Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Don’t Go, He’s Going to Sleep

Cecilia Croft didn’t lift her head from Sebastian Hawthorne’s chest until the driver started the car and pulled away from the restaurant. She asked cautiously,

"Are you sure they didn’t see me back there?"

Her plan was on the verge of success. After helping Sebastian Hawthorne acquire 80% of Vantage’s shares, she could return to Karthus.

At such a critical juncture, Cecilia Croft didn’t want any complications.

Seeing her nervous expression, a flash of displeasure appeared in Sebastian Hawthorne’s eyes.

His expression turned grim as he withdrew his arm, releasing the woman from his embrace.

"I don’t know."

Panic flashed in Cecilia Croft’s eyes.

’Damn it. Don’t tell me they saw me.’

’Those old foxes are masters at quietly stirring up trouble.’

Sebastian Hawthorne frowned, his jaw tight. He leaned back against the seat, his deep, dark eyes filled with a chill.

"Are you that afraid of people seeing us together?"

Cecilia Croft nodded. "Of course I am. This is a critical moment in our psychological warfare. We can’t let Jude Sheridan notice anything’s off."

Sebastian Hawthorne said coldly, "It doesn’t matter if he finds out. Does he really dare to oppose me?"

Cecilia Croft: "..."

’That may be true, but this would probably drag things out.’

’She wanted to finish the task here as quickly as possible and go back to Karthus.’

Seeing her silence, Sebastian Hawthorne reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her directly into his lap.

"Even now, you’re not still thinking of getting back together with Jude Sheridan, are you?"

The man’s handsome face loomed large in front of her, and his warm breath washed over her cheeks as he spoke.

He lowered his head slightly, and when he spoke, his lips almost brushed against hers.

Cecilia Croft froze, not daring to move. The strong scent of alcohol on him was almost intoxicating, and she felt her very pores crying out in agitation.

Her heart, especially, was pounding wildly.

"Of course not."

As she answered, she tried to put some distance between them, her body instinctively leaning back.

Her first thought was: ’Sebastian Hawthorne is drunk.’

’Otherwise, he wouldn’t be acting so intimately toward me.’

However, as if he knew what she was thinking, the man tightened his arm around her and took the initiative to change the subject.

"I’m going back to Karthus tomorrow."

Cecilia struggled to compose herself, averting her gaze so she wouldn’t have to look at the handsome man before her. "I know, I know."

Sebastian Hawthorne narrowed his eyes. Seeing the tips of her ears turn red, he smirked. "Don’t you want to go back with me?"

At that, Cecilia Croft turned to look at him, her eyes a mix of surprise and cautious hope.

"You’d be willing to take me with you?"

’She really wanted to go back and be with Ruby Croft.’

’But she couldn’t think of what further value she could offer Sebastian Hawthorne, so she didn’t dare to push her luck.’

She looked at him expectantly, and as she shifted, her lips brushed against his cheek.

Both of them stiffened at the same time.

"Uh... sorry."

Cecilia Croft raised her hand to wipe the spot on his face her lips had accidentally touched. A flicker of awkwardness and embarrassment crossed her eyes, and she used the motion to create a little more distance between them.

Just then, the driver made a turn, and the small distance she had just created vanished as inertia threw them back together.

Cecilia Croft’s face flushed crimson.

Sebastian Hawthorne felt a tickle in his throat. Emboldened by the alcohol, he murmured, "Of course, as long as you kiss..."

His voice was very soft, and he had just begun to speak when a sudden ringtone cut him off.

Cecilia Croft felt as if her heart was about to beat out of her chest. Hearing her phone ring, she seized the chance for a reprieve, quickly pulled out her phone, and answered without even looking at the caller ID.

"Hello, this is Cecilia Croft."

As she spoke, she lightly placed a hand on Sebastian Hawthorne’s chest, trying to push him away and create some distance.

Jude Sheridan’s drunken voice came through the phone.

"Wife, it’s me. I’m at... I’m drunk, I lost my phone. Come pick me up."

Cecilia Croft frowned and was about to answer when the man, who had slightly loosened his grip, suddenly tightened his arm and pulled her firmly into his embrace.

Her nose bumped against his firm, powerful chest, and she let out a muffled grunt.

"You..."

Before she could voice her accusation, the man buried his head in the crook of her neck.

He said, "Don’t go. I’m going to sleep."

Cecilia Croft: "????"

Before she could react, Jude Sheridan on the other end of the line reacted first.

"Cecilia Croft, where are you? Who’s that man with you? You..."

Cecilia Croft had no intention of picking Jude Sheridan up and was about to use this as an opportunity to provoke him with a few sharp words. However, the man whose head was resting quietly on her neck suddenly gave it a light bite.

"Hiss..."

Cecilia sucked in a sharp breath.

After hearing that sound, the person on the other end of the line was silent for a moment, then exploded with rage again.

Even through the phone, she could hear his piercing roar.

Cecilia Croft frowned. Jude Sheridan’s shrill shouts were giving her a headache, and she was about to hang up.

A large, slender hand with well-defined knuckles covered her own, took the phone directly from her palm, and threw it out the car window.

Cecilia Croft could only watch as her phone traced a perfect parabola before her eyes, then disappeared into the traffic.

"..."

She was stunned for a few seconds, then raised her hand to poke the man who still had his head buried in her neck.

"That was my phone, Mr. Hawthorne."

Sebastian Hawthorne grunted in acknowledgment. "I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow."

Cecilia Croft: "..."

’Being rich really does mean you can do whatever you want.’

"So, can you let me go now?" She raised her hands and gave the man a push.

But Sebastian Hawthorne gave her no reaction at all, simply letting the full weight of his body press down on her.

"Mr. Hawthorne..."

Cecilia Croft pushed with all her might, but the drunken man felt like a lead weight.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and said softly,

"Miss Croft, it looks like Mr. Hawthorne has drunk himself to sleep. He had a lot to drink at the dinner. If you keep pushing him like that, you might make him throw up. It wouldn’t be good if he got sick on you."

Cecilia Croft imagined the scene in her mind and immediately stopped pushing.

She could only let Sebastian Hawthorne hold her like that for the rest of the ride.

His head remained in the same position, his even breaths falling on her neck. Cecilia found the sensation unbearably ticklish and could only remain frozen in the same position for the entire trip.

Finally, they arrived at Sebastian Hawthorne’s residence.

The driver pulled the car into the garage.

Cecilia Croft thought she was about to be freed, but the driver turned around, looked at her with a troubled expression, and said,

"Miss Croft, Mr. Hawthorne is really drunk tonight, and there’s no one here to take care of him. Assistant Scott isn’t in Silvercrest either, so could I trouble you to look after him for one night?"

Cecilia Croft was about to refuse when the driver quickly added,

"On the way back earlier, I heard Mr. Hawthorne say he wanted to take you back to Karthus with him, but he didn’t get to finish his sentence. Besides, he’s so drunk, he’ll definitely have a blackout tomorrow. I can be your witness then. What do you think?"