Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 41: Damian Hawthorne Can Only Marry Her
’Don’t abandon her...’
Damian Hawthorne remembered Cecilia Nathan’s words. ’Don’t abandon her.’
The words were the same, but the sentiment was different.
Cecilia had been telling Hugo not to abandon her.
Back then, she hadn’t said his name. She had even mistaken him for someone else.
A sudden tightness gripped Damian Hawthorne’s chest.
He looked at Serena Hughes, his voice heavy with implication. "Luna doesn’t get carsick."
Serena Hughes froze, the color draining from her face.
’Luna doesn’t get carsick, but I do.’
Damian hadn’t said it outright, but his silence was the most terrifying part.
’He suspects me...’
’What’s he going to do to me?’
Fear and sorrow swarmed her, gnawing at her like a relentless tide of insects.
Serena Hughes made an excuse and fled in a panic.
She returned home in a daze to find a row of luxury brand boxes displayed in her living room.
"Mom, what is all this?" Serena Hughes asked, watching in astonishment as her mother examined the jewelry and clothing.
Both the jewelry and the clothes were from top-tier luxury brands.
"Mom, did you win the lottery?"
These weren’t the things she had brought home from the store before.
Ever since she made a fool of herself at the luxury boutique, she had made a point to study up on luxury brands.
The items here seemed to be from the newest collections of high-end luxury brands.
"I’m not that lucky," Mrs. Hughes said, covering her mouth to hide a smile. "Your grandmother bought these for us."
"Grandmother?" Serena Hughes frowned. "Didn’t you tell me you were an orphan? How do I suddenly have a grandmother?"
"Serena, there are some things it’s time you knew." Mrs. Hughes then explained the full story of how she had reunited with Fiona Sinclair.
When Serena Hughes learned that her mother was the eldest daughter of the Sinclair family, she felt like she was in a dream.
The Sinclair family was one of the ten wealthiest families in Korsyth. Before the Hawthorne family rose to prominence, the Sinclairs had been a top player in the tech industry.
But ever since Damian Hawthorne took over his family’s company, he had propelled it far up the ranks.
The Sinclair family could only take a backseat to the Hawthornes.
Even so, the Sinclairs were still incredibly wealthy. The family’s heir was worth nearly ten billion.
"Mom, you’re not kidding me, are you? My grandmother is really a Sinclair?" Serena Hughes’s face flushed with excitement.
’With a family background this good, what do I have to be afraid of?’
’The title of Sinclair heiress alone would be enough to put everyone else in their place.’
"Of course it’s true, Serena. You always felt like you weren’t good enough for that Hawthorne boy, didn’t you? Well, now you don’t have to be afraid. Our family background is more than a match for his," Mrs. Hughes said, her voice brimming with confidence.
After struggling on her own for so long, she had, in fact, long since regretted her past decisions.
Her mother had always been a snob. Mrs. Hughes knew she was only willing to take them back because Serena had established a connection with the Hawthorne family.
For wealthy families, marriage alliances were the only way to preserve their fortunes.
Her mother understood that, and so did she.
"Mom, about Damian and I..."
Serena Hughes wanted to say that things might not work out between her and Damian, but before she could finish, Mrs. Hughes patted her hand. "Your grandmother wants you to attend Damian Hawthorne’s grandfather’s birthday party. She’s going to announce your identity then. Serena, don’t be afraid. With the Sinclair family’s help, your life will only get better from here on out."
"But..." Serena Hughes nervously gripped her mother’s hand. "Mom, I’m not confident. The person Damian actually likes isn’t me, it’s..."
"I know. He likes that Cecilia Nathan girl," Mrs. Hughes said dismissively. "Don’t you worry. A girl like that will never marry into the Hawthorne family. At this level, marriage isn’t as simple as liking someone. That girl’s status can’t hold a candle to yours."
Her mother’s words brought Serena no comfort.
She had a feeling Damian already suspected her.
But her mother was right. Once you reached this social echelon, it was no longer a simple matter of whether she wanted to marry him or he wanted to marry her.
Since news of the proposal had spread far and wide, the Sinclair family would definitely help her marry into the Hawthorne family.
As long as she could marry into the Hawthorne family, she could endure any hardship or humiliation.
’Damian Hawthorne would have to marry her.’
...
At Korsyth Hospital, not long after Cecilia Nathan agreed to go home, someone discreetly handled her discharge procedures.
"Miss Cecilia, the Nathan family has a private wellness manor in central Korsyth. Your father said that if you don’t wish to return to Aethelgard, you can recuperate here in Korsyth for a while."
Cecilia Nathan lay back in the motorhome, leisurely watching the scenery pass by.
Pedestrians kept stealing glances at the vehicle.
Korsyth had no shortage of wealthy people, but multi-million-dollar motorhomes were a rare sight in the city.
The motorhome Cecilia was in was a new, custom model—extended in length and height. It was so large that it required special clearance to even enter the city limits.
Her father had thought of everything to ensure her comfort.
Fearing she might do something drastic, her father had respected her choices for the past few years. But as rumors about Damian Hawthorne and Serena Hughes began to circulate, he wanted her back home again.
"Let’s stay in the city for now."
She hadn’t wanted to get involved with Damian Hawthorne, but he had just recently saved her.
Thinking of Damian’s mother’s request and his grandfather’s illness, Cecilia decided to attend the family’s party after all.
"We’ll head back to Aethelgard after I attend this birthday party."
「Hawthorne Enterprises Building, President’s Office.」
"Who discharged her?" Damian Hawthorne toyed lazily with a pen, his voice laced with scorn. "She used to play the victim in front of me. I see she’s not bothering to hide her true colors anymore."
"President Hawthorne, we couldn’t find out... Their security systems are more powerful than ours."
The assistant’s words plunged the room into a sudden silence.
The Hawthorne family’s systems were considered ironclad; they even had their own team of hackers. If the Hawthornes wanted to investigate something, there was nothing they couldn’t find.
’But their security is even stronger than the Hawthorne’s?’
’Since when did the Hawthorne family have a rival like this?’
A smirk played on Damian Hawthorne’s lips. He slouched lazily into the sofa, tapping his fingers on the armrest. "Interesting."
’Cecilia Nathan’s background is much deeper than I imagined.’
"Oh, and President Hawthorne... we have new information regarding Miss Serena," Justin Bell said. He had been keeping a close watch on Serena Hughes and hadn’t neglected to look into her family.
"Members of the Korsyth Sinclair family have been visiting Serena Hughes’s home frequently. I’ve discovered that she’s actually a Sinclair."
The Sinclair family of Korsyth. One of their business rivals.
’So Serena Hughes is a Sinclair.’
"If that’s the case, it would explain why we couldn’t find any information on Miss Luna’s identity before. She was likely able to hide it with help from the Sinclair family."
’If Serena Hughes is really a Sinclair, they would never have allowed her to work as a caregiver.’
’The Sinclairs would have gone to great lengths to suppress that information to save face.’
Just as the assistant was about to say more about Serena Hughes, Damian Hawthorne’s lips parted. "Call Cecilia."
"Tell her... my eyes are injured."
