Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 162: Damian Hawthorne’s Methods

"Serena Hughes, how do you know about May Rhodes?" Damian Hawthorne got straight to the point.

Serena Hughes’s mouth fell open, her eyes darting nervously. "Know what? May Rhodes was just a classmate from an old training program. I only realized she was the person you were looking for after your assistant found her."

"First, you used Luna’s identity to get close to me. Now, it turns out you know May Rhodes. Serena Hughes, do you take me for an idiot? Do you think you can fool me so easily?"

Damian Hawthorne’s voice was frigid, like a sharp blade, making Serena Hughes’s chest tighten in fear.

She swallowed and took a nervous step back. "Mr. Hawthorne, I really don’t know what you’re talking about."

’She had expected Damian Hawthorne to come for her, but Serena Hughes knew that as long as she played dumb and refused to admit anything, he couldn’t do a thing to her, even if he suspected something was wrong.’

’On the other hand, if she let the secret slip, Damian Hawthorne would make her suffer terribly.’

’She had no desire to experience Damian Hawthorne’s ruthless tactics firsthand.’

"Is that so?" Damian Hawthorne sneered. He knew he wouldn’t get anything out of her. With a slight tug at the corner of his lips, he said, "Remember what you’ve just said. Make sure you don’t regret it."

Damian Hawthorne knew she wouldn’t talk and had no intention of wasting time playing games with her. He turned away with a casual, almost lazy motion. Watching his retreating back, Serena Hughes broke out in a cold sweat.

After Damian Hawthorne left, May Rhodes walked out of the bathroom. "That’s great," she said with relief. "He didn’t keep pressing you. Maybe he still has feelings for you."

’Feelings?’

Serena Hughes gasped.

’Just now, Damian Hawthorne looked at me like I was already dead. Feelings? What feelings?’

She wished Damian Hawthorne had feelings for her, but she knew that even if he had feelings for Cecilia Nathan, he would never feel any fondness for her.

Ultimately, the "affection" she had enjoyed by Damian’s side was all because of "Luna."

’Feelings... That was just a pipe dream.’

At this thought, Serena Hughes gave her a cold smile. "You’ll be staying at my place for a while. Don’t go out."

"What?" May Rhodes exclaimed in surprise. "I can’t do that! I’m in the middle of planning my wedding. If I just disappear, the whole thing will fall through."

"You really think you can marry him?" Serena Hughes thought of Sharon Quincy’s miserable fate and took a deep breath. "He came to question me, which means he must have figured out you’re not the real person he’s looking for. If you’re not afraid of his retaliation, go ahead and plan your wedding. But I can’t guarantee Damian Hawthorne won’t have you killed."

May Rhodes’s mouth hung open, the color draining from her face. "Fine, then. I’ll go pack my things."

Serena Hughes didn’t stop her.

’Right now, there was only one thing she feared: Damian Hawthorne’s revenge.’

’She deeply regretted ever getting May Rhodes involved.’

’Her original plan was to distract Damian Hawthorne, but it was clear now that she had failed.’

’In Damian Hawthorne’s eyes, her schemes were clumsy and laughable.’

’She couldn’t let May Rhodes marry him now. The most important thing was to protect the secret.’

Not far from the Sinclair family villa, Damian Hawthorne stood by his car, his head slightly lowered as he lit a cigarette.

A moment later, a figure in a black coat ran toward him.

"Mr.... Mr. Hawthorne." The voice was so timid that if you weren’t listening closely, you might have missed it.

Damian Hawthorne looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

May Rhodes bit her lip, then spoke slowly, as if she had finally made a decision. "I... I know Miss Hughes’s secret."

...

Cecilia Nathan was in a music shop, helping a customer choose a violin. She picked up the instrument and casually drew the bow across the strings a few times. Her posture was elegant, instantly drawing the listener into a world of music.

A car stopped at the entrance of the music shop.

Serena Hughes scrambled frantically out of the car. The moment she saw Cecilia Nathan, it was as if she’d found her savior.

She grabbed Cecilia Nathan, crying, "Please, Miss Nathan, I’m begging you, help my family! Damian Hawthorne has gone insane."

Serena Hughes had always called Damian Hawthorne "Mr. Hawthorne," a respectful yet familiar address. She rarely used his full name.

Cecilia Nathan frowned and pushed her hand away. "Serena Hughes, what’s wrong? I don’t know you well. There’s nothing I can do to help you."

"No, you can help. Only you can!" Serena Hughes was on the verge of tears.

Just a few hours after Damian Hawthorne had left, the Sinclair Family was in trouble.

First, their stock plummeted. Then, rumors began to spread that her grandmother’s company was under suspicion for illegal activities.

Though they were only rumors, her grandmother was terrified.

’Who hasn’t done some reckless things in their youth? What business mogul is completely clean? The Sinclair Family couldn’t have reached its current position without dabbling in both legitimate and shady dealings.’

’No company could withstand that level of scrutiny.’

Fiona Sinclair had thought very few people knew about those past incidents, but now, someone had dug it all up.

Fiona Sinclair didn’t know who was behind it, but Serena Hughes did.

It was because she had offended Damian Hawthorne.

Damian Hawthorne had made his move against the Sinclair Family.

Seeing Serena Hughes on the verge of a breakdown, Cecilia Nathan frowned. She finally had to apologize to her customer, briefly explaining the situation before leading Serena upstairs to the second floor.

"Have some tea first."

Cecilia Nathan expertly prepared a cup of tea for her, but Serena Hughes was in no mood to drink it. She stared intently at Cecilia. "Damian Hawthorne likes you. He cares about you. He’ll definitely listen to you."

"Heh." A small smile touched Cecilia Nathan’s lips. "Funny, I wasn’t aware he liked me that much."

"Stop pretending! Everyone can see it. You’re the one he cares about the most! Look at how you treat him, yet he doesn’t dare do anything to you. Your word is his command! Besides, you’re Miss Nathan now, the heir to the Nathan family. Even if you can’t persuade Damian Hawthorne, you can still help my family!" Serena Hughes shot to her feet, her gaze fixed on Cecilia.

"Fine, let’s say what you say is true... why should I help you?" Cecilia Nathan’s lips twitched. "Is it because of the gifts your family sent me? Or the handbag you gave me?"

"I know you don’t care about those things, and neither do we! But now Damian Hawthorne is dead set on destroying the Sinclair Family. You know his methods. None of the people who crossed the Hawthorne Family in the past came to a good end. I’m not asking for much. Just get him to stop coming after us." Serena Hughes’s eyes reddened. "I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have fallen for him, and I especially shouldn’t have provoked you."

Cecilia’s hand, which was preparing the tea, paused for a moment at the sob in Serena Hughes’s voice.

"I’m sorry, I can’t help you."

"I have no reason to plead with him for you. And I certainly won’t use the Nathan Family’s resources to help the Sinclair Family."

"No, you have to help me!" Serena Hughes bit her lower lip, a sinister smile spreading across her face. "Cecilia Nathan. Miss Nathan. I know your secret."

Cecilia Nathan lifted her gaze, her eyes resting on her with a calm indifference.

The atmosphere grew frigid.

"Do you know why he’s retaliating against me?" Serena Hughes suddenly laughed, a scornful, mocking sound. "It’s because of May Rhodes."

"Cecilia Nathan, you know May Rhodes, right?"

Cecilia Nathan lowered her gaze. "I do. His fiancée."

"No... that’s a lie." Serena Hughes leaned in close, whispering in her ear, "And I also know that you’re the real one."