Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 18: When Has He Ever Understood Her

"Damian, what are you doing here?" Frances Bennett’s gaze shifted and landed on Cecilia Nathan. "Cecilia, you’re here too."

Frances Bennett subconsciously stared at Cecilia Nathan’s stomach, then said to the store manager, "Please wrap up the ones I just picked out."

"Cecilia, your timing is perfect. I picked out a house-shaped bag for you. Take it. Just consider it a gift from me."

Cecilia Nathan froze for a moment, pressing her lips together without a word.

’The only reason Frances Bennett was being so nice to her was because of the baby in her belly.’

Damian Hawthorne glanced at his mother. "You don’t have to buy it. I’m paying for anything she wants today."

Seeing Damian Hawthorne being so generous, Frances Bennett’s usual attitude softened, and she said with relief, "Alright, alright. I won’t steal your thunder. You can pay, you can pay. As it happens, I’ve also picked out a few bags. You can pay for them all together."

After saying this, Frances Bennett affectionately took Cecilia Nathan’s arm. "Cecilia, next week is Damian’s grandfather’s 80th birthday. We’re not planning a big celebration, just a simple family dinner. You must remember to come with Damian. His grandfather wants to meet you."

Then, as if remembering something, Frances Bennett spoke to Damian Hawthorne in a warning tone, "Don’t bring that Serena Hughes over again. Damian, you are the heir to the Hawthorne family now. Your every move represents the family. Don’t bring home just any woman with a questionable background. I don’t like it, and your grandfather doesn’t either."

Damian Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. "Serena Hughes doesn’t have a questionable background."

Frances Bennett’s face turned purple with rage. "She’s a university student who’s more interested in seducing men than studying. Even if her background isn’t questionable, she’s no good."

After speaking, Frances Bennett pulled Cecilia Nathan aside and whispered, "I plan on telling Damian’s grandfather about your pregnancy. For one, it’ll be a pleasant surprise for him. And for another, I hope he’ll approve of your marriage."

"Damian always listens to his grandfather. As long as his grandfather wants him to marry you, Damian will have to, even if he doesn’t want to."

After saying this, Frances Bennett let out a sigh of relief.

’She had finally thought it through.’

’Cecilia Nathan’s family background was average, but Serena Hughes’s was even worse.’

’It was a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, and she was more willing to pick Cecilia Nathan.’

’She had been closely monitoring her son’s activities with Serena Hughes recently and discovered that Damian was unusually serious this time.’

’Not only had he given Serena Hughes the most expensive violin in the family, but he was also foolishly paving the way for her career.’

’She absolutely would not allow the family’s money to be squandered by Damian Hawthorne like this.’

Seeing that Frances Bennett was dead set on introducing her to the Hawthorne Family, Cecilia Nathan frowned and explained, "Mrs. Bennett, a forced marriage is meaningless."

’Even if Damian Hawthorne married her, it wouldn’t be because he truly wanted to.’

’You can’t force love. She had waited for Damian Hawthorne for years, not for him to have a change of heart, but to watch him crazily pursue someone else.’

’Before, she thought he didn’t have anyone he loved, so she’d hoped to warm his cold heart.’

’But now that she knew there was someone else in his heart, she didn’t want to try anymore.’

’The stone was cold, and her heart had grown cold too.’

"What do you mean, meaningless? Have you forgotten about the child in your belly?" Frances Bennett glanced at her stomach, speaking indignantly on her behalf. "I want Damian to marry you, preferably before you start showing."

Seeing how much Frances Bennett loved this child, Cecilia Nathan felt a pang of sorrow.

She was just about to say the child was gone, but Frances Bennett didn’t give her the chance.

"Damian, you must bring Cecilia Nathan to see your grandfather next week. The doctor said your grandfather’s health isn’t good, so don’t provoke him any further." Then, as if remembering something, Frances added, "I’ve already told your grandfather about Cecilia. He’s very happy."

