Chapter 112: Chapter 112: They’re Like Newlyweds

Cecilia Croft couldn’t hide the disappointment and guilt in her eyes.

Sebastian Hawthorne shot her a glance before looking away and asking Quentin Quillan in a flat voice,

"When are you heading back to Karthus?"

Hearing this, Quentin Quillan glanced at the time and replied in a low voice,

"I’m heading back tonight."

"Ash Quillan is getting engaged, and the old man is demanding that every descendant of the Quillan Family be there. Tomorrow is a private meeting for the relatives, and the official engagement banquet for guests will be held after that."

Cecilia Croft looked up at the mention of Ash Quillan’s name.

’Ash Quillan?’

She remembered that name.

There had been a magazine with his exclusive interview in her sister’s study.

He was the man on the cover.

’Could Ash Quillan be the man my sister said swore he would marry no one else but her?’

Ash Quillan was the current head of the Quillan Family, the champion of their internal strife who had bested all his uncles to rise to the top.

Rumor had it he was ruthless, keeping his uncles so firmly in check over the past few years that none of them dared to step out of line.

He was, without a doubt, a man of power.

Cecilia Croft knew that Ruby Croft had always been drawn to power.

If Ash Quillan was the one who could make her sister lose her composure, even for a moment, it would make a certain kind of sense.

But Ash Quillan had been under the constant scrutiny of his uncles for years. If he had truly been dating her sister, it was impossible that not a single whisper of it would have gotten out.

Besides...

For a man like Ash Quillan, giving her sister a boost in her career would have been a simple matter.

Cecilia Croft was confused.

Questions piled up in her mind.

’Quentin Quillan is part of the Quillan Family; he must know something, right?’

She parted her lips, about to ask, when Sebastian Hawthorne, who had been chatting idly with Quentin Quillan, shifted his gaze to her and said flatly,

"If you have questions, ask me in private later."

"Oh," Cecilia Croft murmured, nodding lightly.

She hadn’t planned on being so direct with her questions anyway.

But since Sebastian Hawthorne had spoken, she fell silent.

Seeing Cecilia Croft lower her head and quietly pick at the rice in her bowl, Quentin Quillan shot Sebastian Hawthorne a look and said,

"Sebastian, you should be a little gentler with women. Don’t be so harsh."

Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t answer.

Cecilia Croft quickly interjected, "This is fine. I quite like and am used to the way Mr. Hawthorne speaks to me."

It didn’t make her uncomfortable, and it helped her keep a respectful distance.

Sebastian Hawthorne lifted his eyes and shot Cecilia Croft a look.

Cecilia Croft pressed her lips together, lowered her head slightly, and ate in silence.

’I shouldn’t have said anything.’

Before the meal was over, Quentin Quillan took a call and had to leave.

Sebastian Hawthorne stood up to see him out.

Feeling awkward about continuing to eat alone at the table, Cecilia Croft stood up as well.

She had originally intended to leave as well, but when she saw the state of the table, she decided she had to stay.

Sebastian Hawthorne was clearly not the type to do chores; he probably wouldn’t clean up.

Besides, she still had some questions about her sister for Sebastian Hawthorne.

He had stopped her from asking Quentin Quillan, and since he had been in Karthus the whole time, he had to know something.

When Sebastian Hawthorne returned to the dining room after seeing Quentin Quillan off, he found Cecilia Croft leaning on the table, her face cupped in her hands. She wasn’t eating, just waiting for him in silence.

When she saw him return, her large, doe-like eyes brightened, and her gaze followed him as he moved.

Sebastian Hawthorne picked up his chopsticks and resumed eating.

Cecilia Croft lowered her hands and leaned in a little.

"Mr. Hawthorne, did you know that my sister dated someone in Karthus before?"

Sebastian Hawthorne gave a faint nod.

"I’ve heard whispers."

Cecilia Croft pursed her lips, hesitating to press further.

She had already determined from her sister’s attitude that Ruby had absolutely no romantic interest in Sebastian Hawthorne.

But Sebastian Hawthorne, on the other hand, likely had some feelings for her sister.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said what he did when he found out she was the one he was engaged to.

Seeing her hesitate, Sebastian Hawthorne knew her mind must be racing with all sorts of wild theories.

"They never went public, but people in our circle spotted them together a few times. Neither of them ever admitted to anything."

Cecilia Croft lowered her voice. "Was it Ash Quillan?"

Sebastian Hawthorne looked into her bright eyes and leaned his head closer. "I’m not telling you."

Cecilia Croft’s delicate brows furrowed.

"Why not?"

Sebastian Hawthorne leaned back and resumed eating in a slow, deliberate manner.

Watching his unhurried demeanor, Cecilia Croft felt a knot of frustration tighten in her chest.

Seeing her puffing her cheeks in frustration, Sebastian Hawthorne put down his chopsticks and said flatly,

"Even if I told you, what could you possibly change?"

At his words, Cecilia Croft fell silent.

Seeing her meekly lower her gaze, Sebastian Hawthorne’s tone softened.

"It’s better to know nothing than to burden yourself with worries you can’t do anything about."

Cecilia Croft took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Sebastian Hawthorne was right.

Neither she nor her sister could change a thing.

After her grandfather passed away, the Croft family’s network had slowly crumbled. As their influence faded, so did their allies.

Titus Croft was only interested in scheming for the family fortune; he had never been on the same side as her sister.

Every one of the Great Families with a foothold in Karthus was a massive, sprawling enterprise.

Only the Croft family was left with just her sister holding it up alone. Everyone wanted to take a piece, and anyone could.

And it seemed the only thing she could do now was cling desperately to Sebastian Hawthorne, borrowing his power to give the Croft family a moment’s reprieve.

"Are you still eating?"

Having calmed down, Cecilia Croft looked at Sebastian Hawthorne, who had already put down his chopsticks.

"I’m done." Sebastian Hawthorne pulled a napkin from the side and wiped his fingers.

"Then I’ll clear the table."

Cecilia Croft stood up and began to clear the dishes.

Sebastian Hawthorne paused for a moment, then reached out and grabbed her hand.

"The cleaning lady is coming tomorrow. Just leave it."

Cecilia Croft didn’t put the dishes down. Instead, she said softly,

"It’s warm out. If I don’t clean up now, the house will smell by tomorrow."

Sebastian Hawthorne withdrew his hand.

Cecilia Croft carried the dishes to the kitchen.

Sebastian Hawthorne watched her back with a profound look for a long moment, then picked up the remaining plates from the table and followed her into the kitchen.

"Here, let me."

Cecilia Croft reached out, took the plates from his hands, and set them on the counter.

Sebastian Hawthorne had probably never done this kind of chore in his entire life.

Cecilia Croft skillfully adjusted the water temperature, scraped the scraps from the bowls into a separate plate with her chopsticks, and then placed the bowls in the sink.

Sebastian Hawthorne just stood beside her, his presence filling the space.

He stared intently at her every move, making Cecilia Croft inexplicably nervous.

"Could you go find a trash bag for me? I need to throw out these leftovers."

Sebastian Hawthorne agreed quickly. "Alright."

He turned and left the kitchen, found a trash bag in a storage cabinet, and returned, holding it open.

"Go ahead."

Cecilia Croft nodded and turned to pour the leftovers into the bag.

As she turned, her body gently brushed against Sebastian Hawthorne’s elbow. She was soft.

Sebastian Hawthorne glanced down at her. Seeing her careful movements and the gentle look in her eyes, a tingle ran through his fingertips. For some reason, he had the strange illusion that they were a newlywed couple.