Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Leading the Croft Family Upward

A person of Jade Golding’s noble birth.

She probably wouldn’t deign to acknowledge Cecilia, let alone consider someone like her a worthy rival.

Cecilia Croft openly met Jade Golding’s scrutinizing gaze.

...until Jade Golding realized Cecilia Croft was watching her in the mirror.

The composure in Cecilia’s eyes made Jade Golding realize that Cecilia had taken in her every expression.

While Jade was scrutinizing her, Cecilia had been watching her right back.

Jade Golding smiled nonchalantly. Cecilia Croft returned a faint smile, then discreetly averted her gaze and went back to letting Walter Abrams do her makeup.

Jade’s gaze then swept past Cecilia Croft to land on Sebastian Hawthorne, who was sitting to one side. She smiled radiantly and spoke.

"Sebastian, you haven’t introduced me. This young lady is...?"

At these words, Cecilia Croft looked up at Sebastian Hawthorne, unable to hide the tension in her eyes.

’How will he introduce me to Jade Golding?’

Sebastian Hawthorne keenly detected the turmoil in Cecilia Croft’s eyes. It was as if she was terrified he would reveal their past relationship in front of Jade Golding.

Seeing her so tense, he frowned slightly, his eyes darkening a fraction.

He hesitated to speak, and the curiosity and confusion in Jade Golding’s eyes grew.

The hands resting on Cecilia Croft’s lap relaxed. She lifted her gaze to the mirror, looking at Jade Golding with a gentle smile.

"Hello, Miss Golding. I’m Cecilia Croft. We met once before in Mr. Hawthorne’s office. It’s a pleasure to see you again."

Jade Golding’s expression faltered for a second. Only then did she recall seeing this face in Sebastian Hawthorne’s office.

It was just that her makeup had been very light that day; she’d looked merely pretty and pleasant, a girl-next-door type. To be blunt, she had an air of cheapness about her that clashed completely with Sebastian Hawthorne.

A far cry from her present appearance, with her exquisite makeup and an air of noble elegance. No wonder she hadn’t recognized her and had mistaken her for some young lady from a family she’d never met.

A smile played on Jade Golding’s lips, but her eyes were laced with scorn.

Her earlier wariness and curiosity vanished completely.

"Oh, it’s you. No wonder some sage once said that money is the very foundation of one’s life, the path to survival. It’s only been a few days, and I barely recognized you. To think you’re that lowly clerk from Sebastian’s office."

After she spoke, Jade Golding’s gaze fell upon the gown Cecilia Croft was wearing. Her expression turned peculiar as she glanced sideways at Sebastian Hawthorne, her eyes brimming with knowing amusement.

"Sebastian, you really know how to spoil a woman."

She recognized Cecilia Croft’s dress as a new, unreleased piece from The C Family. The color was even a custom shade.

The slight curve of her lips completely hid the flash of jealousy in her eyes.

Some days ago, she’d asked the general agent for the Asia-Pacific region to secure this very gown for her, only to be told they would need to submit a request to headquarters.

And now, here was Cecilia Croft wearing the dress, while she herself was still waiting for a response.

It was, of course, just an unreleased dress. The moment it hit the market, her family would buy it for her if she so much as expressed a passing interest.

But she cared more about the prestige that came with obtaining the dress before anyone else.

The feeling of possessing something while others were still queuing up for it, of having it before everyone else.

She loved that feeling of superiority, of being sought after and admired.

So, seeing the dress on Cecilia Croft now, she was naturally displeased.

But she quickly averted her gaze from Cecilia Croft.

It was just a dress, after all. Not enough to make her stare daggers or lose her composure.

Sebastian Hawthorne’s expression remained unchanged as he simply stared into the vanity mirror.

Cecilia Croft gazed steadily at her own reflection, as if Jade Golding’s words had nothing to do with her.

Seeing her indifferent expression, a surge of irritation welled up inside Sebastian Hawthorne.

He ignored Jade Golding’s comment and pulled his gaze away from the mirror.

"Aren’t you getting your makeup done?"

Jade Golding detected the displeasure in his tone. She froze for a second before her smile returned.

"Of course."

She said, turning to Walter Abrams.

"Walter, how much longer do you need?"

"All done."

Walter Abrams had just finished applying Cecilia Croft’s makeup.

Looking at Cecilia Croft’s exquisitely made-up face in the mirror, he wanted to take a few photos for his portfolio.

He was very pleased with his masterpiece, but the presence of Jade Golding and Sebastian Hawthorne made him abandon the thought.

After all, he couldn’t afford to offend either of them.

As a man who was highly perceptive of social dynamics, Walter Abrams naturally sensed the ridicule hidden in Jade Golding’s earlier words.

She was mocking Cecilia Croft, painting her as a canary in a gilded cage, kept by a man.

Although Walter Abrams didn’t know Cecilia Croft well, he had learned a few things about her from Ruby Croft’s occasional, troubled complaints.

’How could such a brave, defiant young woman endure being mocked for living off a man?’

Walter Abrams could clearly sense Cecilia Croft’s strained composure.

Over a decade ago, the Croft family had been one of the most prominent families in Karthus.

The education Cecilia Croft had received back then was no worse than what the Goldings could provide. The Golding family had only recently made a comeback; before that, they were just coasting on their ancestral legacy, peddling their connection to The Royal Lineage as they moved between the major families.

Walter Abrams raised a hand and patted Cecilia Croft’s stiffly held shoulders in a comforting gesture.

"Cecilia, I’m going to go do Miss Golding’s makeup now. My assistant will come handle your hair."

Cecilia Croft nodded. "Alright."

Jade Golding stood behind Cecilia Croft, an apologetic smile on her lips and her voice soft.

"My apologies, Miss Croft, for stealing your makeup artist."

Cecilia Croft met Jade Golding’s gaze in the mirror, her own face wearing a faint smile.

"You’re too kind, Miss Golding. How could it be considered stealing? Walter already finished my makeup completely. Now it’s your turn. That’s not what I’d call stealing."

Walter Abrams, who was packing up his tools on the table, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Cecilia Croft’s response. He gave her a silent round of applause in his head.

The smile on Jade Golding’s face dimmed. Deciding not to continue the verbal sparring with Cecilia Croft, she turned to Sebastian Hawthorne.

"Sebastian, I’m going to the room next door for my makeup. See you in a bit."

Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t speak, merely giving a slight nod in response.

Jade Golding shot one last glance at Cecilia Croft before walking out of the dressing room.

Walter Abrams said a quick goodbye to Cecilia Croft and followed her out. His assistant came in moments later to do her hair.

The assistant gathered Cecilia Croft’s hair into an elegant French bun at the back of her head, revealing her delicate, swan-like neck.

Cecilia Croft had been worried that the bun would expose the red marks on her neck, but she was surprised to find Walter Abrams had already concealed them.

Unless one looked very closely, the marks on her neck were completely invisible.

Once everything was finished, Walter Abrams’s assistant stood respectfully to one side and couldn’t help but offer a few compliments.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Cecilia Croft felt as if she had been transported back to the year she was seventeen.

Her mood lifted slightly. A faint smile graced her lips as she looked at her reflection.

Sebastian Hawthorne’s gaze landed on her smiling eyes. He arched an eyebrow and rose from his seat.

"Let’s go."

Cecilia Croft murmured her assent and rose from her chair. She looked up at Sebastian Hawthorne and asked tentatively.

"Are we going directly to the Quillan Family’s home? Or... should we wait for Miss Golding next door?"