Ignored When Chasing: Why Cry After I Got Engaged-Chapter 105: She Wants a Home

"Cecilia, since Sharon is tired, let’s let her rest. You two can talk about it next time." With that, Linden Nathan smiled and walked over to Cecilia. "We haven’t seen each other in so long, and as it happens, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

Seeing that Sharon Quincy clearly had no intention of continuing the conversation, Cecilia didn’t press the matter and walked out first.

Linden Nathan gave Sharon Quincy a reassuring glance and headed out.

Cecilia stood at the doorway to the hospital room, watching her father with a steady gaze.

Although she hadn’t gone back to see Linden Nathan in recent years, they had seen each other occasionally on video calls. They hadn’t cut off contact completely, but she had been rather cold and dismissive toward him.

Seeing Linden Nathan again, Cecilia realized her father had aged significantly in just a few years. New strands of white hair had appeared at his temples.

Linden Nathan was a man who took great pride in his appearance and usually looked several years younger than his peers, but even he couldn’t escape the ravages of time.

"Cecilia, there’s something I’d like to get your opinion on..." Linden Nathan began, then paused, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Sharon saved your life. When I asked her if she had any wishes, she said she wanted to be my daughter."

"You know she grew up without parents. Back when her headmaster gave me her file, I could tell she was a girl with great potential. But I never imagined she would have such a deep sense of gratitude—enough to risk her own life to save you."

Here, Linden Nathan heaved a long sigh. "She said she just wants a home."

"A home... Is that really all she wants?" Cecilia’s lips curled into a cold smirk. "I’m sure she wants more than just a home. She wants the prestige of the Nathan family of Aethelgard as her stepping stone, doesn’t she?"

"Cecilia!" Linden Nathan’s expression grew increasingly dark. "She saved your life! How did I raise you? One must always repay their debts of gratitude."

"’Repay my debts of gratitude...’" Cecilia gave a small laugh. "I know there are things you won’t believe, but I’ll find proof."

"Whether you believe it or not, Sharon Quincy isn’t as simple as you think."

"I’ve spent more time with Sharon. While she tends to keep things bottled up, she’s not a bad person at heart." Linden Nathan’s tone softened. "And look, if it weren’t for her, who knows when I would have gotten to see you again."

"She not only helped me, she saved you. Even if you won’t repay her, as your father, I must show her my gratitude."

"So it’s settled. Don’t worry, I told her she would only be my daughter in name. The Nathan family’s fortune has nothing to do with her. You are still the sole heir of the Nathan family."

Seeing Linden Nathan’s resolve, Cecilia knew it was too late to say anything more.

It wasn’t just her father; even Cecilia herself had almost been moved by what Sharon Quincy did.

At the very least, Sharon Quincy’s injuries were real, and she really had saved her.

But the car crash was highly suspicious. Without any proof, saying more would only deepen Linden Nathan’s sense of indebtedness to Sharon.

"Since you’ve already made your decision, why bother asking for my opinion?" Cecilia shot her father a meaningful glance. "If you’re taking a goddaughter, then she’ll be my sister. We’ll have to hold a proper ceremony to welcome her into the family."

Cecilia took out her phone and glanced at the calendar. "How about the middle of next month? I just checked, and it seems like a good day to make it official."

"Alright, you arrange the time." After he spoke, Linden Nathan patted his daughter’s head. "I know this is hard on you."

Cecilia offered a silent smile, glanced back at the hospital room, and left without another word.

Finn Hawthorne’s sister still hadn’t replied.

Cecilia tried to call her but couldn’t get through.

She’d been blocked.

’To block me so quickly... Finn’s sister must have something to hide.’

Cecilia decided to go find Finn Hawthorne directly.

’If Finn’s sister hadn’t been the one to message and call me, I never would have ended up on that secluded street, much less gotten "hit" by that car.’

Too many coincidences meant it wasn’t a coincidence at all.

Cecilia walked out of the hospital. The world outside was a bustling scene of traffic and pedestrians. Amid the prosperity, there was a hint of indifference.

Across from Korsyth Hospital stood a large shopping mall. Both places were bustling, but one represented joy, and the other, sorrow.

Just then, a car chirped, and the passersby all turned to look.

Damian Hawthorne opened the car door and looked over at Cecilia.

He casually stubbed out his cigarette, his features sharp and handsome as he stuck one hand in his pocket.

He was tall with a commanding presence, and passersby couldn’t help but stare.

"Linden Nathan didn’t give you a hard time, did he?" Damian asked, tilting his head in a show of casualness.

Cecilia was taken aback.

’Then again, from anyone else’s perspective, Sharon Quincy was Linden Nathan’s goddaughter, while I was just an orphan.’

’Sharon saved me, and she’s the one lying in a hospital bed. Anyone would assume Linden Nathan would give me a hard time.’

"No," Cecilia said, the corner of her mouth twitching unnaturally.

"No?" Damian stared straight at her, his tone laced with meaning. "What’s the real story between you and Linden Nathan?"

Cecilia met Damian’s suspicious gaze, her expression composed. "There’s no relationship. If I had any connection to him, do you think I would have stayed by your side and taken all your grief for so many years?"

"Taken my grief?" Damian pressed his tongue against his cheek, his gaze turning icy. "Cecilia, you were the one who cried and begged to stay with me."

Cecilia’s breath hitched.

’It was true. Back then, she had threatened to kill herself to stay with him.’

"You were the one who wanted to stay by my side, and now you’re the one who wants to leave." Damian walked right up to her, his gaze lowered as he stared down at her. "But leaving... that won’t be so easy this time."

"Damian, you already have someone you love..."

"That was a mistake," Damian cut her off, his voice sharp with impatience.

"What..." Cecilia froze.

"I said it was a mistake. Serena Hughes lied to me." The thought of it made Damian’s breath catch in his throat. "She tricked me... told me she was..."

"Lied to you about what?"

A gust of cold wind swept by. Damian’s brown eyes flickered, and he licked his lips with a feigned casualness.

"You wouldn’t understand even if I told you." He gave a low chuckle, a lazy sort of arrogance radiating from him. "Cecilia... come back to me. What do you say?"

"I can pretend nothing ever happened."

A gust of wind blew past, catching sharply in Cecilia’s throat.

It was early winter now, and even the light breeze carried a chill. Cecilia coughed, her throat too dry and raw to form words.

With one hand still in his pocket, Damian casually took her hand. Before Cecilia could react, he had already pulled her into the car.

Coming to her senses, Cecilia shot her foot out, bracing it hard against the car door. Her voice was laced with panic. "Damian, what do you think you’re doing?"

"Get your foot down..." Damian’s voice was tight with frustration as he saw her shoe pressed against the interior door handle.

’This was his favorite car, and she was just scuffing it up with her shoe.’

Not to be outdone, Cecilia lifted her chin and glared right back at him. "Then let go of me."

Damian was looming over her, the car door still wide open, giving passersby a clear view of the scene.

"Take your foot off the door, and I’ll let you go."

"You let go of me first, then I’ll move my foot! If you don’t, I’ll scream!"

Her eyes were wide and round, making her look like a small, frightened animal, baring its teeth.

Damian looked down at the girl beneath him, a sudden urge to tease her rising. "You made a lot more noise than this in this very car."

Cecilia’s face instantly flushed crimson.

’Back then, in a drunken bid to stay by Damian’s side, she had slept with him. She hadn’t even cared about her own life at the time, so why would she have cared about something like that?’

’But she never thought Damian would remember it so clearly, let alone "remind" her of it in the very same car.’