Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Quillan Family Has a New Daughter

Minnie Rhodes noticed the change in Ash Quillan’s expression, and her hand on his arm tightened instinctively.

Ruby Croft’s gaze didn’t linger on them. She walked into the front hall on her own.

She had barely taken two steps when Cecilia Croft called out to her.

"Sister."

Ruby Croft looked toward the sound of Cecilia’s voice. Her gaze landed on Cecilia and Sebastian Hawthorne’s joined hands, and a flicker of satisfaction crossed her eyes.

The female entrepreneur beside her asked softly.

"That is..."

Ruby Croft replied with a smile.

"My sister."

The businesswoman nodded slightly, her expression turning thoughtful.

As if she hadn’t noticed the other woman’s calculations, Ruby Croft said softly,

"I’ll go over now, President Wyane. We can talk later."

The businesswoman hummed in acknowledgment, watching Ruby Croft’s departing figure with a pensive look.

The engagement ceremony was about to begin, so Sebastian Hawthorne took a seat to the side.

Cecilia Croft saw her sister approaching, her expression calm, and she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

When Ruby Croft drew near, she reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Cecilia’s ear.

"Nice. You look beautiful."

Cecilia felt a thrill of pleasure at the compliment and replied, "Not as beautiful as you, Sister."

Ruby Croft smiled. "The engagement ceremony is about to start. Let’s sit and talk."

Cecilia nodded, found an empty table, and as she sat down, she tugged on Sebastian Hawthorne’s sleeve, motioning for him to join them.

Her hand remained on his sleeve. Only when he sat down beside her did she let out a silent breath of relief.

’Ruby gave me a mission last night: stick close to Sebastian Hawthorne. I can’t let him wander off to another table.’

After taking his seat, Sebastian Hawthorne met Ruby Croft’s gaze and spoke calmly.

"Congratulations, President Croft."

Ruby Croft heard him and replied.

"You’re too kind."

Cecilia raised an eyebrow. ’What is Sebastian congratulating my sister for?’ Her eyes were filled with confusion.

’Then again,’ she thought, ’considering Ash Quillan and Minnie Rhodes, perhaps it is a happy occasion after all.’

With the arrival of Finn Vance, Jasmine Vance, and others, the ten-person round table quickly filled up.

Jasmine Vance had some business questions for Ruby Croft, so she sat down beside her.

Ruby Croft was full of ideas and quickly cleared up Jasmine’s questions.

As she spoke with Jasmine, Giselle Grant couldn’t help but watch Ruby Croft, her eyes filled with a touch of admiration.

’Ruby Croft is truly the person the old patriarch of the Croft family raised to be his heir.’

’Her perspective and approach to problems are completely different from most people’s.’

The engagement ceremony began.

Old Master Quillan was on stage, giving a speech.

Despite being eighty, Old Master Quillan still looked hale and hearty, and his voice was full and strong.

After he offered his blessing for Ash Quillan and Minnie Rhodes’s engagement, the hall erupted in applause.

But Old Master Quillan didn’t lower the microphone. Instead, he continued.

"With all our guests here today, the Quillan Family has another happy announcement to make. My son, Austin Quillan, has gained a daughter."

At these words, curious glances were exchanged, and many eyes fell on Mrs. Quillan’s stomach.

’But...’

’At her age, can Mrs. Quillan still have children?’

Mrs. Quillan secretly gritted her teeth. In front of so many guests, however, she couldn’t show any displeasure. She could only maintain her composure and whisper to the maid beside her.

"Go and bring Miss Croft over now."

The maid nodded and went to fetch Ruby Croft.

When the Quillan family’s maid reached Ruby Croft, Ruby rose from her seat with a faint smile and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, walked toward the Quillan family members.

Everyone instantly understood what Old Master Quillan had meant.

Ash Quillan and Minnie Rhodes clearly hadn’t expected this turn of events; they both looked stunned.

Ruby Croft stopped beside Mrs. Quillan.

Maintaining a facade of grace, Mrs. Quillan offered a faint smile and took Ruby Croft’s hand.

Ruby Croft also maintained a faint smile.

Seeing Ruby Croft approach, Old Master Quillan continued calmly.

"As you all know, the Quillan family line is thin. From my generation onward, no daughters have been born. This child, Ruby, is ambitious and hardworking. Most importantly, she shares a strong fate with our Quillan family. Therefore, from this day forward, she will officially become a member of our family."

After Old Master Quillan’s announcement, a wave of murmurs swept through the audience.

Minnie Rhodes stared daggers at Ruby Croft, her eyes filled with hatred.

’No wonder,’ she fumed, ’when I gave Ruby the invitation, she just smiled and said, "Whether it’s your engagement or your wedding, I’ll be sitting at the head table."’

’The news of the Quillans adopting Ruby as a goddaughter completely overshadowed her own moment as Ash Quillan’s fiancée.’

Ruby Croft noticed her venomous glare and met it with a serene smile.

That smile was like a dagger to Ash Quillan’s eyes.

If it weren’t for the many guests present, he feared he wouldn’t be able to suppress his emotions and would rush over to demand what this was all about from Ruby.

Old Master Quillan added a few brief pleasantries as the host, invited everyone to dine, and then whispered to Ruby.

"Ruby, you’ll join us at the head table."

Ruby nodded lightly. "Yes, Grandfather."

Old Master Quillan gave her a look, then strode toward the head table.

Mrs. Quillan took a deep breath. She had no choice but to lead Ruby over by the hand.

Since things had come to this, they could only play their parts and see the performance through, not giving any of the guests a chance to witness a family farce.

Seeing Ruby Croft follow the Quillans to the head table, Cecilia finally understood what her sister had meant yesterday when she said this engagement party couldn’t happen without her.

Those in the room who knew Ruby Croft and Ash Quillan had once dated were all dumbfounded.

No one knew what tricks Ruby Croft had pulled to make the Quillan family adopt her.

Now she had the status of a Quillan goddaughter, and Cecilia was getting close to Sebastian Hawthorne.

’With all this, wouldn’t it be simple for the Croft family to reverse its fortunes?’

As Finn Vance picked up his chopsticks, he chuckled softly and said.

"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. That’s Ruby Croft for you."

Cecilia watched Ruby take her seat at the Quillans’ head table, her heart pounding with a mixture of shock and awe.

’There’s no way the Quillans adopting my sister as a goddaughter is that simple.’

’She may look like she’s won a brilliant victory, but who can see the bitterness and hardship behind it?’

Cecilia looked up at the man beside her. His calm expression was a stark contrast to the curious and astonished faces all around them.

She couldn’t help but ask him in a low voice.

"You knew about this already, didn’t you?"

Sebastian Hawthorne turned to see her delicate face leaning in close and gave a slight nod.

"I did." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Cecilia took a sharp breath. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

’Is he always this tight-lipped?’

Sebastian replied calmly, "You never asked."

Cecilia was speechless.

Across the table, Jade Golding watched their interaction, her eyes turning to ice.