Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Sebastian Hawthorne Declares Sovereignty
Wendy Rhodes was so provoked by Jasmine Vance’s words that she threw a massive tantrum in the private room.
Her classmates couldn’t control her temper, and the waiters didn’t dare offend her due to her status.
The manager of The Snowfall Pavilion had no choice but to come and knock on the door, asking Jasmine Vance to come over.
The Vance family held a stake in The Snowfall Pavilion, and since she was the one who had angered Wendy Rhodes, it was only natural that they asked her to handle it.
Jasmine Vance didn’t refuse. She said a quick word to Cecilia Croft and stood up.
Cecilia Croft stood up as well.
"I’ll go with you."
Jasmine Vance pressed on her shoulders, making her sit back down.
"You should stay here. Otherwise, she’ll just take her anger out on you. My brother’s been working with the Golding family recently. Wendy Rhodes is just a distant relative of theirs; the Goldings aren’t going to make a big fuss and cross me over someone like her. She can’t do anything to me."
"If she weren’t making a scene and disturbing the other guests, I wouldn’t even bother with her. I’ll be right back."
Cecilia Croft nodded, watching as Jasmine Vance left with the manager of The Snowfall Pavilion.
Half an hour later, the dishes on the table had all gone cold, but there was still no sign of her.
Jasmine Vance’s phone and purse were still there.
Cecilia Croft couldn’t help but feel a little worried. She grabbed Jasmine’s things and left the private room to look for her.
Just as she walked out of the room and rounded a corner, her phone rang.
As Cecilia Croft was about to answer, someone bumped her shoulder from the side, and her phone fell to the floor.
She quickly bent down to pick it up, but someone else snatched it up first.
Cecilia Croft looked up at the person and felt he looked a little familiar, like one of her former classmates, but she couldn’t remember his name.
But he recognized her first.
"Cecilia Croft?"
Cecilia Croft nodded slightly, a polite smile on her face.
"Hello."
The man noticed the confusion in her eyes and introduced himself.
"It’s me, Jason Sutton."
Only then did Cecilia Croft remember who he was.
In her memory, however, Jason Sutton had been a rather small, thin boy. She never expected him to have gotten so pudgy, sporting a greasy potbelly.
Jason Sutton leaned in close to Cecilia Croft, a smile on his face as he handed her the phone.
"Remember me now?"
Cecilia Croft nodded. "I remember."
"It’s been a long time, Jason Sutton."
She reached out and took the phone. "Thank you."
Jason Sutton was still smiling, but Cecilia Croft felt there was something malicious about it.
She shifted slightly to the side, proactively putting some distance between herself and Jason Sutton.
Jason Sutton just smiled and moved closer. "It has been a long time, old classmate. We lost touch after you left Karthus. It must be fate that we ran into each other here today. How about you give me your number?"
Cecilia Croft pursed her lips and said softly.
"I’ve been following the class group chat, I just don’t post much. I think I already have your QQ."
Jason Sutton was persistent. "Who even uses QQ anymore? Cecilia, don’t tell me you just don’t want to give me your number?"
Cecilia Croft frowned, dodging his advance.
"Of course not."
She could feel his ill intent and felt cornered. She tried to step back again, but there was no more room to retreat.
Jason Sutton’s gaze roamed over Cecilia Croft without any restraint. He stared at her delicate, radiant face, his smile turning somewhat lecherous.
"Ten years, Cecilia. You’re just as beautiful as you were back in school."
A flash of annoyance crossed Cecilia Croft’s eyes. She realized that by constantly retreating, she was just giving Jason Sutton the impression that she was an easy target. She immediately straightened up, her expression fearless as she met his gaze directly.
"I have something I need to take care of, so I can’t stay and chat."
With that, she tried to walk away, but Jason Sutton blocked her path.
"Cecilia, as your former classmate, I’ve heard about the Croft family’s situation. You’ve been away from Karthus for ten years, so you probably don’t know how things are now, do you? My dad got promoted. He’s now..."
