, and upon seeing Ann Vaughn looking over, he flashed a bright smile at her, "Hello, sister-in-law." The men’s faces changed, stuttering, "Young Master Ford, we didn’t know this lady was your friend. We’ll leave right away..." "A bunch of clueless folks," Julian Ford clicked his tongue, thinking they were lucky it was him here; had it been his brother, they wouldn’t escape unscathed, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing here at this hour... no, why are you here alone?" "Suddenly felt like drinking." Ann Vaughn set down her empty glass, avoiding the point, "Cian and I are already divorced. You might want to change how you address me." Julian Ford seemed taken aback by her words, pausing for a moment, "Sister-in-law, you and Cyrus are still on bad terms?" Ann Vaughn didn’t answer that question, instead signaled for a waiter and ordered a new drink, "Sunset at Distant Shores." Once her drink arrived, she finally said, "By the way, I haven’t had a chance to thank you for warning me earlier." The night before her return to The Imperial Capital, she had spoken with Julian Ford over the phone, that call led to her decision to return earlier. Seeing Ann Vaughn’s eyes so calm without a hint of disturbance, Julian Ford felt a jolt inside, unconsciously putting his previously crossed legs back down. "Sister-in-law, did you fight with my brother?" "You’re kidding." The reddish drink spread across her tongue, the fiery taste making Ann Vaughn cough twice, self-deprecatingly saying, "How am I even worthy to fight with him?" Julian Ford’s eyelids twitched, if Ann Vaughn were angry or upset now, that would actually be less concerning, because the problem could be solved. But she was too calm. Calm enough to seem as if she had already given up on Cyrus Hawthorne... This was exactly the outcome Cyrus wanted, yet as his friend, Julian Ford couldn’t feel happy at all for him. In fact, he felt somewhat aggrieved. As Ann Vaughn finished speaking and just as she intended to take another sip of the Sunset at Distant Shores, Julian Ford suddenly tilted his head back and drained his vodka glass in one gulp. Setting down his glass, he stood up and addressed Ann Vaughn, "Sister-in-law, come with me." After a couple of seconds of hesitation, Ann Vaughn followed him. Julian Ford led her out of the bar, through various twists and turns, to a secluded terrace, where no matter the angle, one could see the beautiful and colorful tulip fields. "Sister-in-law, from this moment on, I’m officially drunk." Julian Ford turned around, using a most serious tone to say things that made no sense, "Everything I’m about to say is drunk talk." Ann Vaughn thought, why did this once good child suddenly go crazy? Then she heard Julian Ford continue, "Sister-in-law, do you still remember when you were kidnapped and got infected with the mutated OX virus?" "Mutated... OX virus?" Ann Vaughn’s eyes slightly widened, "Wasn’t it the regular OX virus the kidnappers injected into me?" "If only it were just a regular virus." Julian Ford laughed bitterly, driven by either intoxication or a fire in his chest, he revealed the truth regardless, "The kidnappers’ initial target wasn’t you; it was Cian. But their protection was too tight, they couldn’t get close." "So they could only use you to contract the mutated virus and then pass it onto Cian." Ann Vaughn’s mind went blank for a moment, her brows knitting tighter and tighter, "I don’t quite understand."