A flicker of astonishment crossed Cecilia Croft’s eyes. She could hardly believe her ears.

"Who is it? S... Sebastian Hawthorne?"

She had indeed heard some rumors lately about Sebastian Hawthorne getting engaged to Jade Golding.

Ruby Croft frowned, reaching out to tap Cecilia Croft on the head.

"What’s going through your head? Do you think I’d be interested in a man who’s about to become my brother-in-law?"

Cecilia Croft gave an embarrassed laugh. "Then... who else could it be?"

Ruby Croft shot her a deadpan look, as if continuing the conversation would be an insult, and strode back to her room.

Cecilia Croft hurried after her. Just as Ruby Croft was entering and about to shut the door, Cecilia quickly poked her head in, unafraid of it getting caught.

"Sis, who is it, really?"

Ruby Croft raised a hand and pushed her head—now a fluffy mess from being wedged in the doorway—back out.

"It doesn’t matter who it was anymore."

Cecilia Croft watched forlornly as Ruby Croft shut the door.

Realizing she wouldn’t get any information out of her sister, she rushed downstairs toward the staff quarters. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Auntie Zane had just finished tidying up and was about to lie down when she saw Cecilia Croft rushing over in a panic.

She was startled and instantly on alert. "What’s wrong, Second Miss? Is the Eldest Miss..."

Extremely worried about Ruby Croft’s condition, she started walking toward Cecilia Croft, ready to head upstairs.

Cecilia Croft quickly stopped her, lowering her voice to ask a quiet question.

"Auntie Zane, has my sister dated anyone these past few years?"

Auntie Zane thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"I don’t think so, but the Eldest Miss has been working herself to the bone for the Croft Group all these years. I can’t be certain."

Unwilling to give up, Cecilia Croft asked again.

"Well, have you ever seen anyone drop my sister off at home?"

Auntie Zane shook her head again.

She truly didn’t know anything.

Ruby Croft had a rather reserved personality, so of course she would never discuss personal matters with her.

Seeing that she wasn’t going to get a clear answer, Cecilia Croft had no choice but to turn and go back upstairs.

As she passed her sister’s room, Cecilia Croft raised her hand to knock, but the memory of that bleak expression on her sister’s face in the study earlier made her give up on the idea of questioning her further.

’If she doesn’t want to talk about it, then fine.’

Cecilia Croft returned to her own room and lay down on her bed, a strange sadness welling up in her heart.

’I was betrayed by Jude Sheridan and got my heart broken. I had it coming.’

’But my sister is so amazing. In my eyes, almost no one can compare to her. How could she get hurt by a scumbag, too?’

The question kept circling in her mind, keeping her awake.

Her phone buzzed with a text. "Cecilia, are you asleep? Sorry I couldn’t make it to your welcome-back party today. My parents dragged me over to the Quillan family’s place."

’Tonight, I was so busy playing my part next to Sebastian Hawthorne and dealing with all those guests,’ Cecilia thought. ’Even if Jasmine had come, I probably wouldn’t have had any time for her.’

She replied: "Not yet. I just got ready for bed, but I’m too worked up to sleep."

Jasmine Vance: "I heard from my brother that your sister successfully resolved the Croft family’s crisis. That’s great news, so don’t be anxious. Insomnia and staying up late are no good; don’t let it ruin your pretty face."

Cecilia Croft looked at Jasmine’s message, hesitated for a moment, and typed a reply.

"Jasmine, after I left for Silvercrest... my sister was in a relationship, wasn’t she?"

Jasmine Vance idolized Ruby Croft. For years, she had practically trailed in Ruby’s shadow, and she even interned under her for a while after graduation.

’She must know something.’

It was a while before Jasmine replied.

"Was Ruby very upset today? That’s strange, she shouldn’t have been."

’So Jasmine does know,’ Cecilia thought, quickly typing a response.

"Who was the guy?"

Jasmine Vance didn’t reply again.

After waiting a few minutes without a response, Cecilia called Jasmine directly.

Jasmine answered, her voice evasive.

"I promised Ruby I’d never tell anyone. Cecilia, please don’t ask me. It doesn’t matter who he was; it won’t change anything. It’s not important anymore."

’Jasmine was saying the same thing Ruby did.’

’That’s right.’

’It really didn’t matter who he was anymore.’

’Her sister had said it herself—the man was getting married.’

Cecilia Croft took a deep breath, feeling a heavy tightness in her chest.

’As Ruby’s own sister, I’ve never really paid attention to her all these years. I didn’t even know she was in a relationship.’

Jasmine had probably hung up so quickly because she was afraid of more questions.

Cecilia Croft clutched her phone, trying to calm herself, but she couldn’t stop her eyes from turning red.

’She hated herself for not coming back to Karthus sooner, for not coming back to the Croft family sooner.’

’For not being by Ruby’s side when she needed someone the most.’

「The next morning.」

Cecilia Croft came downstairs with red, swollen eyes.

Ruby Croft was sitting in the dining room having breakfast. Seeing how swollen Cecilia’s eyes were—so much that makeup couldn’t conceal it—she asked in a low voice,

"What happened?"

Cecilia Croft took out a compact mirror, adjusted her eyelashes, and said nonchalantly,

"Just a late-night emo moment. Couldn’t help myself."

Ruby Croft raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the matter, simply pushing Cecilia’s breakfast in front of her.

Cecilia Croft sat down, picked up her glass of milk, downed it in one go, and then said,

"I’m leaving for a business trip to Silvercrest with Mr. Hawthorne today."

Ruby Croft nodded. "You mentioned that last night."

Cecilia Croft looked up at her sister’s calm face. Her eyes weren’t puffy, not even a hint of redness at the corners.

’Meanwhile, my own eyes are all red from crying. I must look ridiculous.’

"That plot of land in Oakhaven, Silvercrest... can you let me handle it, Sis?"

Ruby Croft said calmly, "A lot of people have their eyes on that land now. Everyone knows the Hawthorne Group’s new branch in Silvercrest is about to make big moves, and they all want a piece of the pie."

Cecilia Croft boldly shared her own thoughts.

"Getting a piece of the Hawthorne Group’s pie isn’t that easy. While that land could fetch a good price right now, we can’t just let the Croft Group’s other properties continue to sit idle."

"We should use this land as bait to catch bigger fish."

After listening intently to Cecilia’s proposal, Ruby’s expression showed a hint of admiration and agreement.

"Alright. Since you want it, it’s yours."

Cecilia Croft pushed a bank card she had already prepared across the table to Ruby.

"I’m not taking it for free. I’m buying it from you."

Ruby reached out to push the bank card back, but Cecilia quickly put her hand over it, stopping her.

"Sis, even though we’re sisters, we should keep our finances clear. I’m buying this land. That way, any money I make from it from now on will be mine. Get the contract ready and send it to me."

With that, Cecilia Croft grabbed her briefcase, stood up, and left.

She walked out quickly, as if afraid Ruby would refuse her money.

Ruby looked at the bank card on the table and gave a resigned smile. Of course she understood Cecilia’s intentions.

’I’ll just hold on to this card for now,’ she thought. ’Just for safekeeping.’

’She still didn’t want Cecilia’s personal funds getting tied up in the Croft Group. That way, even if the company went under, Cecilia would still be able to live comfortably.’