Chapter 68: Chapter 68: There’s Such a Good Thing?
Cecilia Croft’s hand holding the phone tightened, and a trace of worry crossed her features.
"Sis, no matter what, I’ll complete the mission."
Ruby Croft hummed softly in agreement and sighed. "You’ve grown up."
In the past, she would have panicked and asked her what to do.
After ending the call, Cecilia Croft went to the front desk to pick up her takeout. Just as she got it in her hands, she saw Sebastian Hawthorne and his entourage returning from outside.
She hurried over, putting on an eager and attentive expression.
"Mr. Hawthorne, have you eaten yet?"
Sebastian Hawthorne kept his eyes lowered, listening to the person beside him report on the day’s schedule. He ignored her, walking past with a blank expression.
Cecilia Croft wasn’t annoyed. She shamelessly and naturally fell in step behind him, heading toward the elevators.
The receptionist at the front desk saw this and felt a major headache coming on.
It was inappropriate to stop her, but doing nothing was also not an option.
Cecilia Croft waited until the assistant beside Sebastian Hawthorne had finished his report before speaking with a smile.
"Mr. Hawthorne, let’s have lunch together."
Sebastian Hawthorne stopped and turned to look at her. His deep eyes were unreadable, showing no sign of pleasure or displeasure.
Seeing this, the receptionist hurried forward to intervene.
"I’m sorry, Mr. Hawthorne. We’ll have this young lady leave at once."
Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t react, so the receptionist didn’t rush to chase her away.
Cecilia Croft maintained her smile, forcing herself to remain calm. ’Since he’s already seen through our scheme, there’s no way he’ll let me join the Hawthorne Group today.’
’My sister’s welcome dinner for me is in three days.’
’I still have three days.’
’No need to panic.’
Before the receptionist could start shooing her away, she quickly thrust the gift bag she was holding into Sebastian Hawthorne’s hands.
"This gift is to thank you for taking me home last night. It has nothing to do with me trying to join the Hawthorne Group. Let’s keep things separate. Please accept it, Mr. Hawthorne."
The man before her remained expressionless, but at least he didn’t throw the gift bag away in front of her.
Cecilia Croft breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Sebastian Hawthorne lowered his gaze, glancing at the takeout in her hand.
Cecilia Croft followed his gaze down and froze for a few seconds.
’He can’t possibly be eyeing my takeout. He’s probably just testing me.’
’After all, I’m here to ask for a job. I should suck up a little if I can.’
’If I can kiss some ass, I’ll kiss some ass.’
’It’s not shameful.’
’Besides, there’s no way Sebastian Hawthorne would actually eat my takeout.’
Ignoring her rumbling stomach, Cecilia Croft also offered him the takeout bag.
"You’ve had a long morning, Mr. Hawthorne. You must be hungry. No matter how busy you are, you should remember to eat on time, or you’ll give yourself stomach problems."
She was fully prepared for Sebastian Hawthorne to refuse.
The next second, however, the man before her reached out and took hold of the takeout bag in her hand.
Cecilia Croft could only watch as the man tightened his grip on the takeout bag, silent for several long seconds.
Seeing that she wasn’t letting go, Sebastian Hawthorne said coolly, "Thanks."
Cecilia Croft: "?"
’How did things not go the way I expected?’
Under the stare of Sebastian Hawthorne’s deep, dark eyes, she had no choice but to slowly release her hand.
She was on the verge of tears.
’I just glanced at the logo on the takeout container—it’s from my favorite restaurant, The Crimson Dynasty.’
’After being away from Karthus for so many years, the one thing I missed most was this restaurant’s garlic-scented spareribs.’
’I could already smell the aroma of the garlic spareribs wafting from the container.’
’I was just being polite! I didn’t think he’d actually take it!’
Sebastian Hawthorne took the takeout bag and strode toward the elevator, showing no intention of inviting her to join him.