She said just enough and no more.

Frances Bennett knew her son was smart; she didn’t need to say more for him to guess the rest.

Damian Hawthorne remained silent.

’His grandfather had always been a stern man; very few things made him happy.’

’He’d always known about the situation between him and Cecilia Nathan, and that wouldn’t have made him happy.’

’It could only be... the matter of Cecilia Nathan’s pregnancy.’

Watching Frances Bennett’s happy expression, Damian Hawthorne’s gaze darkened.

’Cecilia Nathan said the baby was gone.’

’But looking at Frances Bennett, she definitely didn’t know about it.’

Damian Hawthorne’s lips parted slightly. He wanted to tell her that Cecilia Nathan had had a chemical pregnancy, but he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

’That child was his and Cecilia Nathan’s.’

’But without any warning, the child had come and gone in a flash, not even giving him a chance to process it.’

Damian Hawthorne remembered Cecilia Nathan asking him not long ago what they would do if she got pregnant.

’At the time, he hadn’t given her any assurance.’

’Perhaps it was just as Cecilia Nathan had said: the baby also knew it wasn’t wanted.’

’The birth control pill hadn’t stopped its arrival, yet he had.’

Looking at the somewhat vacant look in Cecilia Nathan’s eyes, Damian Hawthorne swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

When Frances Bennett saw that he didn’t object, she knew he had agreed.

’No matter what, she had to make her son marry Cecilia Nathan.’

’She could not allow a child of the Hawthorne bloodline to be raised outside the family.’

Having said her piece, Frances Bennett left.

Damian Hawthorne paid, then headed downstairs with Cecilia Nathan, carrying all the various shopping bags.

Cecilia Nathan glanced at the items in his hands. Even secondhand, they would be worth several million, perhaps even close to ten million.

"You spent too much. Thank you."

’If this was compensation for her and the baby, she would accept it with a clear conscience.’

’Childbirth inherently damages a woman’s body. Forget these bags; no amount of money could ever make up for that.’

Cecilia Nathan admitted to herself that she had a desire for both revenge and compensation.

’She resented that Damian Hawthorne hadn’t fallen in love with her over the past few years, and she resented even more that his heart already belonged to someone else.’

"About the show... maybe you shouldn’t participate after all," Damian Hawthorne said, his voice soft.

His voice was quiet, but it exploded in Cecilia Nathan’s ears.

"You’re highly skilled. This competition isn’t that important for you."

’Highly skilled... ’

’Not that important...’

Cecilia Nathan laughed.

"Damian Hawthorne, are you afraid Serena Hughes can’t compete with me?"

’She knew this moment would come, ever since her identity as a teaching assistant was exposed.’

Damian Hawthorne didn’t deny it. "I didn’t know your professional skills were this good."

Cecilia Nathan laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.

’He didn’t know her professional skills were this good.’

’When had he ever tried to understand her?’

"Fine, I’ll agree to it." Cecilia Nathan’s voice was hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed from the depths of her heart, stinging every one of her nerves. "I have only one condition: don’t let Serena Hughes bother me again."

"Especially that piece of music. I won’t give it to anyone. You’d better convince her to give up."

As soon as she said this, a weight seemed to lift from Cecilia Nathan’s chest, and it felt as if all her strength was being drained away.

Tears threatened to fall, but she clenched her jaw, lifted her chin, and stared stubbornly at the mall’s ceiling.

’She wasn’t a saint; her heart was made of flesh and blood, too.’

’Faced with Damian Hawthorne’s repeated requests, she couldn’t possibly remain indifferent.’

"She won’t bother you about the music piece again. And you don’t have to worry about the investment matter; I’ll have someone suppress the news." As if remembering something, Damian Hawthorne explained, "Serena Hughes has a head injury. The doctor said she can’t handle any more stress."

"I understand," Cecilia Nathan said, her eyes cast down coldly. "Remember what you said. Don’t let her pester me again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next."