Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 168: Linden Nathan’s Persuasion

Cecilia lowered her gaze and took a deep breath.

She didn’t know who the young man was, but stealing a proposal was a truly classless thing to do.

"If you don’t want compensation, then what do you want?"

Watching Cecilia try so hard to compensate him, Damian clenched his jaw, a cold sneer tugging at his lips.

’To protect Miles Sinclair, she’s really willing to do anything.’

Remembering what Justin Bell had said, Damian felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if it had been sliced open and left exposed to a cold wind.

Justin Bell had said that all the managers at the Korsyth branch of the Nathans of Aethelgard now answered to Miles Sinclair.

Linden Nathan had already handed over control of more than half the Nathan Family to Miles Sinclair. The family’s stance was obvious: Miles Sinclair would definitely marry Cecilia in the future.

"President Hawthorne, I suggest you ask Miss Cecilia Nathan. Perhaps she doesn’t know about this."

Justin Bell had always felt that there was something fishy about the whole situation.

Damian looked at Cecilia’s desperate defense, his lips parted. "Cecilia," he said in a low voice, "do you have any idea who stole the proposal?"

Cecilia’s eyelid twitched. She sensed the hidden meaning in Damian’s words.

Just as Cecilia was about to ask who it was, the elevator behind them opened with a DING.

A chuckling Linden Nathan and Miles Sinclair walked out, one after the other.

"Cecilia, look who I brought."

Linden Nathan patted Miles Sinclair’s shoulder. Miles’s gaze fell on Cecilia, deep and reserved.

Seeing the two of them, Cecilia’s lips parted slightly.

This was the first time Linden Nathan had ever come here. She never expected he would bring Miles Sinclair with him.

Damian’s gaze was dark and deep. He glanced coolly at Miles Sinclair and noticed he was carrying fresh groceries.

"Cecilia, I bought some groceries. I plan to make you and Uncle some of my specialty dishes."

Acting as if he hadn’t seen Damian Hawthorne, Miles Sinclair held up the bags for Cecilia to see.

"Mr. Hawthorne, you’re here too?" Linden Nathan had a polite smile on his face.

Damian noticed a subtle difference.

Linden Nathan had always been polite to him, but never so distant as he was now.

"Miles, you go on in and start cooking. I’m going to have a word with Mr. Hawthorne," Linden Nathan said, nodding at Miles Sinclair.

Miles Sinclair went inside. Cecilia glanced at Damian, then also went through the door.

Linden Nathan sized up Damian Hawthorne, a hint of regret in his eyes.

’When it comes to looks, Miles Sinclair is handsome enough, but Damian Hawthorne is a cut above.’

’As for family background and ability...’

’In every respect, I was actually more satisfied with Damian Hawthorne.’

’If Miles Sinclair hadn’t "come back to life," Damian Hawthorne would have been the one to marry Cecilia.’

’Unfortunately, Miles Sinclair was alive.’

’And with Miles alive, there was no longer a place for anyone else.’

"Mr. Hawthorne, I’ll be direct. I know Cecilia used to pursue you, but that’s all in the past." Linden Nathan smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Back when Cecilia was chasing after you, I was keeping an eye on you two, but you never once admitted that she was your girlfriend."

"She was by your side for so many years without any official status, and in the end, she still lost out to some college student who came out of nowhere." Linden Nathan’s eyes sharpened. "As a fellow man, I know what you’re thinking. Simply put, you can’t bear to lose her, so you can’t let her go."

"Before, for the sake of her identity, I let her do as she pleased. But now she’s about to return to the Nathan Family, and she can’t continue this ambiguous relationship with you."

Linden Nathan’s words were sharp, each one mercilessly tearing open the past and laying it bare before him.

Damian’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Mr. Nathan, since you’re being frank with me, I won’t hide anything either. I was a real bastard in the past, but that’s because I couldn’t see my own heart clearly."

"If you’re willing, please give me a chance to change and make it up to Cecilia."

Damian knew that the past wasn’t really in the past, because the damage had already been done.

’But letting go of Cecilia and just standing by to watch her marry someone else? Absolutely impossible.’

"Ah, Mr. Hawthorne, it’s not that I’m unwilling..." Linden Nathan heaved a long sigh. "I have to respect Cecilia’s wishes, too."

Looking at Linden Nathan’s troubled expression, Damian’s heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles.

’Then he thought about Linden Nathan entrusting the Nathan Family to Miles Sinclair, and everything became clear.’

"Even if she likes you both, there’s always a matter of who came first..." Linden Nathan didn’t want to say anything more cruel.

’Back when Miles Sinclair "died," Cecilia was depressed for a time. It was as if her soul had gone with him.’

’It wasn’t until Damian Hawthorne appeared that Cecilia seemed to find the will to live again.’

Linden Nathan glanced at Damian’s eyes and sighed softly.

’If Miles Sinclair had actually died, that would have been the end of it. But unfortunately, he was still alive.’

’He knew his own daughter.’

’In this world, besides him in his role as her father, no one was more important to Cecilia than Miles Sinclair.’

’But,’ Linden knew, ’Miles is genuinely good to Cecilia. It’s just that his family background is a significant step down.’

’More importantly, Miles Sinclair’s family...’

Linden Nathan’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of worry rising in his heart.

But then he thought of Miles Sinclair’s attitude, and the worry in his heart began to subside.

’Since Miles is willing to accept my guidance, there shouldn’t be any problems for him and Cecilia in the future.’

Watching Linden Nathan’s resolute expression, Damian lowered his eyes, his eyelashes hiding the turbulent emotions within.

He clenched his fists, the veins on them bulging.

Linden Nathan patted Damian’s shoulder, then walked inside.

The door stood between them, separating Damian from the people inside.

"President Hawthorne..." Justin Bell came rushing out of the elevator. "Did you ask Miss Cecilia Nathan? The proposal was..."

"There’s no need."

Damian’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

’This Miles Sinclair... he even steals business proposals. What kind of decent person is he?’

’But Linden Nathan was right. Cecilia is the one who decides everything.’

’Without Cecilia’s help, Miles Sinclair would never get into the Nathan Family.’

’That being the case, everything I’m doing just looks like a joke.’

"Why is there no need? Would Miss Cecilia Nathan allow Miles Sinclair to do such a thing?" The more Justin Bell looked at Damian, the more he felt something was wrong. "President Hawthorne, are you alright?"

He had been with Damian Hawthorne for several years and had rarely seen him this cold.

Most of the time, Damian was indifferent, rarely ever truly angry.

Damian shot him a cold glance, and Justin Bell shuddered.

"President Hawthorne, um... COUGH COUGH, Miss Serena Hughes called me. She said she has something very important to tell you." Thinking of Serena’s call, Justin Bell explained, nervous and eager to share the gossip. "Miss Serena Hughes said she has some secrets about Miss Luna and Miss Cecilia Nathan."

Damian scoffed. He raised his eyelids, his tone full of mockery. "What else did she say?"

"She also said that she’s currently being held by Fiona Sinclair at the Sinclair Family estate and can’t get out. She hopes you’ll go to the Sinclair Family to get her out, and in return, she’ll tell you this secret."