Chapter 73: Chapter 73: She Can’t Figure Out His Thoughts
The two of them entered the restaurant, and a waiter led them into a private room.
Cecilia Croft couldn’t help but marvel at the decor. The Crimson Dynasty was getting more and more extravagant.
The waiter brought two menus, handing one to Cecilia and the other to Sebastian Hawthorne.
Cecilia hadn’t gotten to eat the garlic spare ribs her sister ordered for her at lunch. Just as she was about to order them now, Sebastian Hawthorne’s deep voice cut in.
"An order of Garlic Spare Ribs, Crispy Rice and Millet Porridge, Sour and Spicy Beef Soup, Minced Beef with Double Peppers..."
Every dish Sebastian Hawthorne ordered was one of Cecilia’s favorites.
After finishing his order, he closed the menu and handed it to the waiter.
The waiter took the menu back with a smile. Seeing Cecilia holding her own menu while staring blankly at Sebastian Hawthorne, he asked respectfully,
"Is there anything else you’d like to add, miss?"
Cecilia shook her head, closing her menu and handing it to the waiter.
"No, that’s all, thank you."
Sebastian Hawthorne had already ordered everything she wanted to eat.
The waiter collected the menus with a polite smile.
"Certainly. Please give us a moment."
After the waiter left, only Cecilia and Sebastian Hawthorne were left in the private room.
Cecilia broke the silence.
"I’m surprised, Mr. Hawthorne. Our tastes are so similar. You ordered all the dishes I’ve been craving. Thanks to you, I’m really in for a treat today."
Sebastian Hawthorne poured her a glass of water and placed it within her reach.
"It’s just a few dishes, yet you’ve been craving them this much? It seems you’ve really had a hard time in Silvercrest."
Cecilia: "..."
Sebastian Hawthorne unhurriedly picked up his water glass and took a small sip. "Since you suffered so much, why go back? Don’t tell me there’s someone there you can’t let go of?"
Cecilia had just picked up her glass. Before it could reach her lips, his words hit a nerve.
"Bull—"
Before the rest of the curse could leave her lips, she quickly composed herself.
After all, she was the one asking for a favor. She couldn’t afford to get on his bad side.
She softened her tone and said calmly,
"I’ve let it go. What’s there to hold on to? I chose to return to Silvercrest because that’s where I can be of greatest value to you, Mr. Hawthorne. You’re surrounded by brilliant people; I have to compete with them in an area where I have an edge."
Sebastian Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. His deep, dark eyes settled on her, filled with scrutiny.
Cecilia wasn’t intimidated. She met his gaze head-on.
"You don’t think I’m someone who’s indecisive when it comes to relationships, do you, Mr. Hawthorne?"
Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t answer, which was a clear admission.
Cecilia straightened her back, her neck stiff as she spoke.
"Mr. Hawthorne, I’m not the type of person to let relationship issues affect my work. If you just give me a chance, I can prove it to you."
Sebastian Hawthorne studied her serious expression and slowly set down his glass.
Just then, a waiter came in and began serving the food.
Seeing that Sebastian Hawthorne still hadn’t given her an answer, Cecilia felt a pang of frustration.
"Place them in front of her."
The waiter quickly moved the dishes from Sebastian Hawthorne’s side of the table over to Cecilia’s.
With a crestfallen expression, Cecilia didn’t pick up her chopsticks.
When Sebastian Hawthorne saw she wasn’t eating, he said coolly,
"I thought you were hungry."
Cecilia pursed her lips. "I have too much on my mind. I’ve lost my appetite."
At her words, Sebastian Hawthorne smiled. He picked up a spare rib with his chopsticks and held it out to her.
"In that case..."
Cecilia’s eyes brightened.
Sebastian Hawthorne continued, "...what a shame for these ribs. So delicious, but I’ll have to enjoy them all alone."
Realizing he was teasing her, Cecilia lunged forward and bit down, catching both the rib and his chopsticks in her mouth.
Sebastian Hawthorne froze for a second. Cecilia was already chewing.
"I couldn’t let you enjoy this delicious meal all by yourself, Mr. Hawthorne. I’ll just have to force myself to put my worries aside and join you."
Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t reply. He glanced down at his chopsticks, then pulled his hand back.
Cecilia knew she had bitten his chopsticks. She pushed her unused pair across the table toward him and held out her other hand, waiting for him to give her the ones she’d just had in her mouth.
Sebastian Hawthorne glanced at her, then placed his chopsticks in her palm and took the clean pair she offered.
Despite the discomfort in her neck, Cecilia channeled her frustration into hunger and ate with gusto.
After dinner, Sebastian Hawthorne drove her home.
On the drive back, Cecilia sat in her seat, her expression troubled.
Sebastian Hawthorne still hadn’t given her a clear answer, and she couldn’t very well keep pressing him for one.
For some reason, her thoughts suddenly drifted to Vantage, and to Jude Sheridan.
’If only...’
Realizing where her thoughts were heading, she immediately snapped out of it, forcibly pushing the idea from her mind.
’In this world, there are no ’if onlys’.’
She sighed silently, trying to think of another way to solve her problem. As she glanced to the side, she caught the man driving beside her watching her, his eyes cold.
"Thinking about your ex-boyfriend while sitting in my car?"
His voice was low, carrying a heavy note of warning.
Cecilia pursed her lips. She could feel a wave of what could only be called ’possessiveness’ rolling off Sebastian Hawthorne. She gave an awkward laugh.
"Of course not."
"See that you aren’t," Sebastian Hawthorne scoffed, turning his eyes back to the road.
Cecilia: "..."
She and Sebastian Hawthorne had no relationship to speak of, yet his attitude somehow made her feel as guilty as if she’d been caught having an affair.
She was silent for a moment. After some careful thought, she finally spoke up, her voice quiet.
"Mr. Hawthorne, do you have a policy against employees getting into relationships?"
’Most bosses seemed to frown on that sort of thing.’
’After all, a lot of people let their emotions during the honeymoon phase affect their work and lead to poor judgment.’
Sebastian Hawthorne shot her a look. "Why? Are you planning to start a romance the second you join Hawthorne Group?"
Cecilia’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly waved her hands in denial. "Of course not!"
"I can promise you, Mr. Hawthorne, that for the foreseeable future after I join Hawthorne Group, I will not pursue any relationships. My focus will be entirely on my work, and I will be devoted to serving you."
’My attitude is perfectly proper and sincere,’ Cecilia thought.
But Sebastian Hawthorne simply gave her a cool look before turning away, silent.
Seeing his indifferent expression, a flicker of confusion crossed her face, and she fell silent as well.
’Well, this is awkward.’
’What just happened?’
’Why is he upset now?’
Cecilia still hadn’t figured it out by the time they reached the Croft family’s estate.
With a grim expression, Sebastian Hawthorne helped her out of the car, shut the door, and got back in. He started the engine and sped off without a backward glance.
Cecilia raised a hand to wave goodbye, but it just moved stiffly in the air.
Only after Sebastian Hawthorne’s car had vanished from sight did Cecilia finally turn and scratch her head, completely baffled.
’Truly, a man’s heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea.’
Especially a man like Sebastian Hawthorne, who’d been groomed to be an heir since birth. He never let his true feelings show, and she couldn’t guess a single thing he was thinking.
