Chapter 58: Chapter 58: May Our Paths Never Cross Again
Jude Sheridan stared at Zane Keller, who lay on the floor alongside several other wailing men. His brows were tightly knit, his eyes burning with rage.
The thought that these were the men Zane had called to defile Cecilia Croft made his anger boil over.
’How dare he?!’
"Zane Keller, you’re asking to die!"
He strode forward furiously and kicked Zane Keller square in the chest.
Zane Keller was in too much pain to speak, nearly blacking out.
When the Sheridan family members saw this, they knew today’s events wouldn’t be resolved easily.
But to save Jude Sheridan’s reputation and protect Vantage’s future interests, they had the remaining guests ushered out so they couldn’t watch any longer.
The guests hadn’t had their fill of the drama, but they were too embarrassed to brazenly stay and watch.
Jessica Keller and Mrs. Sheridan tried to use the commotion to escape but were stopped by Boss Sawyer’s men.
A flicker of mockery crossed Cecilia Croft’s eyes as she walked over to Boss Sawyer and extended a hand.
"Thank you for the generous gift, Boss Sawyer. I love it."
Boss Sawyer shook her offered hand.
"I’m the one who should be thanking you, Miss Croft."
Cecilia Croft gave a faint smile, her gaze dropping to the man on the floor. Her beautiful, icy eyes held not a trace of warmth.
"Mr. Keller, you found these men yourself. How was it?"
Zane Keller was curled up in a ball of agony on the floor, unable to answer her.
Cecilia Croft looked away from him, her eyes lifting to land on Jessica Keller and Mrs. Sheridan.
Both Jessica Keller and Mrs. Sheridan were too guilt-ridden to meet her eyes.
Though Cecilia Croft’s lips were curved into a smile, they both felt an intense, oppressive pressure.
"I’m sure today will be a very memorable occasion for you, Ms. Keller."
"You should be thankful you’re pregnant. Otherwise, you would have been the one sent to these men’s beds last night."
Jessica Keller took a frightened step back.
"This has nothing to do with me! I didn’t do anything! It was Mrs. Sheridan—she thought Jude valued you too much, that you were walking all over her. So she came up with a way to teach you a lesson, to make it so you could never hold your head high in front of Jude again."
Mrs. Sheridan, humiliated and enraged, slapped Jessica Keller across the face.
"Bullshit! You’re the one who instigated this, who told me to contact Zane Keller."
"Don’t you dare try to shift all the blame onto me!"
Jessica Keller was no match for the aggressive Mrs. Sheridan. She covered her face and burst into tears.
"I didn’t..."
She just kept shaking her head, looking for all the world like a delicate flower being trampled.
Mrs. Sheridan had a fiery temper. Seeing Jessica’s act, she couldn’t contain her rage. Forgetting that the girl was pregnant with Jude Sheridan’s child, she lunged at her and they began to scuffle.
Cecilia Croft watched them grab each other’s hair and devolve into a chaotic brawl, and she smiled.
’This works out well.’
’Saves me the trouble of getting my own hands dirty.’
Jessica Keller had little real-world experience; she was no match for a cunning shrew like Mrs. Sheridan.
Jude Sheridan didn’t intervene. He just watched coldly as Mrs. Sheridan completely overpowered Jessica and beat her.
He walked to Cecilia Croft’s side, his eyes filled with guilt and anguish, and apologized in a low voice.
"Cecilia, they tricked me last night. I drank too much and passed out. I had no idea they would dare to plot against you... I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you in time."
Cecilia Croft gave him a cold smile.
"Sorry? It’s a little late for that now, don’t you think?"
Jude Sheridan’s expression stiffened, his eyes filled with deep regret.
"Cecilia, I truly had no idea they were so audacious."
"I was careless in my associations, and you were wronged because of it. I swear, from this day forward, I’ll do everything in my power to make it up to you. I’ll listen to whatever you say. I won’t see anyone you don’t want me to see, or do anything you forbid."
"Thank God you weren’t physically harmed. Otherwise, I... I can’t even imagine."
As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Cecilia Croft, pulling her into a tight embrace.
A wave of nausea washed over Cecilia Croft, and her eyes turned frigid.
She raised her hands, using all her strength to push him away, but he only tightened his grip.
The next moment, a long, elegant hand landed on Jude Sheridan’s shoulder.
The moment Jude Sheridan turned his head, Sebastian Hawthorne yanked him away.
"Hey," Assistant Scott interjected, stepping between Jude Sheridan and Sebastian Hawthorne to form a human wall. "President Sheridan, let’s use our words. No need to get physical."
"You can’t possibly believe a few sweet nothings will be enough for Miss Croft to forgive you and meekly go through with this marriage, can you?"
Seeing Sebastian Hawthorne standing by Cecilia Croft’s side, Jude panicked, his expression freezing over.
"This is between me and Cecilia. Mr. Hawthorne, are you planning to meddle in other people’s family affairs?"
Sebastian Hawthorne narrowed his cool, dark eyes. He stood beside Cecilia Croft, his tall, elegant frame exuding an air of indifference.
"Family affairs?"
He scoffed, his gaze falling on Cecilia Croft. "Are you his family?"
Cecilia Croft shook her head and said flatly.
"No."
Only then did Sebastian Hawthorne raise his eyes to Jude Sheridan, his tone detached and cold.
"Did you understand that, President Sheridan? Miss Croft and you are not family."
Jude Sheridan’s eyes darkened, and his jaw tensed.
"Cecilia, there’s a limit to throwing a tantrum. I don’t blame you for ruining the wedding today, and I don’t blame you for embarrassing me. I know I was wrong. I’ll make it up to you with an even grander wedding in the future."
The sight of Sebastian Hawthorne standing beside Cecilia was an eyesore to him.
’It was as if they were the ones who belonged to the same world.’
He suppressed his unease, putting on a stern front.
"Come here."
Cecilia Croft didn’t move, the mockery in her eyes impossible to hide.
’Things have already gotten this far, and he really thinks I’d stay with him?’
’I have no idea where he gets this confidence.’
The Sheridan family members finally pulled Mrs. Sheridan off Jessica Keller. Seizing the opportunity to escape, Jessica scrambled to Jude Sheridan’s side for help.
"Jude, your mother’s gone crazy! Help me! I’m carrying your child!"
She desperately tried to shrink into his arms, clinging to his waist in the hope that he would protect her.
His eyes flashing with anger, Jude immediately yanked her off him.
Cecilia Croft just watched, not forgetting to offer a "helpful" reminder.
"She’s still carrying your child, you know. Be careful you don’t make her lose it."
Jude Sheridan froze, then looked at Cecilia Croft and said desperately.
"Cecilia, I’ll make her get rid of it. You’re the only one who can have my children. I’ll never allow a *thing* like that to exist and steal the inheritance meant for our future children."
He had called the baby in her womb a "thing." The color instantly drained from Jessica Keller’s face.
Jude Sheridan seized the chance to shove her away.
Jessica Keller fell to the floor, a sharp pain shooting through her abdomen.
"Jude, my stomach... it hurts..."
She wasn’t faking it this time, but no one paid her any mind.
Cecilia Croft saw officers entering through the doorway. She turned to Jude Sheridan and spoke with cold finality.
"Here’s to you and I never crossing paths again."
