Chapter 151: Chapter 151: He Would Actually Do Something So Unclassy

Cecilia Croft had a sudden realization. She looked up at the man sitting next to Ruby Croft, the one with a foxy smile, and couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

No wonder she found Caleb Keller familiar.

He had become a long-term fixture in the entertainment news headlines.

One day, it was a rumored affair with some female singer; the next, he was caught on camera at a hotel with some actress.

He was a notorious playboy.

’The Quillan Family introducing Ruby Croft to Caleb Keller... isn’t that just pushing my sister into a pit of fire?’

Cecilia Croft’s brow was deeply furrowed, and the hand gripping Sebastian Hawthorne’s arm couldn’t help but tighten.

’Even though I know my sister is smart, getting involved with someone like that... you’re bound to get some of the stink on you.’

Cecilia Croft couldn’t help but worry.

Sebastian Hawthorne glanced down, seeing her glare fiercely in Caleb Keller’s direction, and said in a low voice,

"Want to pounce on him and take a bite?"

Cecilia Croft nodded.

’Caleb Keller is clearly very interested in my sister.’

’That smile on his face is so wide it’s about to rot.’

Sebastian Hawthorne scoffed. "With your current abilities, you’d probably be beaten to death before you even got close."

"You have to be strong yourself to be feared. Compared to your sister, you still have a lot to learn."

As he spoke, he found a nearby seat and sat down. At the same time, he took hold of the hand tugging on his sleeve and pulled her down to sit as well.

Cecilia Croft’s gaze remained on Ruby Croft. Seeing her sister’s calm expression, the faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips, and her masterful demeanor while chatting with Caleb Keller, Cecilia couldn’t help but sigh heavily.

Even though her sister looked like she had the whole situation under control.

But she still couldn’t help but worry.

Her health was already poor. Fighting with people like this would inevitably take a huge toll on her energy and subject her to immense pressure.

Ruby Croft seemed to sense Cecilia Croft’s gaze and looked over, giving her a gentle smile and a reassuring look.

Caleb Keller saw the gentle expression on Ruby Croft’s face and paused for a moment before turning his head to follow her line of sight.

But all he saw was Ash Quillan walking past Sebastian Hawthorne’s table.

His eyes darkened, and the slight upward curve of his lips flattened a little.

Cecilia Croft silently took a deep breath before finally pulling her gaze away from Ruby Croft.

The goings-on at the main table did not escape the notice of the other guests present.

The guests at the table behind Cecilia Croft began to discuss in low voices.

"That Elder Croft passed away too soon. If he were still alive, who knows what kind of extraordinary man she would have married."

"The Quillan Family took her in as a goddaughter; there’s no way they did it without some ulterior motive. Old Master Quillan introducing her to Caleb Keller... he’s most likely trying to play matchmaker."

"Look at Caleb Keller, his eyes are practically glued to Ruby Croft. Isn’t it obvious he’s extremely interested?"

"He’s a playboy with no interest in business. The Keller family would certainly be happy to find him a remarkably capable wife. And among the younger generation, who can compare to Ruby Croft?"

"Actually, Ruby Croft is quite pitiful, struggling all these years to prop up the Croft family. No matter who she marries, the Croft Group will probably end up being taken over. I doubt they’ll get together."

"Then she’ll just have to be single for the rest of her life."

This comment was followed by a ripple of soft laughter.

Cecilia Croft gripped her water glass so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

’What would be the consequences if I gave in to the impulse to splash water on these ladies and offended them?’

’The Croft Group had only just started to improve under Ruby’s management; I can’t be impulsive and cause more trouble for my sister.’

’Sebastian Hawthorne was right. With my current abilities, I’d be mobbed and taken down by them before I could even manage to rip their mouths apart.’

She gradually loosened her tight grip on the glass and calmed herself down.

However, just as she calmed down, the glass was snatched from her hand by the man sitting beside her.

"This water is so dirty. And you were going to drink it?"

The man’s voice was deep. He picked up the glass and casually tipped it backward.

A series of surprised yelps came from behind them.

The high-society wives, who had been chatting, hastily jumped up from their seats, their faces flushed with anger. "What are you do—"

Before she could finish her sentence, she saw that the person who had poured the water in their direction was Sebastian Hawthorne, and her anger level instantly dropped.

"Oh, I was wondering who it was. It’s you, Mr. Hawthorne."

Sebastian Hawthorne’s expression was indifferent as he shot a glance at the woman who had spoken.

"My apologies."

Although he said the word "apologies," the coldness in his demeanor held not a hint of remorse.

The woman’s expression froze. They had been seated long before Sebastian Hawthorne and his group.

Besides, the two tables weren’t far apart, and they had been talking the whole time. How could he not have noticed them?

She hadn’t offended Sebastian Hawthorne, so she was reluctant to assume the worst.

But when she caught the scorn in Sebastian Hawthorne’s eyes, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he had done it on purpose. His single word of apology seemed loaded, as if mocking them for being beneath his notice.

Yet the woman couldn’t produce a shred of evidence. She could only pretend to be calm and sit back down. As she did, she glanced at Cecilia Croft, froze for a few seconds, and instantly understood. All his actions just now had been to stand up for Cecilia.

Cecilia Croft turned her head and stared blankly at Sebastian Hawthorne, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.

’He must have seen what I wanted to do, so he deliberately took the glass from my hand and splashed them.’

’He didn’t need to think twice about doing something I had hesitated to do because of my own concerns.’

’Because they were intimidated by him. They didn’t dare offend him. Even if they suspected he did it on purpose, they wouldn’t dare say a word.’

’It was as if he was using his actions to prove how right he had been.’

’No wonder my sister said I could learn things from being with Sebastian Hawthorne.’

’He really is a good teacher.’

A glimmer appeared in Cecilia Croft’s eyes. Just as she was about to speak, the man beside her used the serving chopsticks to pick up some food and place it in her bowl.

"Save your drool and eat something."

Cecilia Croft: "..."

’I might be a little moved, but not to the point of drooling over him.’

Zachary Grant clicked his tongue and said teasingly,

"That was so cool, Sebastian. I want you to get me some food too."

He said, holding out his bowl.

Sebastian Hawthorne’s expression didn’t change as he precisely picked a piece of diced ginger that looked just like a piece of diced chicken from the Kung Pao chicken and placed it in Zachary Grant’s bowl.

Zachary Grant smiled, pulled his bowl back, picked up the "diced chicken," and popped it into his mouth. The moment he chewed, his expression instantly twisted.

He hated ginger more than anything.

Everyone at their table burst out laughing. The atmosphere was incredibly harmonious.

Only Jade Golding’s smile was tinged with a hint of bitterness. Though a faint smile played on her lips, her eyes were ice-cold.

Just now, although she had been chatting with Giselle Grant, her attention had been fixed on Sebastian Hawthorne and Cecilia Croft.

She had seen it all: Sebastian Hawthorne deliberately, forcefully, and backhandedly pouring out the water just to vent Cecilia’s anger for her.

Ever since she returned to the Golding family, she had been in constant contact with Sebastian Hawthorne.

In all these years, she had never seen Sebastian Hawthorne be so protective of anyone.

’Just because someone said a few things she didn’t like to hear, he personally splashed water on them for her.’

’It’s hard to imagine he would do something so lacking in class.’