Refusing to Remarry: Mr. Hawthorne, You Are Out-Chapter 81: Now, I’ll Protect You

Of course Mason Sullivan knew exactly what Raine Sinclair was talking about.

He quietly clenched his fists, cursed Jonas Hawthorne in his heart, and then tried to comfort Raine, "Raine, from now on, I’ll protect you!"

Raine didn’t get too sentimental—after all, so much time had passed.

But when she heard Mason say that, she almost burst out laughing. "Mason, did you forget that when you got beaten up as a kid, it was always me who stood up for you?"

Back then, that little boy crying from being picked on—she could still picture it perfectly!

But Mason was dead serious. "You protected me when we were kids. Now I’ve grown up, I’m taller and stronger than you, so it’s my turn to protect you!"

Raine was shaken by the determination in his eyes.

She opened her mouth, the words at the tip of her tongue, but couldn’t think of what to say.

Right at that moment, Leon Grant announced onstage that all the companies attending the bidding should submit their project estimates and completion dates.

Everyone’s attention was instantly drawn over.

No one knew that at this exact moment, Candace Ford was watching the livestream, so angry she’d already thrown her phone!

"I sent all those people to stir things up, and she’s still totally fine! Raine Sinclair, you really are a cockroach that refuses to die!"

When the housekeeper walked in carrying bird’s nest soup, she saw Candace in a raging fit.

She hurriedly tried to soothe her, "Ms. Ford, please don’t get angry! If you upset your baby, that won’t be good!"

It was a well-meaning bit of advice, but to Candace’s ears, it sounded extremely sarcastic!

Ms. Ford...

She’d lived here over a month and the housekeepers still called her Ms. Ford!!

When Raine Sinclair left, they were still talking about how great ’Mrs.’ was before she became the wife!

Her face fell instantly. Candace snapped viciously, "Get out! Get out of my sight!!"

The housekeeper was startled, forgetting to even set down the bird’s nest, and immediately turned and raced for the door!

Once outside, she told another housekeeper, "That Ms. Ford has such a temper! I just went in to deliver some soup and she yelled at me to get out!"

"Sigh, it was much better when the young mistress was here, she treated us so kindly..."

"Okay, stop talking. If the lady upstairs hears, she’ll yell at us again!"

After a few grumbles, the crew quickly dispersed.

Whether on purpose or not, their voices traveled perfectly into Candace’s ears.

Her rage went through the roof!

"Get out! You all get out of here!"

With a shout, Candace still felt unsatisfied and grabbed a pillow, hurling it hard at the floor!

Not only was Jonas Hawthorne refusing to acknowledge her status, even the maids in this house were still pining for Raine Sinclair!

That bitch had been thrown out long ago, she was never coming back!!

Candace clenched her teeth, hands balled into fists, her long nails nearly digging into her flesh!

"Raine Sinclair, you’re already gone, why do you still haunt me? I want you dead! All of you, just die!!"

Even after the maids retreated downstairs, they could still hear Candace upstairs smashing things around, everyone nervously on edge!

"Never seen anyone so moody while pregnant, it’s honestly bizarre!"

"My cousin-in-law back home was like this too—constantly yelling every day while carrying, and lost the baby at five months."

"No way! So Ms. Ford might..."

"Shh! If she hears, you’re done for!"

After a bit more gossiping, the staff scattered.

Only Candace’s constant cursing could be heard from upstairs, even more ear-piercing in the empty mansion.

——

Outside Sinclair Tower.

The sealed bids from each company were already delivered to Leon Grant and Raine Sinclair.

While the two were reviewing and comparing, Sinclair Group had thoughtfully arranged some entertainment—a promo video for their brand-new women’s fashion line.

Not that many people actually wanted to watch, but since the results would take some time, and this was the Sinclair Group’s event, no one could really refuse to play along. If nothing else, they could pretend to watch seriously for the sake of appearances.

The journalists and onlookers in the crowd all gave Raine Sinclair a big thumbs up for the move.

"Ms. Sinclair’s so smart! Not only did she run a perfect bidding event, she managed a self-promoting ad campaign at the same time?"

"Who says the new head of the Sinclair Family is just a pretty face? I think she’s got tons of brains!"

"Sinclair Group’s future is bright! Better go home and buy more Sinclair stock!"

And it wasn’t just these folks—even Finn Wyatt, that big shot, found Raine Sinclair’s performance today impressive.

"Didn’t expect Ms. Sinclair to have such brains. Really nothing like some woman who just lounges at home all day." Praising her, Finn Wyatt couldn’t help but size Raine up with even more curiosity.

Honestly, back then he only knew Diane Linton and Raine Sinclair were best friends, and the three would occasionally grab dinner, but he rarely interacted with Raine.

Besides, he used to focus all of his attention on Diane, never took notice of her best friend at all...

No wonder things seemed so fresh and novel now.

But his fascination seemed to dampen Jonas Hawthorne’s mood with each passing second!

"Mr. Wyatt, shouldn’t your focus be whether your own team’s going to win the bid?" Jonas reminded him coldly.

Jonas already knew the attendee list for Sinclair Group’s bidding event today. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Not that it was any big secret—and with Leo Keane pestering him constantly, he’d have known whether he wanted to or not.

And among them was Finn Wyatt’s guy.

Which only made Jonas suspect Wyatt and Raine Sinclair had something going on...

Not to mention, Wyatt was praising Raine right in front of him!

And Jonas’s completely oblivious comments sounded straight-up jealous to Finn Wyatt.

That just made Finn even more curious...

He shot Jonas a suspicious look and asked, quick as ever, "Mr. Hawthorne, don’t tell me... you still love your ex-wife, huh?"

Finn said this mostly to tease, not expecting a real answer.

But Jonas’s face shifted instantly. "Whatever’s between my ex-wife and I is none of your business."

"..." Finn was startled—he didn’t deny it?

Could it be...

Finn glanced up at Raine Sinclair on the stage, his eyes growing deeper.

If Jonas really hadn’t let go of Raine, things could get pretty interesting.

Honestly, even Leon Grant sitting next to Raine was starting to seem a bit suspicious.

"That Grant kid’s awfully nice to Raine Sinclair! I heard he even signed a guarantee for her? Now he’s hustling all over the place here at the bidding event, tsk tsk."

Finn peppered the topic deliberately—wanting to see how Jonas would react. But Jonas just asked, "She came to you too?"

Raine hadn’t asked Finn Wyatt for a signature, but at a moment like this, there’s no way he’d admit that. He blurted, "Of course!"

Then, with a sly grin, he shot back, "She didn’t come to you?"