Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Four Great Families of Karthus

Cecilia Croft’s pace was neither fast nor slow as she walked to her car.

Keith Warren and his female assistant both looked over at her, their faces tinged with astonishment.

The female assistant was so frightened she hid behind Keith Warren, as if afraid Cecilia would hit her.

The air fell silent for a moment.

A smile on her face, Cecilia saw they were both staring at her and spoke in a light tone.

"Please, continue?"

A flash of embarrassment crossed Keith Warren’s eyes, but he managed to remain calm enough to speak with Cecilia.

"I’m sorry, Miss Croft. My assistant is young and foolish. She needlessly created more work for you. I apologize on her behalf."

Any idealized image Cecilia had of Keith Warren as an elite professional completely shattered. Still, she maintained the faint smile on her face, her voice soft.

"If there’s nothing else, Manager Warren, I’ll be leaving."

With that, she pressed the unlock button on her key fob.

The car’s lights flashed. The female assistant immediately tugged on Keith Warren’s sleeve, her eyes fixed on the dashcam in Cecilia’s car.

Their emotions had gotten the better of them just now, and this was a relatively secluded part of the parking lot. They had said things they should and shouldn’t have said.

Cecilia walked to the driver’s side door, pulled it open, and bent down to get in.

Keith Warren and his assistant were still frozen in place.

Seeing they had no intention of moving, Cecilia honked the horn.

Only then did Keith Warren take a step back, clearing the way for her.

Cecilia started the car and began to turn.

Just then, Keith Warren lunged forward and grabbed the frame of her passenger-side window.

Cecilia slammed on the brakes and glanced sideways at him. The polite look in her eyes was gone, replaced by a sharp edge.

"Is there something else, Manager Warren?"

Keith Warren had been about to demand that Cecilia delete the dashcam footage, but her piercing gaze unnerved him, and the words died in his throat.

"No, nothing. I just wanted to sincerely apologize to you, Miss Croft."

"Weiwei..."

Keith Warren glanced at the assistant behind him.

The assistant reluctantly came forward. Just as she was about to apologize, Cecilia raised a hand.

"There’s no need."

"Mr. Hawthorne has already punished her for her mistake, so an apology is unnecessary. Besides, I have a natural aversion to ’the other woman.’ I really can’t accept an apology."

With that, she floored the gas and drove away.

Cecilia hadn’t wanted to offend Keith Warren, especially since she had just started at the Hawthorne Group.

But the fired assistant was his mistress, and it looked like they had been carrying on like this for quite some time.

Regardless, Keith Warren had already decided to blame her for this.

Even if she hadn’t wanted to make an enemy of him, she had now.

’This might be for the best. An enemy in the open is better than a hidden arrow in the dark.’

The assistant watched the receding car, her face a mask of resentment and fury.

"What’s she so arrogant about? She just got to the company—"

She was about to continue her tirade when Keith Warren shot her an indifferent look and said in a low voice,

"Let’s go. Haven’t you made enough of a scene?"

Their colleagues would be leaving work soon. If anyone else saw them, he couldn’t imagine the rumors that would spread through the company.

There were several colleagues who were very friendly with his wife, and he absolutely did not want her to find out about his relationship with the assistant.

Having been scolded, the assistant could only follow Keith with a tearful face. "Keith, does this mean... the transfer to another department isn’t happening?"

"Right."

Keith Warren’s expression darkened. Cecilia hadn’t accepted his apology or even maintained a veneer of politeness, which meant she had no intention of placating him.

His earlier conversation with the assistant must have been completely recorded by her dashcam.

If he were to disobey Sebastian Hawthorne’s order and try to pull some strings to keep her instead of firing her, Cecilia would undoubtedly take the evidence straight to him.

He couldn’t risk it at this critical juncture.

His performance over the past few years had been merely average.

Although Cecilia was a newcomer, the fact that Sebastian Hawthorne was willing to have her by his side meant he must value her greatly.

’She’s probably already got her eyes on my position.’

「Croft Manor.」

The moment Cecilia stepped through the gates, she heard a lively buzz of conversation from the courtyard.

She paused for a moment, a strange sense of unreality washing over her.

Perhaps it was because the Croft residence had been so cold and quiet every time she’d returned recently that the current bustle felt a little jarring.

Tomorrow was the welcome banquet Ruby Croft was throwing for her.

People from a decorating company were leading workers in arranging every corner of the estate, with Auntie Zane giving directions.

Watching the scene in the courtyard, Cecilia suddenly felt as if she had been transported back in time.

During holidays and festivals, the Croft family home used to be this lively.

Auntie Zane turned, saw Cecilia, and called out to her while still directing the other workers.

"Miss Cecilia, you’re back! The young miss wants you to go to her study."

"Alright, I’ll head over now."

Cecilia headed inside. Seeing some workers decorating the ceiling, she said softly, "Be careful."

She walked straight to the study.

Ruby Croft was sitting in her office chair, looking over a list. When Cecilia walked in, she lifted her gaze and said coolly,

"Take a look. This is the guest list for tomorrow. See if anyone is missing, or if there’s anyone you’d like to invite."

Cecilia took the list and looked it over.

Most of the people she knew were on the list.

Cecilia’s head throbbed when she saw the Sutton and Rhodes families were also included.

The memory of Jason Sutton cornering her at The Snowfall Pavilion made her feel a little sick.

Ruby noticed the problem from her expression and glanced down at where she was looking.

Before Cecilia left Karthus, Jason Sutton had pursued her.

It had ended quite unpleasantly.

"The invitation for the Sutton family hasn’t been sent yet. If you mind, I won’t send it."

Cecilia shook her head, her voice calm.

"The Sutton family’s status in Karthus has risen significantly these past few years. And since most of the guests tomorrow are old classmates of mine, word is bound to get back to the Suttons anyway."

’Jason Sutton is petty and vengeful. He’d probably try to cause trouble for the Croft Group at work.’

’With so many people at the banquet tomorrow, he wouldn’t dare try anything.’

’Besides, Sebastian Hawthorne already had his father drag him away that day. He must have gotten a good hiding, so he’ll probably be on better behavior for a while.’

Ruby Croft looked at her calm demeanor and nodded slightly.

"If there’s no issue, then I’ll have the invitations sent out."

Cecilia hummed in agreement, her gaze falling on the notes for several families at the very end of the list.

The Hawthorne family, the Golding family, the Quillan Family, the Grant Family.

These four families were now at the very top of Karthus’s social pyramid.

"Were they sent invitations too?"

Ruby nodded. "Yes, all of them. But aside from Sebastian Hawthorne, it’s unlikely any of the others will come."

For years now, the Croft family had fallen out of the social circle of those four great families.

They probably wouldn’t even glance at an invitation from the Crofts.