Chapter 132: Chapter 132: No Reason to Refuse

His sudden words startled Cecilia Croft. She turned to look at the displeased man, her expression panicked.

"Was I talking in my sleep?"

’Damn it! Don’t tell me I said something I shouldn’t have and he heard it!’

Cecilia Croft was dying inside.

Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t answer, simply averting his gaze and pulling his sleep mask back down.

Seeing this, Cecilia Croft fell silent. For some reason, her nose began to sting.

She looked away too.

After a moment, Sebastian Hawthorne’s deep voice sounded, laced with a hint of coldness.

"Since you’ve already come this far, it would be incredibly stupid to think about turning back."

Hearing this, Cecilia Croft couldn’t help but bite her lip.

’I probably know why Sebastian Hawthorne asked me that question now. He must have misunderstood, thinking I was dreaming about Jude Sheridan.’

’That’s why he looked so upset.’

Regardless, Cecilia Croft felt that he had a point.

’I’ve already come this far. Turning back now would indeed be a foolish choice.’

’If I wasn’t good enough for him ten years ago, I’m even less so now.’

’It’s important to be self-aware.’

Cecilia Croft pulled her gaze away from Sebastian Hawthorne’s handsome face, looked out the window, and murmured,

"You’ve misunderstood, Mr. Hawthorne. Jude Sheridan wasn’t in my dream. And I won’t be turning back. I will definitely help you acquire Vantage."

Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t stir, merely leaning quietly against his seat as if he had fallen asleep.

After saying this, Cecilia Croft fell silent. She leaned her head against the seat, a film of moisture clouding her bright, beautiful eyes.

「The plane arrived in Karthus.」

Cecilia Croft had already composed herself.

Sebastian Hawthorne was still wearing his sleep mask, and it was impossible to tell if he was awake or asleep.

She reached out and gently nudged his arm.

"Mr. Hawthorne, we’ve arrived."

Sebastian Hawthorne finally lifted his sleep mask. He glanced out the window, his gaze sweeping over her delicate, composed face. When he saw no trace of sadness, he looked away.

After collecting their luggage, the two of them walked out through the VIP exit together.

Assistant Scott was waiting at the exit. Seeing Cecilia Croft and Sebastian Hawthorne emerge together, he rushed forward to take Sebastian’s luggage and greeted Cecilia.

"Miss Croft."

Cecilia Croft nodded lightly and replied with a smile, "Good evening, Mr. Scott."

"Good evening." Assistant Scott naturally returned the greeting, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt that Sebastian Hawthorne was looking at him with utter displeasure.

He quickly turned to Sebastian Hawthorne with a smile.

"Cousin, I’ve already booked the restaurant. Are we going straight there, or should we head back to your place first?"

Sebastian Hawthorne strode toward the car and said in a deep voice,

"Straight to the restaurant."

Assistant Scott quickly put the suitcase in the trunk. "Alright. We’ll head straight to the restaurant, then."

Cecilia Croft’s gaze kept scanning her surroundings, her steps slow.

By the time Sebastian Hawthorne was in the car, she still hadn’t reached its side.

Seeing this, Assistant Scott quietly reminded her,

"Miss Croft, it’s time to get in."

Cecilia Croft finally pulled her gaze away from the distance and walked over to Sebastian Hawthorne’s car. She said softly,

"Mr. Hawthorne, Jasmine said she’s coming to pick me up, so I won’t be going with you..."

Sebastian Hawthorne glanced up at her and said coolly, "Suit yourself."

He agreed so readily that Cecilia Croft was taken aback.

He then raised his hand and shut the door. Assistant Scott, who had been holding the door, was also stunned for a few seconds before lowering his voice to a whisper.

"He’s angry."

"Miss Croft, why don’t you get in the car first? We can have Miss Vance join us at the restaurant later."

Cecilia Croft shook her head and refused without a second thought. Jasmine Vance had always been quite afraid of Sebastian Hawthorne.

Making her eat with Sebastian Hawthorne would be incredibly uncomfortable for her—it would be worse than death.