Cecilia Croft tried to follow, but the receptionist stopped her.
"Miss, I’m sorry, but please don’t make things difficult for us."
Cecilia Croft: "..."
’I’m clearly the one in a difficult position here!’
’Doesn’t Sebastian Hawthorne get it? When you accept a gift, you’re supposed to go easy on the giver!’
She had no intention of leaving just like that, so under the receptionist’s gaze, she returned to the waiting area.
The receptionist didn’t dare give her a hard time, mainly because she couldn’t figure out Sebastian Hawthorne’s attitude toward her.
Cecilia Croft was starving. After downing several glasses of water, she felt that with the slightest movement, she could hear the water sloshing with a SLOSH, SLOSH sound in her stomach.
’This is so frustrating.’
’Ever since Vantage established itself in Silvercrest, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this aggrieved.’
A girl also sitting in the corner, just like Cecilia Croft, took out two steamed buns from her bag, hesitated for a moment, then handed one to Cecilia.
"Here, have something to tide you over."
Cecilia Croft was about to politely refuse, but the girl just pushed the steamed bun into her hand.
"Go on, eat. We’ve got a long day ahead of us."
"Thank you." Seeing the gesture, Cecilia Croft could only accept and didn’t refuse further.
She took a small bite of the steamed bun and listened quietly to the people chatting around her.
The steamed bun was a bit dry and hard to swallow. The thought of Sebastian Hawthorne comfortably sitting in his office, eating fragrant garlic spareribs while she was stuck here gnawing on a bun, made her heart fill with indignation.
’He clearly doesn’t want to hire me at the Hawthorne Group, yet he still "snatched" my takeout.’
’How despicable and detestable!’
Although she had already silently cursed him to get diarrhea after eating it, her resentment didn’t lessen in the slightest.
Just as her bellyful of resentment had nowhere to go, her phone vibrated a few times in her bag. She took it out and saw it was an unknown number from Silvercrest.
Cecilia Croft stared at the flashing numbers, her beautiful eyes turning cold. After swiping to answer, she got up and walked outside.
Jude Sheridan’s agitated voice quickly came through the phone.
"Cecilia, where did you go?"
Cecilia Croft’s voice was cold. "What’s it to you?"
Jude Sheridan’s voice was tinged with exhaustion. "Cecilia, I know you’re angry, but the incident with Zane Keller really had nothing to do with me. How could I ever stand by while another man hurt you?"
"We can talk this out calmly. You can’t just disappear like this, and you even sold our marital home."
He hadn’t been involved in the incident with Zane Keller, so he was released as soon as the investigation concluded.
Last night, he had searched nearly every hotel, big and small, in Silvercrest, but found no trace of Cecilia Croft. He’d jogged back to Parkside District and spent the night in the still-under-renovation villa, only to be confronted by the villa’s new owner this morning.
The new owner told him that Cecilia Croft had sold the villa to him half a month ago.
In that instant, Jude Sheridan’s anxiety and panic reached their peak.
He had never truly believed that Cecilia Croft would leave him.
But now that she had even sold their marital home, he couldn’t help but let his mind run wild with terrible thoughts.
Cecilia Croft scoffed.
"What marital home? That was a property I bought in my own name, legally notarized. What does it have to do with you? You really have a talent for flattering yourself, President Sheridan."
Jude Sheridan was choked into silence by her words for a few seconds. When he spoke again, his tone was laced with a hint of helplessness and deep regret.
"Cecilia, I’m sorry. I know my emotional infidelity caused you indelible pain, and I truly regret it."
"I love you. I can’t lose you. We’ve been together for seven years, not seven days. Please, give me one more chance. I promise I’ll never make a mistake like this again."
"I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you. I think I might die."
Cecilia Croft’s eyes were completely indifferent. Jude Sheridan’s apology didn’t cause the slightest emotional ripple; she only found it laughable.
"You say that like it’s a bad thing."
