Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Drinking That Much?

The driver’s offer was incredibly tempting to Cecilia Croft. She hesitated for only a second before agreeing to his request.

"Alright, but you have to remember to vouch for me."

The driver nodded eagerly and said with a smile.

"Don’t worry, Miss Croft. I guarantee you’ll get on the plane with Mr. Hawthorne and walk through the Quillan family’s doors together." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

With his confident promise, Cecilia’s worries finally subsided.

With the driver’s help, Cecilia Croft helped Sebastian Hawthorne out of the car.

To keep them both steady, Cecilia Croft held the hand Sebastian had draped over her shoulder, while her other arm wrapped around his waist from behind. She struggled slightly as she guided him into the elevator.

The driver followed behind. Seeing that she could handle it, he said with relief.

"Miss Croft, I won’t come up, then. If you have any problems, just give me a call."

Cecilia Croft nodded in acknowledgment.

"Okay."

As the elevator doors closed, Cecilia Croft glanced up and saw the driver outside, beaming at her, looking very pleased with himself.

A flicker of confusion crossed Cecilia’s eyes, but before she could dwell on it, the man beside her shifted. She quickly tightened her grip, pulling him closer, afraid he would drag her down with him.

She took the opportunity to roll her shoulder, which had gone numb under his weight.

When they reached Sebastian Hawthorne’s floor, she helped him out of the elevator. For some reason, the weight on her shoulder eased slightly; he was no longer leaning on her with his full weight.

At the door, Cecilia Croft decided to try her luck and entered the passcode Sebastian Hawthorne had given her before.

The door clicked open. Cecilia froze for a few seconds, surprised that it wasn’t a temporary passcode.

She looked at the man beside her, stunned, but he just frowned, nuzzling against her neck with a slightly pained expression.

His short black hair tickled and pricked her neck, and she had no choice but to quickly guide him inside.

They entered the master bedroom.

Cecilia was about to let go and lower him onto the bed when she realized that, at some point, the man had wrapped his arm around her waist.

As she tried to lay him down, she ended up falling onto the bed with him.

Cecilia: "..."

’She remembered the day Ruby Croft threw her a welcome party. Sebastian Hawthorne had been drinking at two separate events, but he hadn’t been nearly this drunk. He’d been a bit tipsy when he left, but he was still lucid.’

’So, did he drink counterfeit liquor today?’

’If not, how could he possibly be this plastered?’

Cecilia pried his arm away and placed a hand on his chest, using it for leverage to sit up.

Just as she was about to pull her hand back, the man on the bed grabbed it and opened his eyes.

His deep-set eyes were completely unguarded, his dazed gaze sweeping over her.

Cecilia felt as if she were about to be drawn into the vortex of his gaze. She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart and broke the silence.

"Mr. Hawthorne, would you like some water? I can go get you a glass."

Sebastian Hawthorne gave her hand a sudden tug, and Cecilia tumbled back into his embrace.

He said, "My head hurts. Rub it for me."

Cecilia glanced at her hand, still held tightly in his, and murmured.

"How can I rub your head if you don’t let go?"

Only then did Sebastian Hawthorne release her hand, but his newly freed hand wasn’t idle; he immediately placed it on Cecilia’s waist.

With his other hand, he began massaging his own temples.

Cecilia was about to get up, but the hand on her waist tightened.

"Where are you going?"

he asked in a low voice, his gaze intensely fixed on her.

Cecilia’s breath caught. "Didn’t you say your head hurts and you want me to rub it?"

Only then did Sebastian Hawthorne let go.

After Cecilia sat up, she had just started to reach out to massage his head when he helpfully moved, resting his head directly on her lap. He closed his eyes and murmured.

"Rub."

Cecilia: "..."

’Is he always this clingy when he’s drunk?’

Cecilia placed her hands on Sebastian Hawthorne’s temples and began to gently massage them.

Looking down, she could see his handsome face resting on her lap, and her heart fluttered. His eyes were closed, his thick lashes looking exceptionally long.

He seemed to have fallen asleep, his breathing growing steady and even.

Cecilia tentatively called his name a few times. "Mr. Hawthorne..."

The man didn’t react at all. He was fast asleep.

Cecilia finally stopped, her hands aching and numb. She shook them out gently.

Just as she was about to move his head off her lap, he grunted in displeasure, and Cecilia froze.

’He’s so high-maintenance.’

’No wonder the driver was smiling so happily when he left.’

Cecilia could only grab a pillow, prop it behind her back, and lean against it, figuring she’d move his head after he fell into a deeper sleep.

But as she waited, she drifted off to sleep herself.

「In the middle of the night.」

Sebastian Hawthorne woke up. When he opened his eyes, he saw Cecilia Croft asleep, leaning against the headboard.

As if afraid he might fall off the bed, one of her hands was resting on his body in a protective gesture.

A complex emotion flickered in Sebastian Hawthorne’s eyes.

’Last night, after he’d gotten into bed, the way Cecilia massaged his head had been comfortable and reassuring. Combined with the alcohol, he’d fallen asleep without realizing it.’

He slowly sat up, gently laid Cecilia down on the bed, and adjusted the height of her pillow.

’She has a bad neck. If she slept in that position all night, she’d probably be complaining up a storm in the morning.’

...

When Cecilia Croft woke up, she stretched lazily out of habit.

As her mind gradually cleared, she suddenly remembered she was in Sebastian Hawthorne’s bedroom.

She realized with a jolt that she was lying in the bed.

Her heart pounded like a drum.

She nervously opened her eyes and scanned both sides of the bed. Seeing no sign of Sebastian Hawthorne, she let out a huge sigh of relief.

’Thank goodness Sebastian Hawthorne wasn’t lying next to her, or she would have had a heart attack for sure.’

She raised a hand to rub her neck, then threw back the covers and got up. As she instinctively reached for her phone to check the time, she remembered that Sebastian Hawthorne had thrown it out the window last night.

Cecilia slapped her forehead in frustration.

Just then, Sebastian Hawthorne walked in carrying some toiletries and saw Cecilia Croft giving him a reproachful look.

A red mark on her fair neck was particularly noticeable.

A subtle emotion flickered in Sebastian Hawthorne’s eyes. He averted his gaze unnaturally, cleared his throat, and turned to enter the bathroom. He squeezed toothpaste onto a toothbrush and filled a cup with water before turning back to the woman on the bed and saying softly.

"Get washed up and come out for breakfast."

With that, he walked out of the bathroom and left the bedroom.

Cecilia entered the bathroom in a huff. She grabbed the cup and was about to brush her teeth when she saw the red mark on her neck in the mirror. The cup instantly slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor.

Leaning against the wall outside the bedroom door, Sebastian Hawthorne heard the commotion from inside. He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips as he walked away.