Chapter 592: Human Hearts Are More Terrifying Than Ghosts and Gods

Cecilia Vaughn finished listening to the story, her voice sounding a bit strained.

"So... you never thought to give Dashiell a heads up?"

"How would I have warned him?"

Adrian Law putting a stop to the man and the woman at the time was already an uncommon act of kindness to prevent Dashiell and his mother from being publicly embarrassed at school. It was someone else’s family affair, and Dashiell was a stranger to Adrian. Adrian didn’t have time to meddle in others’ business.

Cecilia Vaughn frowned, feeling inexplicably more uncomfortable.

"If Dashiell were Zion Prescott or Felix Lockwood, would you stand by and watch them suffer such injustice?"

"They’re my friends, it’s different."

Adrian Law lightly took Cecilia Vaughn’s hand.

"Cecilia, I understand your kindness, but this world is very complicated, and the world of adults even more so."

"Have you ever thought about why Dashiell’s mother, even though she obviously didn’t agree, didn’t shout out loudly at school or forcefully break free from the man’s grasp?"

Cecilia Vaughn wasn’t naive either.

"Because... she has to consider her son’s reputation, and this world is inherently unfair. If Boss Zane later turns the tables and claims Dashiell’s mother had seduced him, perhaps at most Boss Zane would earn a reputation for being a philanderer, but life for Dashiell and his mother would become even harder."

"Not only that..."

Adrian Law shook his head with a smile.

"Dashiell’s mother, despite being attractive, never considered going out to work, nor did she want to rid herself of Dashiell’s uncle’s assistance."

"Otherwise, even if they took up jobs, like working as cleaners, they wouldn’t let themselves be bullied by a brother of her husband."

"Doesn’t the Zane Family leave any money for Dashiell and his mother at all?"

Cecilia Vaughn was left speechless.

"Do you think everyone can compete with those who are truly ruthless?"

Dashiell’s mother was only somewhat beautiful, but her family favored her brother, showing no kindness to her, even treating her like discarded trash after her divorce, claiming she brought bad luck to any husband, not wanting to take in Dashiell as a grandson.

As for the Zane Family, they certainly weren’t short a grandson.

Boss Zane, someone like him, is heartless, don’t even mention brotherly sentiments to him.

...

Cecilia Vaughn furrowed her brows, and it was a long time before her clenched fists gradually relaxed.

"I kind of understand you now."

Unveiling the relationship between Dashiell’s mother and his uncle would first bring lifelong humiliation to Dashiell, making it easy for a mentally immature teenager to spiral down the most extreme paths in life.

The second issue is money; his mother couldn’t independently raise him, and his maternal family offered no help. Someone reliant on charity, trying to nurture Dashiell into success, is about as hard as reaching for the stars.

Once things really break down, with both sides ending disastrously, Boss Zane would merely become a person of ridicule, while the painful consequences would be swallowed entirely by the mother and son.

Since they’ve already sacrificed so much, it might as well be sacrificed to the end.

...

Cecilia Vaughn’s expression became somewhat helpless and heavy.

"Adrian, I was too naive. You don’t have any obligation to help others, and even if you did, others might not appreciate it, and you wouldn’t have to handle the series of crises after helping."

Adrian Law wrapped his arm around Cecilia Vaughn’s waist, his eyes flashing a deep, dark color.

"For Dashiell and his mother, it may be a very humiliating path, but they have no other choice."

...

Thinking about it, Cecilia Vaughn recalled Dashiell repeatedly helping Boss Zane, even floating him two hundred thousand, which made her feel stifled.

"I think... Dashiell is probably still in the dark, otherwise he wouldn’t help Boss Zane like that."

"In some sense, isn’t this akin to recognizing a thief as a father?"

"Cecilia, do you want to reveal the truth to him?"

Adrian Law furrowed his brows.

According to Cecilia Vaughn, Dashiell had already decided to sever ties with Boss Zane, and wouldn’t act for him anymore. Buried in the past, perhaps he could still preserve the beautiful image of his mother and retain some dignity.

Cecilia Vaughn understood Adrian Law’s meaning, but her heart truly felt heavy.

"Adrian, I understand I shouldn’t meddle, but I don’t see Dashiell as someone maliciously blinded by greed. If we tell him briefly, just enough to make a point, whether he chooses to become enemies with Boss Zane or resent us, it wouldn’t matter much to us."

"Because Dashiell’s actions have given us leverage. If he is truly a fool, we can just take him down."

Not to mention, merely the recent event of Dashiell secretly advising Boss Zane to buy a piece of land in Stellerton at a low price would be enough trouble for him.

...

After thinking it over, Adrian Law nodded.

"Alright, do as you see fit."

Cecilia Vaughn thought about it a moment before sending a message over.

——Mr. Zane, thank you for the reminder to be mindful of Cynthia’s safety.

——In that case, let me also offer you some advice. Have you considered why your mother no longer maintained herself and embraced her aging so openly? Have you considered the reason behind your uncle?

For a smart person, this nudge should suffice.

Cecilia Vaughn then deleted all past texts with Dashiell.

...

Dashiell never replied to her.

Cecilia Vaughn never really tried to find out.

However, Cecilia Vaughn still fortified her protection over Cynthia Keaton along with her brother, investing seventeen thousand of the twenty thousand given by Dashiell into her charity foundation, and directly giving Cynthia the remaining three thousand.

In her heart, Cecilia Vaughn appreciated the girl, thus spoke frankly.

"Cynthia, I really don’t want you working in those places during your senior year, these three thousand, use them wisely, take out a loan for college, your life will be different."

Cynthia Keaton cried tears like rain.

"Miss Vaughn, but I..."

She had a father who loved gambling, losing the family’s valuables. These three thousand were truly life-saving money, yet she couldn’t hide it in her hands for long.

After hearing Cynthia Keaton’s explanation, Cecilia Vaughn thought a moment.

"How about this, if you trust me, I can keep the three thousand safe for you, sending you money monthly and buying upnecessities, so you won’t be too noticeable on record."

"Of course, I trust Miss Vaughn..."

Cynthia Keaton wiped her tears.

Cecilia Vaughn thought for half a second, gently wiping the girl’s face with a tissue.

"Cynthia, I’ve heard your mother passed away, your father although being your legal guardian, hasn’t fulfilled his responsibilities. If you don’t mind, using the three thousand, I can rent you an apartment with great security near school, and just act like you don’t have that father anymore."