Chapter 141: Chapter 141: She Doesn’t Care at All

Sebastian Hawthorne drove the car into the Quillan family’s estate.

When they reached the estate’s entrance, a servant from the Quillan family came forward to open their car doors and check their invitation.

Cecilia Croft bent down to get out of the car, then naturally walked to Sebastian Hawthorne’s side and looped her arm through his.

She couldn’t help but look toward the manor’s interior.

The Quillan family had spared no expense for this engagement party; the entire estate was lavishly decorated from one end to the other.

Just from the floral arrangements at the entrance, it was clear how much thought had been put into it.

Her heart sank, and she worried that Ruby Croft would be heartbroken to see all this.

Sebastian Hawthorne handed the invitation to the Quillan family servant.

Upon seeing who it was, the servant took the invitation but didn’t open it, respectfully inviting Sebastian Hawthorne to enter.

"Mr. Hawthorne, please come in."

Sebastian Hawthorne gave a slight nod. He glanced down at Cecilia Croft beside him, noticing her eyes darting around, and said calmly,

"Your sister isn’t coming this early."

Only then did Cecilia pull her gaze back and murmur,

"Actually, I was hoping my sister would see reason and not come at all."

To spare herself the unnecessary pain.

Sebastian looked down at her, his gaze profound. "The Croft family has been out of this circle’s limelight for a long time. Do you think she’d pass up such a golden opportunity?"

"Your sister knows better than you how to quickly break through the Croft family’s predicament."

Cecilia’s hand on his arm tightened slightly. She looked up at him, a flash of astonishment in her eyes.

’He knows everything.’

’And if he knew, why was he still willing to bring me?’

An indescribable unease filled Cecilia, and she instinctively clutched the man’s arm tighter.

"I..."

She wanted to explain, but the words died on her lips. She felt any explanation would be feeble and pointless. After all, there was nothing to explain.

’She was using him.’

’Using his fleeting interest in her to push the Croft family back into the spotlight.’

But the fact that he knew her intentions and still brought her here made her feel a strange sadness.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her emotions, and looked up at Sebastian Hawthorne, saying earnestly,

"Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Hawthorne. I..."

Sebastian cut her off. "Trying to make me more empty promises?"

Cecilia: "..."

’It wasn’t that she wanted to make empty promises.’

’She just wanted to thank him sincerely.’

"I will repay this debt of gratitude. I really will."

Sebastian grunted in acknowledgment, shifting his gaze from her as he began walking into the manor.

They hadn’t taken more than a couple of steps when Cecilia heard his deep voice again.

"How you repay it is up to me." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Cecilia hesitated for a few seconds before nodding in agreement. "Okay."

Receiving her reply, the man glanced down at her, the corners of his lips curving slightly upward.

Cecilia hadn’t been back in this circle for a long time. It would be impossible to say she wasn’t the least bit nervous.

Especially after she and Sebastian Hawthorne entered the manor, numerous scrutinizing gazes fell upon them.

The looks from these people were different from those at the welcome banquet held by the Croft family; this was a different social stratum.

Their gazes were sharper, as if they could see right through her with every move she made. Every look was laced with calculation.

Ash Quillan was in the front hall with his fiancée, greeting guests.

It was only then that Cecilia noticed that the woman standing by Ash Quillan’s side, dressed to the nines, was none other than Minnie Rhodes—the older sister of Wendy Rhodes, who always tried to one-up her.

Her arm linked with Sebastian’s couldn’t help but tighten.

Minnie Rhodes used to be very good friends with her sister.

Sebastian sensed her agitation and gently patted the back of her hand.

"Are you trying to claw a hole in my suit?"

Only then did Cecilia relax her grip slightly, looking down to smooth out his suit jacket.

"Sorry."

Sebastian saw the flicker of annoyance in her eyes and said calmly,

"Love is the least important thing in your sister’s world. She doesn’t care that much about them, so don’t you lose your composure on her behalf."

Cecilia knew nothing about what had happened between her sister and Ash Quillan.

Hearing Sebastian say this, she could only nod obediently.

Ash Quillan’s gaze cut through the crowd and landed on them. He then led Minnie Rhodes over to greet them.

"Finn and Zachary Grant went to the backyard."

Sebastian nodded and offered Ash Quillan a quiet congratulations.

"Congratulations on your engagement."

Ash patted Sebastian’s shoulder. "Too many guests today, so I don’t have much time to spend with you guys. My apologies."

Sebastian: "Understandable. Go on."

While Ash and Sebastian were talking, Minnie Rhodes stood silently with a blissful smile, her arm linked with her fiancé’s.

When her curious gaze fell on Cecilia’s face, she froze for a moment.

"Are you... Cecilia?"

Cecilia was only seventeen when she left Karthus.

It was only normal that Minnie wasn’t entirely sure.

Besides...

Who would have thought that Cecilia Croft would be attending with Sebastian Hawthorne?

Cecilia, with a polite and gentle smile, proactively extended her hand to Minnie Rhodes.

"Minnie, congratulations on your engagement. It’s been a long time."

Ash glanced sideways at Minnie, then his eyes fell upon Cecilia.

Although he had been curious when he saw Sebastian arrive with a woman from afar, he hadn’t asked about her since Sebastian didn’t make an introduction, and it wouldn’t have been appropriate to pay her too much attention.

Cecilia’s eyes and brows bore a slight resemblance to Ruby Croft’s.

A subtle emotion flashed in Ash’s eyes before quickly vanishing.

Although he already had an answer in his heart, he still asked, "And this is?"

Sebastian looked down and introduced her calmly, "Cecilia Croft."

The smile remained on Minnie’s face, but her gaze shifted from Cecilia to Ash as she added,

"Ruby’s younger sister."

Ash nodded slightly. "Hello."

Minnie glanced nervously at Ash, sighing inaudibly with relief when she saw his expression hadn’t changed.

Cecilia’s smile didn’t falter. "Hello, Mr. Quillan. Congratulations on your engagement."

Ash: "Thank you."

Minnie smiled faintly at Cecilia and said softly,

"Cecilia, Wendy and Jasmine are in the back. Why don’t you go find them?"

Cecilia nodded slightly and agreed with a smile.

"Alright, Minnie."

Minnie’s gaze didn’t leave Cecilia, her eyes probing.

How could Cecilia not know what she was thinking? She tightened her grip on Sebastian’s arm, turned to look up at him, and flashed a brilliant smile.

"Sebastian, let’s go over there together."

Sebastian looked down at her warm and bright smile, raised an eyebrow, and then turned to Ash.

"We’re heading in."

Ash nodded.

"Alright."

As Cecilia followed Sebastian, she didn’t forget to turn her head and say to Minnie with a smile,

"Minnie, when my sister gets here later, could you please tell her I’m inside?"

Seeing that Cecilia was still as respectful to her as ever, Minnie felt a strange, unpleasant feeling in her heart, but she still nodded lightly. "Okay."

After replying to Cecilia, she turned to look at Ash.

She saw Ash standing there, his gaze lowered, lost in thought.

’Perhaps he, like her, was feeling a bit unsettled.’

Ruby Croft had never mentioned what happened between her and Ash to her own sister.

’Was it because they weren’t important?’

’Or did she simply not care at all?’