Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Avoiding His Sharp Edge
Just as Cecilia Croft tried to glean some information from his deep eyes, he closed them.
Cecilia regretfully looked away.
The next second, the man sitting in the chair murmured.
"Cecilia... the check."
When he said her name, his voice was low and smooth, seemingly laced with a thousand tangled emotions.
Cecilia’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
’I have to admit,’ she thought, ’a tipsy man’s voice is dangerously appealing!’
"Okay,"
she replied quickly, pressing the service bell.
A server quickly came over with a card machine.
Cecilia picked up her phone, ready to pay.
It was just one meal. She could still afford it.
Besides, Sebastian Hawthorne had helped her so much recently; it was only right for her to treat him to a meal.
She handed her phone to the server, and just as she was about to have them scan the QR code, a long, warm hand covered her screen.
Cecilia looked at the hand’s owner, confused.
"What’s wrong?"
Sebastian Hawthorne’s expression was grim. "The Croft family is on the verge of bankruptcy. You should save your money."
His words were like the world’s most potent poison, striking a fatal blow.
Cecilia had originally thought that for a Western-style dinner plus a bottle of fine red wine, a five-figure price tag wasn’t too expensive.
But after he said that, she suddenly felt the sting of the expense and was reluctant to pay for it herself.
She sheepishly pulled back her phone and made a "please, be my guest" gesture.
"Well... you do it, then?"
Seeing her feigned humility, Sebastian Hawthorne let out a low chuckle, took out his own phone, and placed it in her palm.
"Fine."
Cecilia stared blankly at the new phone in her hand. Seeing the server still waiting, she had no choice but to bite the bullet, swipe the screen open, and ask when she saw the lock screen passcode prompt.
"What’s the passcode?"
Sebastian Hawthorne: "775260."
Cecilia focused on entering the passcode.
Sebastian watched her slender, beautiful fingers dance across the screen without the slightest hesitation, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
His phone had a simple layout, and Cecilia quickly found the payment app. When she opened the payment code, it required another password.
She looked up at him.
He was just staring at her, lost in thought, his dark eyes exceptionally deep.
"Mr. Hawthorne, you should enter the payment password yourself."
Sebastian didn’t shy away from it and simply recited it aloud.
"770457."
Cecilia entered it again. As she looked away, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of the slight disappointment in the man’s eyes.
She paid it no mind and handed the payment code to the server.
It was almost time for the flight to depart. Assistant Scott finished his business and came to pick them up.
Cecilia went to the airport with Sebastian Hawthorne.
Sebastian leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed the entire way. When they arrived at the airport, Cecilia thought the man beside her was asleep, but he opened his eyes the second the car stopped. The corners of his eyes were faintly red, still showing signs of his tipsiness.
Assistant Scott escorted them into the airport. He had some last-minute business and had to stay in Silvercrest, so he left the briefcase behind when he departed.
Cecilia saw Sebastian occasionally raise his hand to press his temples, his brow furrowed. He was clearly uncomfortable.
She considerately took Sebastian’s briefcase from Assistant Scott.
Sebastian glanced down at her, his expression unreadable.
Cecilia quickly said, "Don’t worry, Mr. Hawthorne. I won’t peek at your documents or steal any trade secrets."
Sebastian Hawthorne: "I doubt you have the guts."
Cecilia: "Lend me some guts, and maybe I will."
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that after she spoke, the gloom in Sebastian’s eyes seemed to lift a little.
Upon entering the business class cabin, Cecilia found her seat.
She hadn’t paid attention when buying her ticket and had chosen a window seat in a two-seat row.
Sebastian Hawthorne followed behind her, and after she sat down, he sat down right next to her.
Cecilia froze for a second before speaking awkwardly.
"What a coincidence?"
Sebastian Hawthorne: "Not a coincidence."
Cecilia: "..."
He seemed unwell. He adjusted his posture to find a comfortable position, turned his head toward her, and fell asleep without another word.
Although he was exceptionally quiet, his presence was just as strong as ever.
Cecilia couldn’t help but keep looking at his sleeping face.
Strands of his black hair were scattered casually across his forehead, softening the sharp, imposing aura he usually carried. A faint furrow was etched between his brows, as if he were in some discomfort.
In the ten years since she’d left Silvercrest, Cecilia had never imagined that she would one day be in such close contact with Sebastian Hawthorne.
As her thoughts drifted, Cecilia began to feel drowsy herself.
She hadn’t slept at all the previous night, and now that she was relaxing, a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, she felt someone tapping her on the shoulder.
Cecilia opened her eyes and turned to look behind her.
She saw a girl of about eighteen or nineteen timidly and nervously holding out a phone toward her.
Cecilia took a closer look and saw a line of text on the phone’s screen.
[Miss, are you his girlfriend?]
Cecilia shook her head. "No."
The pretty, young girl was visibly delighted. She could barely contain her joy as she quickly said,
"In that case, could you please send me his contact information?"
"Uh..." Cecilia hesitated. When she looked down, her eyes met the man’s deep gaze.
Cecilia pressed her lips together. "Um... this young lady wants your contact information."
Sebastian turned and shot a glance at the standing girl. Perhaps his gaze was too cold, the chill in his eyes too intimidating, because the girl flinched and timidly shrank back.
How could she dare to ask for his contact information now?
He coldly retracted his gaze and swept it over Cecilia, looking as if he would flay her alive if she dared to give out his contact info.
Cecilia guiltily averted her eyes.
For a split second, she had actually considered giving out Sebastian’s contact information.
’Those who are brave get to enjoy the world first,’ she thought, ’and that includes the right to pursue someone they like.’
Although she kept telling Sebastian how brave she was, only she knew that she wasn’t nearly brave enough.
"You don’t have to be so cold to your admirers, do you?"
Sebastian leaned back in his seat and slanted a look at her.
"If Jude Sheridan had been as cold as I am, he probably wouldn’t have cheated on you with Jessica Keller."
Cecilia was speechless.
She had only muttered a small complaint, and in return, Sebastian had stabbed her repeatedly with his words.
It was his restless good looks that attracted all the bees and butterflies, yet she was the one who ended up getting hurt.
She shouldn’t have said anything.
Not to be outdone, she shot back, "Serves you right for being single at your age."
Completely unfazed, Sebastian parried her attack.
"That’s still better than being caught in the rain for seven years without realizing you were holding a broken umbrella."
Cecilia was utterly defeated and fell silent.
When it came to attacking her failed relationship, it was like Sebastian had all his buffs stacked. She couldn’t win an argument against him, so for now, she’d avoid his sharp tongue.
She turned her back to Sebastian, leaned against the seat, and silently cursed his entire family tree.
As she was drifting off to sleep, it seemed someone gently covered her with a blanket.
