Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 21: The Audacity

"Cecilia Nathan, the TA...?" Claire Hale’s jaw dropped. "Why are you giving her gifts?"

"Ohhh, I get it!" Tia Bennett leaned close to Serena Hughes with a sly smile. "You want to trade for her sheet music, don’t you?"

Serena Hughes smiled but said nothing.

She didn’t have to say a word; her friends had already seen right through her.

’She had to get her hands on the sheet music for that piece.’

’She had a feeling it would be her ticket into the Hawthorne family.’

...

At that moment, Cecilia Nathan was in the apartment she had bought for herself. She was looking over her lesson plans, occasionally plucking a string on her violin to adjust its tuning.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

Cecilia Nathan picked up her phone to check the video feed, which showed Serena Hughes’s small, delicate face.

Cecilia put her phone down, pretending she hadn’t seen anything.

But Serena Hughes seemed to know she was inside and started shouting from the other side of the door, "Cecilia! Cecilia Nathan, open the door!"

Cecilia didn’t know how Serena had found her address. But from the sound of her relentless shouting, it was clear she wouldn’t give up until Cecilia opened the door.

Cecilia Nathan stood up and opened the door.

Serena Hughes was carrying several bags, big and small. The moment she saw Cecilia, she said happily, "Cecilia, I picked these out especially for you."

Cecilia’s eyes swept over the collection of yellow boxes in Serena’s hands, and a bad feeling crept over her.

"What is it?"

Serena Hughes was currently a "patient," and Cecilia had no desire for any involvement with her.

"Cecilia, I’m getting a little dizzy from standing. Can we talk inside?" Perhaps because she had come bearing gifts, Serena Hughes spoke with more confidence.

’She refused to believe Cecilia would turn away someone who came with a smile.’

Seeing how forward she was being, Cecilia found it hard to just turn her away.

Though she was reluctant, the girl was already here. It was too late to refuse.

"Come in."

Cecilia turned and led the way into the living room.

As soon as Serena Hughes stepped inside, her eyes started darting around. She first took in the decor—a palette of pink and blue that filled her with envy.

No girl could dislike such a feminine style.

"Cecilia... This apartment, Mr. Hawthorne bought it for you, didn’t he?" There was a sour, jealous edge to Serena Hughes’s words.

’Cecilia’s financial situation wasn’t good; it might have even been worse than her own.’

’In the past few years working at Hawthorne Enterprises, the most Cecilia had ever done was run errands for Damian Hawthorne. She’d never held a real job.’

’And an apartment in this location, at this price point, was likely something Cecilia couldn’t afford on her own.’

Cecilia glanced up at her and said coldly, "No."

’Damian Hawthorne was never stingy with his money when it came to her, but he truly hadn’t been the one to buy this apartment.’

Serena Hughes was clearly unconvinced but remembered the purpose of her visit. "Cecilia, I’ve reflected on my actions. My attitude was poor last time when I asked you for the sheet music. It’s your original work, and I shouldn’t have been so direct in asking for it."

With that, Serena placed the bags she’d brought on the table in front of Cecilia. "I chose these gifts carefully. I hope you’ll like them."

Cecilia raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth twitching.

’Just as I thought. Serena hasn’t given up yet.’

"Didn’t Damian Hawthorne tell you? I asked him to keep you in line and stop you from asking me for the sheet music again."

Serena’s expression froze for a moment before she said awkwardly, "He did tell me not to bother you, but you’re my teaching assistant. We’re bound to run into each other, so we can’t keep things this tense forever."

"Cecilia, I’ve said it before, I don’t want to get involved in your relationship with Mr. Hawthorne. I came here today with a sincere desire to learn from you. That piece of yours... it truly moved me."

"Cecilia, I really admire you. I hope you’ll consider it."

A smile played on Cecilia’s lips. "Giving you the sheet music isn’t out of the question." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Serena’s eyes instantly lit up. "Really?"

"But I want to know what you plan to do with it," Cecilia said, studying her. "You and I both know it’s not some masterpiece. This piece is very meaningful to me. I want to know what it means to you."

"It doesn’t mean... I just... I just genuinely like the piece," Serena’s voice trailed off.

’Of course, she couldn’t tell her it was her ticket into the Hawthorne family.’

’Although she didn’t know why Cecilia was the composer, her intuition told her she needed to buy the rights to this piece.’

’Even better if Cecilia could never play it again.’

’Damian Hawthorne had taken notice of her because of this piece.’

’If she couldn’t play the full piece, Damian might not treat her so well anymore.’

’She had to get that music.’

Seeing her reluctance to answer, Cecilia had no intention of giving her the sheet music.

"Serena Hughes, go home. I’m not giving it to you." At this, Cecilia extended a finger and pointed at the bags in front of her. "Take these with you. I’m your teaching assistant now. It would be inappropriate for me to openly accept these."

After she spoke, Cecilia walked straight to the door, opened it, and gestured for her to leave.

Serena Hughes gritted her teeth, picked up the bags, and walked to the door.

She turned to look back at Cecilia, then suddenly broke into a grin. "Cecilia, Mr. Hawthorne’s mother doesn’t know your pregnancy was a chemical one, does she?"

Cecilia frowned.

"I ran into Mr. Hawthorne’s mother today. She said you were pregnant and that you and Mr. Hawthorne might have a shotgun wedding." Serena’s gaze fell to Cecilia’s stomach as she let out a soft chuckle. "Mr. Hawthorne’s mother still doesn’t know you lost the baby, does she?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Serena covered her mouth with a giggle. "You want to hide this, but secrets have a way of getting out. You wouldn’t want Mr. Hawthorne’s mother calling you a liar, would you?"

"A liar..." Cecilia’s lips curled into a captivating smile.

She was wearing a white silk slip, which already highlighted her excellent figure. That soft smile only made her face seem all the more stunning.

Serena lowered her eyes, filled with jealousy.

She wasn’t unattractive, but compared to Cecilia, they were worlds apart.

Before, she had only ever seen photos of Cecilia online—unedited, raw images, every single one of which was unreasonably beautiful.

’This was also why she found it so hard to believe that Damian Hawthorne could actually be interested in her.’

’Would Damian Hawthorne really pass up a woman this beautiful to pursue her instead? Was that even possible?’

’It was.’

’Because that’s exactly what Damian Hawthorne had done.’

At this thought, Serena felt even more certain that she had to get that music.

"Cecilia, if you’re willing to give me the sheet music, I can keep this secret for you. We both get what we want. It’s a perfect deal."

"A perfect deal," Cecilia repeated, her lips curling into a scornful smile. "Serena Hughes, you’ve fallen for Damian Hawthorne, haven’t you?"

Serena Hughes froze.

"Just a few days ago, you were telling me you wouldn’t be the other woman."

Serena guiltily averted her gaze. "I did say that... but that was before."

"Cecilia, we both know perfectly well that I’m not the other woman." Serena lifted her chin slightly, speaking with pride. "You and Mr. Hawthorne were never even together. Your own status was never acknowledged, so what right do you have to call me the other woman?"

"I’m just taking back what belongs to me, through perfectly normal means."