Chapter 18: Chapter 18: This Time, She Will Endure Humiliation and Bear the Burden

"I just refused a loveless marriage and had a failed romance. It’s hardly a crime punishable by death. Why must you, Mr. Hawthorne, hold my failures over my head and hunt me down?"

Cecilia Croft’s voice was faint, but her words held no hint of a breakdown. She just seemed exhausted by Sebastian Hawthorne’s deliberate attempts to make things difficult, lending a slight edge to her tone.

The man on the balcony didn’t speak. He just casually tossed the cigarette butt, which he had already crushed into a small ball, into the trash can.

The tension hung in the air.

Cecilia Croft was silent for a few seconds. Realizing Sebastian Hawthorne wasn’t someone she could just throw a tantrum at, she suppressed her emotions and composed herself.

"My apologies for disturbing you. I’ll be leaving."

She quickly turned to leave, a hint of melancholy in her expression.

’Sebastian Hawthorne is just like the jilted protagonist from a male power-fantasy novel who ends up getting the ultimate revenge on his foolish ex-fiancée.’

’I never thought a seven-year relationship would end in such an utterly humiliating scene.’

Always so competitive, she found she couldn’t even hold her head up in front of Sebastian Hawthorne.

While waiting for the elevator, Cecilia Croft sighed repeatedly, her energy completely drained, her spirits at rock bottom.

Assistant Scott walked out of the elevator and passed her. He was about to raise his hand to greet her, but Cecilia Croft, head hanging and eyes downcast, had already stepped into the elevator. She pressed the button for her floor and stood lifelessly facing the elevator wall, as if repenting for her sins.

The elevator doors closed. Assistant Scott lowered his hand and scratched his head in confusion before entering Sebastian Hawthorne’s apartment.

The man on the balcony was holding a lit cigarette. Hearing the door open, he glanced over.

Assistant Scott clearly sensed the light in Sebastian Hawthorne’s eyes dim, as if he was very displeased to see him.

Sharp as he was, he immediately understood the meaning behind Sebastian’s glare.

"Cousin, even if Miss Croft didn’t come back, you don’t have to look so disgusted to see me, do you?"

Sebastian Hawthorne gave him an indifferent glance and exhaled a mouthful of smoke. The swirling mist obscured his expression.

Assistant Scott brazenly sidled up to him, ready to gossip.

"Cousin, what did Miss Croft want? Don’t tell me she regrets it and wants to marry you now?"

Sebastian Hawthorne shot him a look. "Which of your eyes saw her regretting anything?"

’She might regret getting together with Jude Sheridan, but she would never regret breaking off our engagement.’

Assistant Scott said, "I just saw her by the elevator. She looked all gloomy and heartbroken. Wasn’t it because you rejected her attempt at reconciliation, leaving her devastated?"

’Devastated? I didn’t see that. When she was clawing back at me, she seemed full of energy.’

Sebastian Hawthorne lightly tapped his cigarette, flicking off the ash.

"You seem to have a lot of experience in this area. What is it? Rejected again while trying to woo someone?"

He casually emphasized the word "again." Assistant Scott’s face fell instantly, and looking like he wanted to wail and clap a hand over Sebastian’s mouth, he quickly changed the subject.

"Pearl sent me a message earlier. She said she’s coming to Silvercrest tomorrow and told me to make sure you wear the coat she bought you to meet her."

Sebastian Hawthorne just grunted in acknowledgment, his annoyance visible.

Sebastian’s sister, born just a few minutes before him, had loved picking out his clothes since they were children.

Ever since she entered the fashion world, she had lodged a strong protest against his unchanging wardrobe of black suits and had since developed a passion for raiding his closet.

Over seventy percent of the clothes in Sebastian Hawthorne’s walk-in closet were chosen by her.

Someone who could finally control Sebastian Hawthorne was taking action, and Assistant Scott felt a joy akin to seeing the light of day.

He went into Sebastian’s walk-in closet, intending to find the outfit for Sebastian’s outing tomorrow as Pearl Sterling had instructed.

He searched through the entire closet but couldn’t find the black wool coat. A detail suddenly surfaced in his memory, and he whispered to Sebastian Hawthorne.

"Cousin, I think that wool coat of yours is with Miss Croft."

Sebastian Hawthorne’s brow furrowed.

The thought of Pearl Sterling’s loud, boisterous personality and her habit of tattling on him to their parents and grandfather gave him a headache.

The last time he’d displeased Pearl, she had snitched on him to their mother, resulting in him being forced to go on blind dates for a month.

"Get it back from her."

After leaving Sebastian Hawthorne’s penthouse, Cecilia Croft drove back to her grandmother’s villa.

On the way, she called Jasmine Vance and asked her to find a new potential buyer for the Vantage shares.

She held 51% of Vantage’s shares, and selling them all in one go wouldn’t be easy.

Not every company had the resources and deep pockets of the Hawthorne Group.

If she sold the shares off in smaller portions, word would definitely get back to Jude Sheridan.

Given her urgent need to sell, the Hawthorne Group was actually the best choice.

Cecilia Croft understood this, but she couldn’t figure out Sebastian Hawthorne’s attitude.

She only had ten days left.

In ten days, she had to return to Karthus.

Before ending the call, Jasmine Vance said she would try to figure something out for her.

Back in the courtyard, Cecilia Croft collapsed onto a lounge chair, her energy completely spent. She regretted letting her pride get the better of her and running off without closing the deal.

Just then, a call came in from Assistant Scott.

Cecilia Croft glanced at the unknown number on her phone and swiped to reject the call.

A few seconds later, they called again. She rejected it again.

She had been idle at home for the past six months, and the company definitely wouldn’t contact her. Hardly anyone ever called her, so she figured it had to be a telemarketer.

The caller was persistent, trying several times.

Cecilia Croft’s temper flared. She answered, put the phone to her ear, and snapped.

"Spit it out."

"..."

The other end of the line went silent for a moment.

Sebastian Hawthorne handed the phone directly to Assistant Scott.

Assistant Scott was confused and mumbled, "Did Miss Croft not pick up again?"

Sebastian glanced at him, shoved the phone into his hand, and said, "She told you to spit it out."

Assistant Scott looked down, saw the screen indicating the call was in progress, and quickly put the phone to his ear.

"Miss Croft, hello, I’m..."

Cecilia Croft had already overheard the conversation between Assistant Scott and Sebastian Hawthorne. Her expression froze, and she responded mechanically.

"Hello."

Assistant Scott stated his purpose and offered to come pick up the coat in person.

After all, they had helped her at the hospital that day. How could Cecilia Croft let them come get it themselves? She immediately said she could deliver the coat.

’Maybe I can use this as another chance to talk to Sebastian Hawthorne about acquiring the Vantage shares.’

’This time, I’ll swallow my pride, no matter what!’

Assistant Scott: "We’ll have to trouble you then, Miss Croft."

Cecilia Croft replied politely, "I should be the one thanking you..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the call was disconnected. Cecilia Croft stared at the "call ended" screen, stunned for a few seconds.

Meanwhile, Assistant Scott looked bewildered at Sebastian Hawthorne, who had snatched the phone back and hung up.

The man simply opened a game on his phone with a blank expression and said,

"You took a little too long to spit it out."