In Joy’s eyes, right now Tanya Sinclair’s clothes were wrinkled, her hair a bit messy, and she wasn’t wearing any makeup... compared to Cindy’s mom under the spotlight, she was like heaven and earth apart!
So annoying! How embarrassing!
Tanya didn’t hear the words of the other children; she thought Joy was throwing a tantrum because she was blocking her view of taking pictures of Cindy Lynn.
"Mom brought you a change of clothes and socks." Tanya didn’t mind Joy’s bad attitude. After all, she’s her biological daughter, and she’s still young, just spoiled by The Hawthorne Family and Cindy Lynn for a while.
Tanya was willing to give her time to accept her, and also willing to spend time changing her. As long as it didn’t concern a matter of principle, she could tolerate Joy.
Tanya sat next to Joy and took out clean socks from the bag to put on Joy.
Joy’s little mouth curled up as if she could hang an oil bottle.
She glanced at the big bag on Tanya’s back,
the bag was terribly tacky, not like the small, shiny, and beautiful bag Cindy carried.
Why couldn’t Cindy’s mom be her real mom?
"Okay Joy, Mom will take you to change clothes, okay?" Tanya extended her hand to Joy, but Joy’s face was full of reluctance. She suddenly brightened her eyes, staring at something behind Tanya.
When Tanya turned around, she saw the tall figure of Vincent Hawthorne approaching.
He bent down to pick up the rushing Joy, while Joy wrapped her little hands around her mouth and whispered a few words into Vincent’s ear.
Vincent frowned slightly, "Joy!"
Joy, clinging to Vincent’s neck, acted coquettishly.
Vincent was helpless and could only look at Tanya and said, "You sit here for a while. Joy wants me to take her to change clothes."
"..." Tanya’s eyes dimmed slightly but still handed over the clothes.
Vincent did not take them immediately but first took out an exquisite small gift box from his pocket and handed it to Tanya.
"Tanya, this is a gift I prepared for you. I think you might like it."
Tanya took it and said flatly, "Thank you, where’s Caden?" She was more concerned about this.
Vincent pointed to a small path behind.
"Caden is at The Silverloom Plaza meeting a friend. Tanya, you sit here and wait for me. I’ll call him over later."
Of course, Tanya wouldn’t sit there stupidly waiting for Vincent.
She could see that no one welcomed her tonight.
She was just here to deliver something for the two kids, and she planned to leave after that.
After Vincent left with Joy, Tanya casually tossed the gift he gave into her bag without even opening the box for a glance. Find the newest release on novel⸺fire.net
She looked up and saw Cindy Lynn being surrounded by a group of second-generation heirs, like stars around the moon.
She said with a smile, "Tonight’s party was a surprise prepared for me by Senior Brother Vincent and Senior Brother Lucas. When I came, I really thought it was just a private gathering of a few of us. I didn’t know there would be so many people..."
Cindy Lynn smiled as she spoke, sipping the champagne in her hand, her peripheral vision catching the sight of Tanya’s figure disappearing around the corner.
She lowered her eyes, her long, thick lashes concealing the glittering light in them.
Meanwhile, in a corner on the second floor,
Declan Pierce’s tall and slender figure stood there, gently swaying the wine glass in his hand, the liquid inside as crimson as blood, reflecting a red glow in his eyes.
"Brother Pierce, you’re here." Zion Monroe walked over boldly, "What are you looking at?"
The Dissonance, this place, it’s really hard to enter the second floor.
The first floor anyone with money and power can come in, but the second floor is a members-only area, not open to the public.
Declan didn’t speak immediately, slightly tilting his head back to drink his wine to the bottom.
He swayed the empty glass, speaking softly, "Looking at a fool."
The cool voice soaked with the flavor of wine.
An inexplicable hint of resentment in it.
Zion Monroe followed Declan’s gaze, but there was no one in that corner.
He scratched his head, wanting to say something, but Declan had already turned and left.
Of course, Tanya didn’t know about everything that happened on the second floor after she left.
Guided by a waiter, she found The Silverloom Plaza, a semi-open courtyard with unique archaic charm.
Particularly tranquil, as if a world apart from outside.
Tanya slowed her steps to walk in and saw Caden playing Go with an elderly man with gray hair and old-fashioned clothes.
The two were engrossed in their game and did not notice someone had entered.
Tanya quietly watched for a while, proudly glancing at her son.
Caden was indeed a prodigy. At such a young age, his chess skills were already at a professional level.
The old man opposite was clearly inexperienced but enjoyed playing.
Tanya silently smiled, quietly taking out the anti-cold tea she brought and placing it on the table, along with a coat.
She turned to leave quietly but unexpectedly met Caden’s straightforward gaze.