"I’d better not."

Just as Assistant Scott was about to try persuading her, Jasmine Vance’s flashy red sports car pulled up behind Sebastian Hawthorne’s vehicle. Spotting them, she began waving her arms extravagantly.

"Cecilia, over here!"

Cecilia Croft’s eyes instantly lit up. "Coming!" she replied with a smile.

With that, she turned to Assistant Scott and said in a low voice,

"I’ll be going then."

Assistant Scott nodded blankly.

Just as Cecilia Croft took a step to leave, the window of Sebastian Hawthorne’s car rolled down.

She was about to greet him when she saw Sebastian Hawthorne turn to Assistant Scott with a grim face and say,

"Are you going to drive, or do you plan to chat all day?"

Assistant Scott raised an eyebrow and got back into the driver’s seat.

Seeing this, Cecilia Croft braced herself and spoke anyway.

"Mr. Hawthorne, I’m leaving now."

Sebastian Hawthorne looked up at her.

"What? Were you expecting me to ask you to stay?"

Cecilia Croft was taken aback by his words and gave an awkward laugh. "No, of course not."

Sebastian Hawthorne’s indifferent gaze swept across her placid face.

"If that’s not it, then why are you still here?"

Cecilia Croft was stunned by his words. Before she could answer, Jasmine Vance’s voice rang out, urging her on.

"Cecilia, get in the car! We need to get going."

As if waking from a dream, she quickly replied to Sebastian Hawthorne.

"Mr. Hawthorne, I’m really leaving now. Goodbye," she replied in a low voice, then hurried toward Jasmine Vance’s car.

Before she could even reach Jasmine’s car, Sebastian Hawthorne’s vehicle sped past her.

It shot by at an incredible speed.

Cecilia Croft took a quiet breath, walked over to Jasmine Vance’s car, and opened the door.

The moment she sat down, Jasmine Vance pulled her into an affectionate hug and buckled her seatbelt for her.

"I booked a table and ordered a feast at The Crimson Dynasty. Let’s go dig in!"

A smile spread across Cecilia Croft’s face. She made a gesture to go. "Go, go, go!"

Jasmine Vance quickly started the car and sped off toward The Crimson Dynasty.

Meanwhile, in the car ahead,

Assistant Scott saw Jasmine Vance’s little red sports car in his rearview mirror. It was following right behind them, clearly headed in the same direction.

’Mr. Hawthorne had specifically requested The Crimson Dynasty. It was obvious who *really* liked the food there.’

The rejected man was now sitting with a grim expression on his face, his gaze coolly fixed on the world outside the window.

Assistant Scott could even see a clear hint of frustration on his face.

He’d been by Sebastian Hawthorne’s side for several years, and it was always Sebastian making other people miserable. He’d never seen anyone manage to provoke his boss like this.

Seeing his usually imperious cousin in such a state, Assistant Scott decided he couldn’t let Miss Croft off the hook.

’Otherwise, who would be left to rile his cousin up in the future?’

’After all, seeing him like this was a truly rare spectacle.’

As he drove, Assistant Scott sent a message to the manager of The Crimson Dynasty to cancel their reservation.

As Cecilia Croft and Jasmine Vance walked into the restaurant, Assistant Scott came up to greet them with a smile.

"Miss Vance, Miss Croft, we seem to have a little problem with our reservation. Would it be alright if we joined your table?"

Hearing this, Cecilia Croft glanced at Jasmine Vance, then looked up toward Sebastian Hawthorne, who was standing a short distance away.

His face was grim, his expression unpleasant.

Although Jasmine Vance was a little afraid of Sebastian Hawthorne, she nodded without hesitation.

"Of course."

She had always been generous, and besides, they were all acquaintances. Sebastian Hawthorne was good friends with her brother, too, so she had no reason to refuse.

Besides, she could sense Cecilia’s mood. Ever since she’d gotten in the car, Cecilia had kept a smile on her face and chatted happily, but she was clearly distracted.