Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 122: Ms. Bennett, You’re Too Hasty
"I’m here today because there is indeed something important I need to discuss," Frances Bennett said with a wide smile. "I’m sure your goddaughter, Sharon Quincy, has mentioned it to you—the matter of her wanting to form a marriage alliance with our Hawthorne Family." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Linden Nathan looked up and gave a faint nod. "She did mention it. What? Now that you know her true status, you’re still interested?"
"Of course not," Frances Bennett denied in a flash. "She was using Selina Nathan’s identity when she discussed the marriage alliance with us. Besides, marriage is a serious matter. Something a young person says so casually can’t be taken seriously."
"However, I’ve already introduced her to many of my friends, and everyone has assumed she will be marrying into our Hawthorne Family. So, I have a proposal."
’Taking Sharon Quincy to meet my friends was the biggest fiasco of my life.’
Swallowing her anger, Frances Bennett said calmly, "The Hawthorne Family has my husband’s younger brother. He was adopted by my father-in-law. Although he’s not his biological son, he is a bona fide member of the Hawthorne Family. Since Sharon Quincy is so eager to marry in, I thought, why not set them up?"
’Her husband’s younger brother?’
Linden Nathan thought for a moment and seemed to recall something about this person.
"This brother of your husband’s you’re talking about, isn’t he the one who’s about my age? He’s that old and still not married?" Linden Nathan wasn’t angry. On the contrary, a barely perceptible smile touched his lips as if he’d thought of something. "Although Sharon Quincy is not my biological daughter, it wouldn’t be right for her to marry a fifty-year-old man, would it?"
"Not quite fifty, he’s only forty-nine," Frances Bennett corrected with a smile. "Mr. Nathan, even if Sharon Quincy is your goddaughter, that doesn’t change the fact that she comes from a very poor background. Besides, when I sent an invitation to the eldest daughter of your Nathan Family, it wasn’t Selina Nathan who showed up, but an impostor. Mr. Nathan, I must ask you about this: was impersonating Selina Nathan to attend my father’s birthday banquet her own idea, or did you give your tacit approval?"
"If you did approve of it, what exactly were you trying to do?"
Frances Bennett didn’t just blame Sharon Quincy for this; she blamed Linden Nathan as well.
After all, there was no way Sharon Quincy could have impersonated Selina Nathan all on her own.
The clothes she wore, the jewelry she had on, and the bodyguards surrounding her—that kind of entourage was clearly beyond the means of an ordinary person.
Linden Nathan’s eyebrow twitched, and his expression looked a bit strained. "I did give my tacit approval. My daughter’s identity has always been kept secret, after all. But I never expected you would take it so far as to discuss marriage."
"You were too hasty, Ms. Bennett."
Frances Bennett’s face turned ashen.
’It was true; she had been too hasty.’
’But she was the eldest daughter of the Nathan Family. Who wouldn’t have been eager?’
At the time, several other high-society women at the birthday banquet had also taken a liking to Sharon Quincy. That, coupled with Sharon’s obvious interest in Damian, was what prompted her to take things a step further.
"I will consider what you’ve said. After all, Sharon has already discussed marriage with your Hawthorne Family. We need to give each side some form of closure."
Hearing this, Frances Bennett finally began to relax.
’Linden Nathan’s meaning was obvious. This could work.’
At the thought of Sharon Quincy marrying the old bachelor uncle-in-law, and in turn, forming a connection with the Nathan Family, a smile slowly spread across Frances Bennett’s face.
"Then I’ll await your good news."
After she spoke, a thought suddenly flashed through Frances Bennett’s mind. "By the way, Mr. Nathan, are you and Cecilia Nathan related in some way?"
’Better to ask directly than to harbor suspicions.’
Linden Nathan just smiled and didn’t answer.
He had originally intended to tell Frances Bennett Cecilia’s true identity, but seeing how calculating she was, Linden Nathan suddenly lost the desire to tell her.
’If someone like Frances Bennett found out Cecilia’s true identity, the very next thing she’d do is try to arrange a marriage between Cecilia and Damian Hawthorne.’
’Cecilia doesn’t seem to like Damian Hawthorne anymore, so there’s no reason for me to complicate things.’
"No relation." Linden Nathan tapped his fingers on the table, then gently picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup. "I just think the girl is a bit pitiful."
Hearing this, Frances Bennett sighed. "Yes, the girl has liked Damian for so long with no result. Back then, she tried so hard to please me, even cooking all sorts of meals for me. She’s a kind girl. It’s a shame she lacks a good family background."
"I heard that Sharon Quincy was injured because of her. Whatever the outcome, I hope you won’t hold it against her too much."
"She doesn’t have much money. She can’t afford to pay for the damages."
Hearing that Cecilia had been so humbly cooking for others, Linden Nathan’s grip on his cup tightened.
Instinctively, Linden Nathan’s lips pressed into a thin, hard line. His features grew stern, carrying a natural air of authority.
"Understood."
Linden Nathan turned away, clearly unwilling to discuss the topic any further.
’As her father, I was naturally angry with Cecilia in the past.’
’She had openly defied me for that man.’
’Later, after that man, Miles Sinclair, died in an accident, I thought she would finally come home. But instead, she started desperately chasing after Damian Hawthorne and went through so much hardship.’
’Of course I knew Cecilia’s talents. Her artistic skills were exceptional; I had hired a world-class violin virtuoso to be her teacher.’
’When she showed an interest in cooking, I hired world-renowned Michelin-starred chefs and the descendants of imperial cooks to teach her.’
’The daughter I cherished so much... acting so subserviently toward others.’
"If there’s nothing else, you may leave."
Linden Nathan’s voice was hoarse.
Frances Bennett could clearly sense his displeasure, but she couldn’t pinpoint the reason. She had no choice but to make a disconcerted exit.
After all, she had achieved her objective.
Not long after Frances Bennett left, Linden Nathan called Cecilia.
When Cecilia saw the call was from Linden Nathan, she hesitated for a moment before finally answering.
"Cecilia, what do you think about Sharon forming a marriage alliance with the Hawthorne Family?"
Cecilia frowned. "With who?"
"It’s Sharon, with a member of the Hawthorne family. Not Damian Hawthorne. It’s Leo Hawthorne—the man Damian’s grandfather adopted."
Cecilia recalled that there was indeed such a person in the Hawthorne family.
But the man was a notorious womanizer who played the field and seemed... not quite right.
"You agreed?" Cecilia narrowed her eyes, her beautiful gaze darkening. "It was Frances Bennett who proposed this, wasn’t it?"
’Frances Bennett’s move was obviously an act of revenge against Sharon Quincy, while also adding a bargaining chip for the Hawthorne Family.’
"She was the one who proposed it, but I saw through her little scheme long ago. I still need to consider this. After all, she is my goddaughter. If she marries poorly, I’ll lose face too."
Linden Nathan’s tone was filled with displeasure for Frances Bennett.
’Frances Bennett’s threatening words were clearly meant to force his hand.’
Cecilia remained silent.
’While she agreed it was cruel for Sharon Quincy to marry a man like that, she couldn’t bring herself to agree with Linden Nathan’s reasoning.’
’She knew it. Once Sharon Quincy became Linden Nathan’s goddaughter, he would have to take responsibility for all the affairs that came with her.’
But she wouldn’t let Sharon Quincy get her way.
"That car accident was no accident." Cecilia stood on the side of the street, watching the endless stream of traffic. Her voice was quiet, as cool and placid as water. "She hired someone to hit me."
