Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 33: I Am Luna

"I did contact him, but he said he’s busy. That’s why I’m calling you. Mr. Hawthorne likes you so much; I’m sure he’ll listen to you," the homeroom teacher said matter-of-factly. "Serena, it’s settled, then. I’ll have afternoon tea ready for you two this afternoon. Oh, right, the principal will be here too. If you can bring Mr. Hawthorne this time, the principal will see you in a whole new light."

Before Serena Hughes could respond, the homeroom teacher hurriedly hung up.

Hearing the dial tone, a cold dread washed over Serena Hughes.

’Something must be wrong between me and Damian Hawthorne.’

’The proposal might have upset Damian, but not so much that he’d bail on something he promised me.’

’No, I have to go find him.’

「The Hawthorne Group Building.」

Serena Hughes rushed into the lobby, only to be stopped by the security gates.

"Open up. I need to see Mr. Hawthorne," Serena Hughes demanded, turning to the receptionist.

The receptionist was new and didn’t recognize Serena Hughes. From her tone, she assumed Serena was just another crazed fan.

"I’m sorry, this area is for employees only."

Serena Hughes fumed.

She wasn’t an employee, but every other time she had come here, Damian Hawthorne’s assistant had always been waiting in the lobby to escort her up. She never even had to ask.

"Let her through! Are you crazy? That’s our future boss’s wife!" The previous receptionist, who happened to be passing by, saw the new hire she was training being clueless and quickly interjected.

"Boss’s wife?" The trainee’s lips twitched skeptically, but she said nothing.

Just then, Assistant Justin Bell walked out. The moment he saw Serena Hughes, a knowing smile appeared on his face.

"Miss Hughes, what brings you here?"

The formal address was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

But Serena Hughes clearly didn’t notice the change. With her hands on her hips, she pointed at the receptionists in annoyance. "They stopped me. Assistant Bell, can you get me an access card or something? Otherwise, I have to go through this every time I visit."

"An access card... well..." Justin Bell trailed off.

In the past, he would have gotten one for Serena Hughes without a moment’s hesitation.

But times had changed.

"Miss Hughes, I don’t have the authority for that. Since you’re not an employee, it’s not really necessary, is it?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

After Justin Bell spoke, the new receptionist couldn’t help but scoff.

Serena Hughes’s face turned beet red. "If I don’t have access, how am I supposed to see Mr. Hawthorne? Assistant Bell, do you have a problem with me? Surely you can handle a small matter like this?"

She could clearly sense the significant shift in Justin Bell’s attitude.

Combined with Damian Hawthorne’s recent behavior, Serena Hughes was already starting to panic.

But with others watching the drama unfold, she couldn’t let it show.

Thanks to the proposal, everyone was now gossiping about her being the future Mrs. Hawthorne.

She had dug her own grave, and now she had to lie in it.

"Miss Hughes, I really can’t solve this. I’m just an employee; I have to follow orders from above." At this, Justin Bell asked tentatively, "Miss Hughes, is it possible you’ve deceived President Hawthorne in some way? He’s upstairs. I can take you to him. There are some things you can ask him in person."

At these words, Serena Hughes’s eyelid twitched.

’Deceived President Hawthorne...’

’Besides the engagement, what else have I lied to him about...?’

The more Serena Hughes thought about it, the more terrified she became.

’As for lies, I have indeed hidden some things from him.’

As she followed Justin Bell into the elevator, a light sheen of sweat had already formed on Serena Hughes’s forehead.

Justin Bell, seeming not to notice her unease, made small talk. "By the way, Miss Hughes, that piece you played for President Hawthorne... it’s called ’Eye of Love,’ isn’t it? Does it go by any other name?"

"No," Serena Hughes said firmly. "That’s its only name."

In truth, she hadn’t known the name of the piece at first either.

But the first time Damian Hawthorne saw her, he was the one who told her its name: Eye of Love.

