Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 85: Using My Money to Boost Another Man?
The entire hall fell silent.
All eyes turned to the person who had raised the bidding paddle, their expressions complicated.
In their circle, no one would dare disrespect the Nathans of Aethelgard.
It wasn’t that they disliked ’D’s jewelry, nor were they unwilling to buy it. They had simply been told not to.
Who could be so bold as to openly challenge the Nathans of Aethelgard?
The person who raised the paddle wore a couture cocktail dress. She had delicate features and a faint smile on her face.
She was a beautiful woman.
But right now, no one was focused on her beauty. All eyes were on the person beside her.
Damian Hawthorne!
Someone from the Hawthorne Family.
Suddenly, everyone understood. So it was the Hawthorne Family who wanted the jewelry.
They recognized Cecilia Nathan, but no one believed she was the one who wanted the jewelry. They all assumed she was bidding on behalf of the man beside her.
The people who frequented these events cared more about status than scandals. While Damian Hawthorne had been embroiled in plenty of rumors recently, few in attendance truly cared.
The corners of Damian Hawthorne’s lips tilted up slightly as he looked at Cecilia Nathan, who was holding the paddle motionlessly beside him.
He hadn’t said a word, yet Cecilia had raised the paddle on her own.
’Does she care that much about Miles Sinclair? Is she that afraid he’ll be humiliated?’
"Are you serious?" Damian Hawthorne asked, his voice low.
Cecilia didn’t speak. She glanced down at the paddle in her hand, a hint of guilt appearing on her face.
’That paddle represented the Hawthorne Family.’ 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
’Her action just now had put the Hawthorne Family in the eye of the storm.’
’But she couldn’t worry about that now.’
’She couldn’t just stand by and watch Hugo be humiliated by so many people.’
When Miles Sinclair saw Cecilia, his pupils constricted, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
Clearly, he hadn’t expected to see Cecilia here.
He lowered his gaze, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked.
Just then, the manager below the stage was so happy he nearly jumped for joy, clapping and shouting, "Yes, yes, yes! Someone finally bought something! It looks like things are finally turning around for our Hugo!"
The manager couldn’t see who had raised the paddle; all he knew was that someone had just saved his artist from utter disaster.
No matter who it was, that person was his savior, and Hugo’s too!
Miles Sinclair’s teammates were standing closer to the stage. When they saw that the person who raised the paddle was Cecilia, they exchanged bewildered glances.
"Isn’t that Cecilia Nathan, the one who raised the paddle?"
"I... I think so..."
"Holy shit, could she be into our Hugo? That’s so brave of her. I’m fucking moved."
"But she’s holding the Hawthorne Family’s paddle... and she’s sitting next to Damian Hawthorne..."
"Her body may be with Damian, but her heart is with our Hugo. Talk about a tragic romance."
The group chattered back and forth, their feelings a mixture of excitement and unease.
But ultimately, they were happy for their teammate, Hugo.
At least this showed that Hugo’s feelings weren’t unrequited.
Miles Sinclair stood ramrod straight off to the side, his gaze impassive, but it paused for a moment when it fell on Cecilia.
Facing the crowd’s scrutiny, Damian Hawthorne narrowed his eyes slightly. He lounged in his chair with his legs crossed, his expression unreadable, save for the complicated glances he occasionally shot Cecilia’s way.
’Two million? How could that stupid stud be worth two million? It’s worth a hundred-odd thousand at most.’
’The inflated price was just a deliberate tip, like those whales on livestreaming platforms.’
’She was making it obvious she wanted to prop up that Miles Sinclair, even if it meant antagonizing the Nathans of Aethelgard.’
"Using my money to prop up another man. Just great."
After a long moment, Damian Hawthorne forced the words out through gritted teeth.
’Every time Cecilia raises the paddle, every cent spent will come from the Hawthorne Family’s accounts.’
’And she had the nerve to use his money to prop up Miles Sinclair.’
’But he was the one who had brought her here.’
’He couldn’t say a word about anything she did.’
Just then, the auctioneer put another ’D’ necklace up for bid.
As expected, Cecilia raised her paddle again, calling out, "Five million."
