Chapter 156: Chapter 156: A Heated Quarrel Right After the Engagement

Minnie Rhodes reached out to help Cecilia Croft, but her hand froze in mid-air. She smiled helplessly and said,

"Sebastian, are you afraid I’ll hurt her?"

Sebastian Hawthorne merely glanced at her without a word. The answer was obvious.

Minnie Rhodes’s expression froze for a moment.

Jade Golding chimed in at the perfect moment, speaking in a low voice.

"I think Miss Croft is a bit drunk. It would be better for her to rest in a room and wait for us. It’s too rowdy here."

Minnie Rhodes nodded in agreement and said with a smile, "Sebastian, we’ve known each other for so many years. Don’t you know what kind of person I am?"

"Besides, with so many people here, how would I dare to hurt Cecilia?"

Although Cecilia Croft was drunk, she was still lucid enough.

"I’m not going anywhere."

Cecilia Croft immediately lifted her hand and shook off Minnie Rhodes’s, which had already taken hold of her arm.

’The Rhodes sisters were so jealous of her and Ruby; they would probably use this opportunity to pull some kind of stunt.’

’If I actually go to the lounge with Minnie Rhodes, then I’d have to be truly wasted.’

’I’ve had so much to drink today; I can’t guarantee I’ll stay lucid for much longer.’

’Sticking by Sebastian Hawthorne’s side is the safest option. He would never just abandon me.’

Seeing that Cecilia Croft had made her position clear and was leaning most of her weight against Sebastian Hawthorne, who in turn looked fiercely protective, Minnie Rhodes could only give up and withdraw her hand.

She took a quiet, deep breath to hide her displeasure, only to glance over and catch Ash Quillan watching her with a scrutinizing gaze.

Clearly, he also thought she would hurt a drunken Cecilia Croft.

Minnie Rhodes frowned instantly.

’It’s one thing that he can’t get over Ruby Croft.’

’But does he feel the need to look after her sister, too?’

Minnie Rhodes’s hands, at her sides, couldn’t help but clench into fists.

’When Cecilia Croft was deliberately asking me those difficult questions just now, why didn’t he speak up for me?’

’I’m his fiancée! We just got engaged today!’

Minnie Rhodes felt her blood boil. If the party weren’t still going, she would have demanded to know what exactly Ash Quillan thought he was doing!

The game continued.

Amidst the clamor, Cecilia Croft’s consciousness was gradually consumed by alcohol. She groggily lifted her head, rested her chin on Sebastian Hawthorne’s shoulder, and murmured,

"Sebastian, you have to take me with you when you leave, okay?"

Sebastian Hawthorne turned his head slightly, and their faces became much closer.

Seeing the complete trust in her eyes as she looked up at him with her delicate, beautiful face, Sebastian Hawthorne hummed a soft, "Mm."

"I won’t leave you here."

Having received the answer she wanted, Cecilia Croft finally relaxed and leaned back against the sofa.

Sebastian Hawthorne adjusted his posture slightly, also leaning back on the sofa. The girl who had been speaking to him just a moment ago had already closed her eyes. A helpless smile flickered in his eyes.

He then shifted his shoulder closer, allowing Cecilia Croft to unconsciously rest her head on it.

Jade Golding had been observing Sebastian Hawthorne the whole time. When she saw him deliberately lean back on the sofa just so Cecilia Croft could rest against him, her breath caught in her throat.

She had known Sebastian Hawthorne for many years.

She had never seen this side of Sebastian Hawthorne before.

She took a deep breath, trying to tear her gaze away from Sebastian Hawthorne and Cecilia Croft, but she found it impossible not to watch him.

Jasmine Vance ran a social media account with a decent number of followers.

So, while she was filming with her phone earlier, she had managed to capture some of Sebastian Hawthorne’s subtle little gestures.

Her eyes lit up as if she were watching her favorite ship sail, and she giggled at the footage she’d recorded.

Finn Vance shot her a wary glance, leaned in close, and said flatly,

"What are you grinning at? You look ridiculous."

’Could this girl be secretly dating someone behind our backs?’

After seeing the footage on the screen, Finn Vance raised an eyebrow.

’I have to admit, Cecilia Croft and Sebastian Hawthorne look really good together.’

’One with strong, handsome features, the other with a soft, gentle beauty—they complement each other perfectly.’

Finn Vance smiled and said softly,

"Send it to him. Make some money off him."

Jasmine Vance tsked. "Footage this precious should be saved for a crucial moment. Just making a quick buck off it is so shortsighted."

Finn Vance laughed out loud. "No wonder Mom and Dad didn’t stop you when you chose to become a headhunter."

’She’s a natural-born broker.’

’Always looking to fleece someone.’

The party started to break up, and it was already well past midnight.

At first, everyone was still playing games, but toward the end, Ash Quillan started drinking on his own, even when he wasn’t losing.

Everyone could see he was already getting drunk.

Finn Vance knew what Ash Quillan was thinking. He probably regretted things with Minnie Rhodes getting this far.

That’s just how people are.

You always yearn for what you can’t have.

And once you get it, you realize it wasn’t all that special.

He’d been the first to see that there were problems between Ash Quillan and Minnie Rhodes. He’d even warned Ash back then not to let things get out of control.

But Ash had made his own choices. To act like this now...

...would only lead to him and Minnie Rhodes tormenting each other in the future.

’What was the point?’

Finn Vance thought Ash Quillan was truly hopeless when it came to matters of the heart.

Perhaps it was an inherent flaw in the Quillan family.

His father kept several mistresses on the side.

But how could Ruby Croft possibly let him have his way?

’Did he really think he could have a "harmonious" life like his father’s? How could that possibly work?’

Minnie Rhodes snatched the glass from Ash Quillan’s hand and said with a smile,

"Ash, drink a little less."

Ash Quillan scowled, his gaze sharp with anger. "Give it back to me."

The smile vanished from Minnie Rhodes’s face.

Finn Vance saw they were about to start a scene, so he glanced in Sebastian Hawthorne’s direction. Sebastian happened to look up at the same time, and both understood the meaning in each other’s eyes.

"Ash, it’s getting late. We’re going to head out."

Ash Quillan didn’t try to stop them, merely nodding.

"Okay."

Sebastian Hawthorne said no more. He simply bent down, scooped Cecilia Croft into his arms, and started walking out.

Finn Vance took the cue and pulled Jasmine Vance to her feet.

"My sister’s drunk. I’m taking her home."

"Huh?" Jasmine Vance looked bewildered. ’Me? Drunk?’

’I don’t feel the least bit drunk!’

Finn Vance frowned and shot her a glare.

Only then did Jasmine Vance obediently murmur, "Oh."

’I wanted to stay and watch the drama!’

’It was so juicy! A huge, heated fight on the very day of their engagement.’

’But clearly, her brother and his friends had no intention of sticking around to play referee.’

So Jasmine Vance had no choice but to let Finn Vance drag her away.

Once Finn Vance and Sebastian Hawthorne left, the others quickly said their goodbyes and departed as well.

Jade Golding hurried out of the hall. Seeing the retreating figures of Sebastian Hawthorne carrying Cecilia Croft, she called out,

"Sebastian, my driver had to take leave for an emergency. Our homes are on the same route, so I’ll just hitch a ride with you."

It wasn’t a question, but a blunt statement of fact.