"Oh..." Justin Bell nodded as if something had just clicked into place, and said no more.

When they arrived at Damian Hawthorne’s office, Serena Hughes stood before the door, her palms slick with sweat.

She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and went inside.

Damian Hawthorne was on the sofa, looking over some documents.

His features were strikingly handsome. Slender fingers danced across the white paper. Dressed in dark trousers, he sat with his legs crossed, his posture casually confident.

"Mr. Hawthorne..."

The moment she saw him, tears streamed down Serena Hughes’s face.

All the hurt and fear of the past two days came pouring out the instant she saw Damian Hawthorne.

She was terrified that Damian Hawthorne wanted nothing more to do with her.

"What are you crying for?" Damian Hawthorne’s lips curved into a roguish smile as he gestured to the seat in front of him. "Sit."

Choking back sobs, Serena Hughes wiped her tears and sat down opposite him. "Mr. Hawthorne, my homeroom teacher said she called you... Your promise to come to my graduation ceremony, does it still stand?"

Damian Hawthorne looked up, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "It does."

Serena Hughes breathed a sigh of relief, the weight on her shoulders suddenly lifting.

"Mr. Hawthorne, are you unhappy with me?" Serena Hughes asked, her eyes red and her lashes damp. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, making her look all the more pitiful.

Damian Hawthorne didn’t answer. Instead, he placed the file he was holding in front of her. "Justin Bell looked into the part-time jobs you worked before you lost your memory. That part of your history is almost a complete blank. Do you remember what you did for work back then?"

Serena Hughes’s expression stiffened. "I remember. I was doing caregiving work. But I don’t recall the specific details of the job anymore."

"Mr. Hawthorne, why are you asking about this all of a sudden?"

The smile instantly vanished from Damian Hawthorne’s face. "Serena Hughes, I don’t like liars."

Serena Hughes’s breath caught.

"Serena Hughes, are you really Luna?"

Serena Hughes gritted her teeth, struggling to remain calm. "Yes. I’m Luna."

"Mr. Hawthorne, even though I’ve forgotten our distant past, I haven’t forgotten the time we’ve spent together since."

"Back then, I learned about caregiving specifically for you, hoping you’d be able to see again."

At her words, the tense veins on the back of Damian Hawthorne’s hands gradually relaxed.

The original Luna had said she learned caregiving on short notice.

"Mr. Hawthorne, I have no reason to lie to you. When you took me to the old family home, I remembered so much. I remembered the days we spent together back then. The memories aren’t complete, but they prove I’m Luna."

Serena Hughes mustered her courage, stood up, and walked over to Damian Hawthorne.

"Mr. Hawthorne, you got what you wanted. You made me fall in love with you. So why are you trying to leave me now, just as I have?"

Serena Hughes was crying, her sobs heartbroken.

It wasn’t like she had imagined. Even though she was crying her heart out, Damian Hawthorne didn’t treat her with his usual gentleness.

But she could clearly feel that some of his suspicion had eased.

"Serena Hughes, I can trust you one more time." Damian Hawthorne withdrew his scrutinizing gaze, his tone detached. "But I also hate being played for a fool."

With tears still on her cheeks, Serena Hughes froze as if rooted to the spot.

She had forgotten. The man before her was Damian Hawthorne, the ruthless patriarch of the Hawthorne Family.

Damian Hawthorne always maintained a roguish, laid-back demeanor. Even when he was all smiles, no one ever doubted the viciousness lurking just beneath the surface.

Everyone in Korsyth knew that beneath his harmless facade was a true wolf.

Damian Hawthorne’s words were a warning.

Serena Hughes took a step back, her body trembling with fear.

"I... Mr. Hawthorne... I wouldn’t play you for a fool."

Serena Hughes didn’t know where she found the courage.

But she was in too deep to back out now.

She had fallen in love with Damian Hawthorne. All she could do was take the gamble.

She was betting that the real Luna would never appear.