This time, it wasn’t just Damian Hawthorne who was losing his patience. Mona Nathan couldn’t hold back any longer. "Who the hell do you think you are, daring to oppose me?" she snapped at Cecilia. "Don’t you know I’m deliberately targeting this Miles Sinclair today?"
"I’m aware," Cecilia replied without even looking up, her tone airy. "But what does that have to with me buying jewelry?"
"You!" Mona Nathan gritted her teeth. Seeing Cecilia play dumb, she turned her angry glare to Damian Hawthorne. "Mr. Hawthorne, aren’t you going to control your woman? Or are you two deliberately targeting me—targeting the Nathans of Aethelgard?"
"Who said she’s my woman?" Damian retorted, his tone flippant and utterly cold.
Mona Nathan was taken aback for a moment, then snapped, "She’s holding the paddle for the Hawthorne Family. How is she not your woman? Mr. Hawthorne, you’d better think carefully. Everyone here shows me a certain level of respect. By doing this, you’re openly declaring yourselves our enemy."
"So noisy." Damian dug a finger in his ear impatiently, shooting her a sidelong glance. "And so what if I am? Do you really think I’m afraid of the Nathans of Aethelgard?"
Mona Nathan’s breath caught in her throat, leaving her speechless.
’Afraid? Others might be, but a man like Damian Hawthorne... he truly wouldn’t be.’
’Damian Hawthorne of Korsyth was famous, but he was notorious for being a law unto himself. Thinking about it, he probably really wasn’t afraid of the Nathan Family.’
’After all, while the Hawthornes of Korsyth might not be on par with the Nathans, they were far from an ordinary family.’
’A rumor had been circulating in their circle: Cecilia Nathan had been hopelessly devoted to Damian Hawthorne for years, but he had actually started to fall for her.’
’Otherwise, he wouldn’t take her everywhere he went.’
’Now, it seemed those rumors might actually be true.’
"Fine, Damian Hawthorne. Keep spoiling her."
Mona Nathan was so furious her eyes turned red.
After being rebuffed by Damian Hawthorne, Mona Nathan could only swallow her anger, not daring to bring it up again.
It was obvious Damian Hawthorne had no intention of humoring her.
Seeing Mona Nathan’s defeat, Cecilia sighed inwardly.
’Her father was always in Aethelgard. He had no idea how certain people in Korsyth were busy tarnishing the Nathan family name.’
Subsequently, Cecilia won several more lots.
Watching the prices skyrocket, Damian Hawthorne’s magnetic voice was laced with anger, "Don’t go too far."
Cecilia didn’t lower her paddle. A stunning smile played on her lips. "I’m not. I’m keeping it under thirty million."
"Damian Hawthorne, don’t forget, you still owe me thirty million."
Damian Hawthorne’s eyes darkened.
’Thirty million. That was the money he’d paid to buy her out of that competition.’
’He had done it to pave the way for Serena Hughes, paying thirty million for Cecilia to withdraw.’
’And now she was using it to help another man.’
"Thirty million. You’ve already gone over," Damian Hawthorne reminded her impassively.
Cecilia continued to raise her paddle, her expression unchanged. "It’s fine. I’ve got more than enough money."
’Plenty of money?’
Damian lowered his gaze and let out a soft laugh, one that was more mocking than cold. "And where would you get that kind of money?"
’The sums being thrown around here were in the millions, even tens of millions. She had no family backing, and even with a high-paying job, where could she possibly get that kind of cash?’
But Cecilia didn’t explain.
’She might not have much else, but money was one thing she truly didn’t lack.’
’After her recent incident, Linden Nathan had someone give her a credit card with no limit, and she had yet to use it.’
’If it was to be spent on Hugo, she wouldn’t mind one bit.’
Just then, the auctioneer excitedly presented one lot after another.
Because Cecilia’s bids were so high, no one even tried to bid against her.
’Damian Hawthorne might dare to offend the Nathan Family, but they certainly didn’t.’
Just then, a magnetic voice rang out, "Stop bidding."
It was Miles Sinclair.
He stood on the stage, his gaze falling on Cecilia, his voice low. "The auction for ’D’s pieces is over."
’Over?’
’It just started, and it’s already over?’
’There are still four-fifths of the pieces left to be auctioned.’
The manager below was hopping mad, on the verge of spewing curses.
"Miles Sinclair, do you have any idea what you’re doing?!"