"Why are you here?" Although Caden was always mature for his age, he was still a five-year-old child, and the trace of joy in his eyes was unmistakable.
This was like a warm beam of light illuminating Tanya’s heart.
"Who is this?" The old man asked curiously.
Caden eagerly introduced, "This is my birth mother, and this is my good friend Grandpa Philo. He’s a good friend I made online, and he sweeps the ground here."
Just hearing Caden call her mother with an added prefix almost brought Tanya to tears.
What kind of strange name is that?
Tanya couldn’t help but glance at the old man a few more times. His face was kind, and his eyes were exceptionally bright, outshining many younger people.
He didn’t seem like a bad person.
Tanya looked at the old man’s hand clenched into a fist on the table, his eyes wandering, whistling a little guiltily.
Caden looked at the Go board and realized, feeling quite helpless, "Grandpa Philo, did you steal pieces again?"
Clearly, this wasn’t the first time he’d done this.
"How can you call this stealing!" The old man, caught out, defiantly stuffed the pieces hidden in his hand into his pocket, then played the age card. "I’m almost eighty, my eyesight is failing, I must have put one piece wrong. Can’t you young people show some leniency?"
Caden sighed and patted his forehead, at a loss.
Just now, he needed only one move to win, but now the old man had stolen that crucial move, and it was troublesome.
As Caden rested his chin in his hand deep in thought, a hand suddenly reached over.
Tanya picked up one of Caden’s white pieces and placed it on the board, decisively reversing the situation, instantly trapping the black pieces.
She was not fond of playing Go, but back then, her grandpa Horace Sinclair loved it and was a national-level player. He had no opponents and pestered her to practice Go, to be his adversary...
"Mom, you’re amazing!" Caden exclaimed excitedly, hugging her tightly.
Joy surged in Tanya’s heart, and she could hardly believe what she had just heard.
"Caden, what did you call me?"
Caden quickly let her go, feeling awkward, "I...I didn’t say anything, you misheard."
Tanya smiled, smoothing his hair, "Alright, Mommy misheard."
She’s not in a hurry to force the children to call her Mom, but as long as she sees them gradually accepting her, she is content.
The old man wasn’t pleased, blowing his beard and glaring in objection.
"No, no, this round doesn’t count! You brought in reinforcements, you can’t play fair!"
Tanya smiled pleasantly, but her words were firm.
"Sir, it’s best you don’t bully my son with your age. Otherwise, every single time you play Go, I’ll be there, and you won’t win even half a piece!"
The old man suddenly became much more respectful.
Caden watched Tanya’s retreating figure, a little dazed. So this is what it feels like to be protected by Mom?
After handling things, Tanya turned back to Caden.
"Sweetie, Mommy has to go home. Would you like to come with Mommy or wait for Dad and your sister?"
Caden pressed his lips together, looking somewhat conflicted.
Tanya understood perfectly.
"Alright, then Mommy will go home first and wait for you guys. Drink the tea to warm up, and remember to wear the jacket when it gets cold."
After Tanya left, Caden looked at the hot tea and jacket she left behind, his little hand pressing against his heart.
The feeling here is so strange.
Tanya left The Silverloom Plaza, retracing her steps back to the hall, and saw Cindy Lynn holding Joy, newly dressed, by the hand, and Vincent Hawthorne standing before her.
Perhaps because it was too noisy around, he bent down to listen as Cindy spoke.
Joy’s eyes darted mischievously, then she covered her mouth with a naughty smile and circled behind Vincent, knocking against his leg.
Vincent was unprepared, and he lurched forward slightly, which led Cindy to accidentally kiss his cheek. Vincent awkwardly steadied Cindy by the shoulders to distance himself.
He furrowed his brow to catch Joy, who darted behind Cindy, while Cindy protected Joy with one hand and blocked Vincent with the other.
This scene looked just like a sweet, happy family of three, with a strict father and loving mother.
Tanya turned away expressionlessly, just about to leave.
Suddenly, a spotlight shone on her, turning her into the focus of everyone’s attention!
Tanya uncomfortably raised her hand to shield her eyes.
On the stage, at some point, a host with a microphone had appeared, "Now tonight’s most thrilling Rose Contest has begun. All adult women on the first floor are automatically entered. This lady, regardless of who brought you or how you arrived, you may not quit halfway!"
The insinuating ’how you arrived’ provoked teasing and laughs from the audience.
What do they see her as?!
A surge of intense humiliation washed over her, and Tanya clenched her fists tightly, her gaze piercing toward Vincent.
After all, they were legally married now. With her facing such humiliation and misunderstanding, as her husband, he should at least speak up!
But the next moment, Vincent actually awkwardly averted his eyes...