Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 107: An Old Acquaintance

After closing the car door, Damian Hawthorne sat inside, smoking.

Just then, his phone rang. It was his assistant. "President Hawthorne, you have to see the link I just sent you."

"I’m busy."

"It’s about Miss Cecilia Nathan! Miles Sinclair picked her out of the crowd at the mall event he’s endorsing. She’s on stage with him right now for the prize drawing."

His assistant, Justin Bell, had been keeping a close eye on Miles Sinclair ever since he appeared on their radar.

Damian Hawthorne never said a word, but Justin Bell could tell—he had a gut feeling—that Damian had always been in love with Cecilia Nathan.

It would be one thing if President Hawthorne were up against Hugo Grant, but this was Miles Sinclair he was facing.

The man was Miss Cecilia Nathan’s "one that got away," the unforgettable first love.

He had a premonition that if Miss Cecilia Nathan had to choose someone to marry, she would definitely pick Miles Sinclair.

He couldn’t imagine how much President Hawthorne would lose his mind if Miss Cecilia Nathan married another man.

That was just how love was sometimes. You don’t cherish it when you have it, only to be filled with regret once it’s gone.

’Miss Luna is important, yes, but Miss Cecilia Nathan is just as important!’

"What’s that got to do with me?" Damian Hawthorne scoffed. Just as he was about to hang up, Justin Bell yelled from the other end of the line:

"President Hawthorne, you have to be on your guard! This Miles Sinclair is clearly after Miss Cecilia Nathan. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of people there, and the host just happened to pick her? I’ll never believe there wasn’t something shady going on. What if Miss Cecilia Nathan marries Miles Sinclair? Mr. Hawthorne, can you really stand by and do nothing? I know Miss Luna is important, but it’s not sick for a man to love two women, as long as..."

Before Justin Bell could finish, Damian Hawthorne hung up.

’After Cecilia, is he?’

A smirk touched Damian Hawthorne’s lips, his lazy eyes narrowing slightly.

’That Miles Sinclair... his reason for coming to Korsyth was never simple.’

Of course he knew the man was after Cecilia.

’According to Cecilia, her Hugo died a long time ago. So what’s the deal with this Miles Sinclair?’

’Did the guy have some kind of Resurrection Armor? Maybe he didn’t quite die all the way?’

’Now, this is getting interesting.’

Damian Hawthorne stubbed out his cigarette and glanced behind him.

Cecilia had just walked east. There was a large shopping mall in that direction—the one Justin Bell had mentioned.

...

Once Cecilia Nathan was on stage, the crowd began to buzz with discussion.

"This Cecilia Nathan is gorgeous! Oh no, I actually think she and our dear Miles look great together."

"I ship this pairing."

Cecilia Nathan glanced at Miles Sinclair, only to find him already looking at her.

There was a small, red mole at the corner of Miles Sinclair’s eye, adding a touch of enchanting allure to his handsome features. His gaze was clear, and the sight made Cecilia’s heart skip a beat.

She had to admit, he looked so much like Hugo.

"Miss Cecilia Nathan, please draw your prize," the host reminded her gently. "Our Miles is handsome, I know, but you can’t just stand there staring, Miss Nathan." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The host’s words made the audience laugh.

Everyone knew that Cecilia Nathan was pursuing Damian Hawthorne. The host only dared to make such a joke precisely because he knew she wouldn’t be interested in Miles Sinclair.

After all, the whole world knew that Cecilia Nathan only had eyes for Damian Hawthorne and couldn’t care less about any other man.

Cecilia Nathan looked at the raffle drum in front of her, reached inside, and pulled out a ball.

"Number fifteen! Number fifteen! Congratulations to number fifteen, you’ve won our second-place prize! Next, let’s have our very own Mr. Miles Sinclair draw for the first-place prize."

The host happily announced the prizes, then gestured to the audience. "And congratulations to our Miss Cecilia Nathan for winning the grand prize! You’ll get to take a photo with our Mr. Sinclair afterward!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted in a fervent uproar.

The photo itself wasn’t the most important part. What mattered was getting to go backstage, take a picture with Miles Sinclair, and maybe even chat with him.

Cecilia Nathan raised an eyebrow slightly and looked over at Miles Sinclair, only to see him smiling at her.

「A few minutes later, backstage at the mall.」

Looking at Miles Sinclair standing before her, Cecilia felt as if she had been transported back several years.

Back then, Hugo had pursued her for a long time. The day she finally said yes, he had been as happy as a child.

Hugo had been the most popular boy in their school, the one all the girls crushed on. Countless love letters were slipped to him every day. Cecilia never imagined she would be the lucky one in everyone’s eyes.

The days they spent together afterward had been wonderful, right up until the accident.

"Miss Cecilia Nathan." Miles Sinclair handed her a card. "Thank you for supporting me at the last auction. These are my savings. It’s not easy for you to earn money, so I can’t let you spend it on my behalf."

Cecilia raised her eyes, studying Miles Sinclair intently.

’His voice, his looks... this man is a perfect double of Hugo.’

’Can two people in this world really look so identical?’

"Mr. Sinclair, where did you go to high school?"

"Aethelgard First High School."

BOOM. Something exploded in Cecilia’s mind.

Aethelgard First High School... that was the school she and Hugo had attended.

"Speaking of which, it seems you and I are alumni, Miss Cecilia Nathan," Miles Sinclair said, naturally placing the card in her palm. "I don’t remember much from high school, though. I wonder if we knew each other back then."

Cecilia grabbed his hand abruptly. "You... what class were you in?" she murmured.

"The ninety-sixth graduating class."

The ninety-sixth...

Cecilia’s eyes reddened.

That was her and Hugo’s class.

’Could it be? Hugo didn’t really die... He’s still alive.’

"Hugo..." A lump formed in Cecilia’s throat, and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

Miles Sinclair seemed a little flustered and quickly grabbed a tissue. "Miss Cecilia Nathan... what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing." Cecilia wiped away her tears and suddenly smiled. "Seeing you just reminds me of an old friend."

"Mr. Sinclair, can you tell me... how did you lose your memory?" Cecilia’s heart slammed to a halt, as if someone had hit the pause button.

She was afraid to ask, yet she couldn’t stop herself.

’If... if Miles Sinclair really is Hugo...’

Miles Sinclair paused in thought for a moment before speaking slowly. "My relatives told me that I offended a powerful figure back then and was in some kind of accident. To keep me from repeating my mistakes, they sent me abroad to study all these years. Miss Cecilia Nathan... we did know each other before, didn’t we?"

"You might laugh, but I’ve actually always found you a little familiar. Ever since I started seeing you in the news a few years ago, I’ve felt like I needed to find you."

Cecilia opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the words all got caught in her throat.

’Hugo...’

’It really is Hugo...’

’His looks, his life story... everything matched perfectly.’

"Hugo..."

Her Hugo... he hadn’t died. He was standing right in front of her, alive and well.

Cecilia covered her mouth, tears falling like beads from a broken string.

Cecilia’s shoulders shook as she cried.

Miles Sinclair’s hand twitched, wanting to steady her shoulder, but suddenly, a powerful arm wrapped around Cecilia’s, blocking his touch.

"Mr. Sinclair, the host outside has called for you several times. You don’t actually want them to rush in here and watch the show, do you?"

Damian Hawthorne shot Miles Sinclair a sidelong glance. His voice was lazy, yet laced with a chilling frost.