Jason Sutton lowered his voice. "He’s the second-in-command at the Bureau of Construction. That plot of land your Croft family has over in The South Loop... getting it approved for commercial use would only take a single word from my father."
Cecilia Croft remained silent.
Jason Sutton stated bluntly, "As long as you’re with me, reviving the Croft family is just a matter of a single word from my father, isn’t it?"
Cecilia Croft was simply speechless.
This only made Jason Sutton more smug.
"Cecilia, you know I’ve liked you since middle school. Just be with me, and I’ll definitely treat you well."
Cecilia Croft looked at his gloating, petty face, but simply offered a small smile, not wanting to offend him outright.
"Alright. Why don’t you take down a number? You can call anytime you have a... need."
Hearing this, Jason Sutton’s features relaxed, unable to hide the triumphant look in his eyes.
The goddess of his youth was now submitting to him with just a few words. How could he not feel gratified?
"Cecilia, I knew you were a practical person."
Cecilia Croft smiled and recited a string of numbers from memory.
While Jason Sutton looked down to save the number, Cecilia Croft took the opportunity to walk past him.
Her quick agreement made Jason Sutton suspicious, so he immediately dialed the number.
After just a few seconds, the call connected, and a somewhat soft, feminine voice came through.
"Hello, this is Jessica Keller. Who is this, please?"
Jason Sutton glared at Cecilia Croft’s retreating back, then lunged forward in a few steps and grabbed her arm.
"Cecilia, are you messing with me?"
As Jason Sutton yanked on her arm, a flash of panic crossed Cecilia Croft’s eyes. While she struggled, she saw someone approaching and grabbed onto their arm.
The first thing she saw was an exquisitely designed, beautiful sapphire cufflink.
The man was wearing a white shirt with the top two buttons undone. In the dim, antique-style lighting, his cold, handsome face looked even more noble and aloof.
"Mr. Hawthorne..."
A wave of relief washed over Cecilia Croft.
Sebastian Hawthorne glanced down at her, his eyes betraying no emotion, as if he didn’t know her at all.
Seeing that he was about to shake her off, Cecilia Croft’s heart tightened, and she gripped his arm even harder.
"Help me. For the sake of the cufflinks I personally designed, which Mr. Hawthorne seems to like."
She knew how difficult Jason Sutton was and didn’t want to be left alone with him here.
Sebastian Hawthorne’s expression remained indifferent as he raised his hand and removed her hand from his arm.
Cecilia Croft’s heart sank, and her face paled.
’Damn it!’
’He wouldn’t even help with something this small.’
Seeing this, Jason Sutton hurried forward. His audacious expression was gone, replaced by a fawning and respectful one.
"Mr. Hawthorne, what good wind blows you to The Snowfall Pavilion today?"
Sebastian Hawthorne’s gaze was cold as he shot Jason Sutton a sideways glance.
"What? Is the Sutton Family name carved into the walls of The Snowfall Pavilion? Is only your family allowed in, and not me?"
Jason Sutton laughed obsequiously and hurried to explain.
"Mr. Hawthorne, that’s not what I meant. Look at me, running my mouth. I’ve had a bit too much to drink and got muddled. I misspoke. I hope Mr. Hawthorne won’t take offense."
Sebastian Hawthorne sneered, then raised his arm and placed his hand on Cecilia Croft’s shoulder. His long, elegant fingers, with veins faintly visible, carried the clear implication of claiming ownership.
"I think you really have had too much to drink. You’re out of your mind."
Jason Sutton saw Sebastian Hawthorne’s hand on Cecilia Croft’s shoulder and lowered his head in terror.
Sebastian Hawthorne glanced to the side and gave a cold order to the person behind him.
"Why don’t you give Deputy Director Sutton a call and have him come to The Snowfall Pavilion to pick up Young Master Sutton and sober him up."
