Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 26: You Still Can’t Leave Me

"As long as you don’t say anything, no one will know."

"You sure have a lot of confidence in Serena Hughes." Cecilia Nathan shot him a sideways glance. "But you might be wrong about her. She’ll do anything to get that music sheet from me."

Although Cecilia didn’t know why she was so obsessed with the composition, she could see just how badly Serena wanted it.

But it was a pity. She had composed that piece during the most wonderful time of her life, and she wouldn’t give it to anyone—especially not to someone like Serena Hughes.

"What’s the name of your composition?" Damian Hawthorne suddenly asked.

Cecilia raised an eyebrow. "You’re interested in this kind of thing?"

"I wasn’t originally, but I once had a friend who loved composing, which gradually piqued my interest." At this, Damian Hawthorne paused, as if reminiscing about something.

Cecilia’s hand trembled slightly. "It’s a new piece. It doesn’t have a name yet."

Damian Hawthorne stood up, his posture tall and straight, his voice low. "I won’t force you to make a decision right now."

After speaking, he slowly walked to the door and tilted his head. "What, are you planning to stay here?"

Cecilia’s mouth twitched. She knew she couldn’t stay here any longer.

She knew Damian Hawthorne’s personality. If she didn’t leave, he would make things difficult for Finn Hawthorne.

She had no romantic interest in Finn, so she naturally didn’t want to cause trouble for him.

...

Unable to reach Damian Hawthorne by phone, Serena Hughes went directly to his company to find him.

"Miss Hughes." Damian Hawthorne’s assistant came down as soon as he got the call. "President Hawthorne is out on an errand."

"For work?" Serena Hughes didn’t understand. She had already agreed to go to the old residence with Damian Hawthorne, so why hadn’t he contacted her yet?

This wasn’t how she had imagined things would go.

Damian Hawthorne had always wanted her to recover her memories, but she kept avoiding it.

But the appearance of that musical piece gave Serena a sense of crisis.

She didn’t understand why Cecilia Nathan would be the composer of that piece.

’Could it be that the person Damian Hawthorne has been looking for all this time isn’t me, but Cecilia?’

At this thought, Serena’s heart began to race wildly.

’No, impossible.’

’If it was Cecilia, why would Damian have been unable to find her all this time?’

The mere possibility made Serena’s heart ache so much it felt like it would shatter.

She had to admit it—she was starting to feel jealous of Cecilia.

She had originally thought Cecilia was just some talentless, boy-crazy girl who only knew how to pester Damian Hawthorne. But now, it seemed Cecilia was much more than that.

She was someone even her own mentor admired, and she was an outstanding composer.

Cecilia was beautiful and exceptionally talented.

’If she’s also the person Damian is looking for...’

The more she thought about it, the more unbearable it became. Serena felt like her heart was about to suffocate.

"Where is Mr. Hawthorne?" Serena Hughes stared nervously at the assistant. "Didn’t you tell him I agreed to go to the old residence with him? Why... Why didn’t he come find me?"

"Miss Hughes, I did tell him, but when he found out Miss Cecilia Nathan had gone to... that kind of place, he went to find her first." The assistant’s voice grew quieter as he spoke.

"Cecilia?" Serena’s eyes widened. "What kind of place did she go to?"

"That kind of place... you know, a place to have some fun."

"You mean... Cecilia Nathan went to hire a prostitute?" Serena covered her mouth and shrieked, "That’s illegal! How could she dare?"

"She’s still a teaching assistant at our university... How could she go to a place like that?"

Serena’s voice was just loud enough, and since she was in the first-floor lobby of Hawthorne Enterprises where many people were coming and going, her words reached the ears of everyone nearby.

"No, it’s not prostitution!" the assistant said, growing anxious.

Cecilia had pursued Damian Hawthorne for several years, so he had known her for just as long.

Even if Cecilia were really looking for that kind of fun, she wouldn’t do it at a time like this.

Besides, that place was just a legitimate karaoke bar. There was nothing illegal or criminal about it.

The moment Serena raised her voice, the assistant knew exactly what she was trying to do.

He hadn’t expected that a recent college graduate who looked so pure and worldly-innocent could be so vicious.

With so many people having heard Serena’s words, he was afraid that by tomorrow, the rumor of Miss Cecilia’s "prostitution" would be all over the city.

"Miss Hughes, Miss Cecilia Nathan did not do what you’re implying. But the words you spoke today have already caused trouble for her." The assistant’s tone turned cold. "You’d better be prepared to explain yourself to Miss Cecilia."

"Explain... What is there for me to explain..." Serena hadn’t expected the assistant to see right through her.

"If you don’t want to explain it to Miss Cecilia, then you can explain it to President Hawthorne." At this, the assistant gave a mocking smile. "Miss Hughes, Miss Cecilia Nathan followed President Hawthorne for years. Even if they couldn’t be lovers, they can still be considered friends. If President Hawthorne finds out what you just did, he might start to see you in a different light."

The assistant was now seriously doubting whether his investigation had been wrong.

’Is the person in front of me really the one who stood by President Hawthorne through thick and thin, who walked with him through his darkest days?’

After hearing his words, Serena snapped her mouth shut.

’As expected of the assistant to the head of the Hawthorne Family. Nothing gets past him.’

The assistant glanced at Serena, the doubt in his heart growing heavier.

’No, I have to investigate this properly.’

Serena saw his suspicious gaze, and her eyelid twitched violently.

"Miss Hughes, President Hawthorne is already on his way back to the company. If you wait a little longer, he should be here in about ten minutes."

Serena nodded and sat obediently on the lobby sofa to wait.

The thought of Damian Hawthorne going to find Cecilia made Serena clench her hands into fists.

If she had been hesitant a few days ago, she had now made up her mind completely.

She was going to accept Damian Hawthorne’s pursuit.

She wanted to marry him and become the rightful Mrs. Hawthorne.

Damian Hawthorne personally drove his Maybach, stopping at the entrance of Hawthorne Tower.

The moment he opened the car door, the abrupt shift from darkness to light made Damian squeeze his eyes shut.

A sharp pain shot through the corners of his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Cecilia Nathan got out of the car with concern, quickly pulling eye drops from her bag. "Does your eye hurt? Quick, put in some eye drops."

Seeing him covering his eyes, Cecilia felt a sharp, needle-like pain in her heart.

Damian Hawthorne gently moved his hand away and slightly opened his eyes, waiting for her to administer the medicine.

Cecilia skillfully applied the drops to his eyes.

As his vision gradually cleared, Damian saw the concern and heartache on her face.

The anxiety he had felt for the past few days was suddenly validated.

He grabbed her wrist, a roguish smile playing on his lips. "Cecilia, you still can’t leave me."

The spot where he held her suddenly felt scorching hot.

Cecilia looked at his slightly reddened eyes, and her nose tingled with the urge to cry.

’Yes, I can’t leave him.’

’But no matter how much I can’t, I still have to.’

’He’s fallen in love with someone else.’

’If I don’t leave now, I’ll become the other woman.’

Just then, a heartbroken voice called out, "Mr. Hawthorne..."

It was Serena Hughes.

She stood alone on the roadside, her eyes red, looking sorrowful and aggrieved.