"I've taken care of the demolition issue for you. If your parents don't want to move, they can stay where they are."
"Thank you…" Serena Hughes was a bit overwhelmed by the favor. She subconsciously glanced at Cecilia Nathan and whispered, "Mr. Hawthorne, please hurry and explain to Cecilia Nathan. My relationship with you isn't like that…"
Although Cecilia Nathan claimed to love money, Serena Hughes didn't believe it.
If it were purely for money, Cecilia wouldn't have needed to waste several years on Damian Hawthorne.
A roguish smile played on Damian Hawthorne's face. "Not like what?"
He was nonchalant, with a roguish, bad-boy air.
Serena Hughes shyly lowered her head, not daring to say another word.
Cecilia Nathan couldn't be bothered to watch any longer. She grabbed her things and walked away.
"I'm stepping out for a moment." Damian Hawthorne lifted his gaze to watch Cecilia Nathan's retreating back.
Serena Hughes nodded obediently.
A moment later, Serena Hughes's phone rang. As soon as she answered, an angry female voice came through. "Serena, did you get involved with a man named Damian Hawthorne?"
Serena Hughes was so shocked she almost dropped her phone.
She answered in a panic, "Mom, what are you talking about? I didn't get involved with him."
"His mother came to our door! She said you're a homewrecker. Serena, our family may be poor, but we can't do such shameless things. I told you a long time ago not to take shortcuts, not to take shortcuts! How could you still do something like this?!"
"Mom… don't believe her! I haven't interfered in anyone's relationship. Besides… Mr. Hawthorne isn't married, so how can there be a homewrecker?" Serena Hughes was both shocked and angry. "I know Damian Hawthorne, but I didn't actively seduce him. He was the one who insisted on helping me…"
"So you really didn't take a shortcut and deliberately seduce him?"
"Of course not!" Serena Hughes swore firmly. "If I was the one who actively pursued him, may I be struck by lightning."
"Then his mother…"
"Mr. Hawthorne is the one pursuing me…"
Serena Hughes explained everything from beginning to end—how she met Damian Hawthorne and how he started pursuing her. After she offered some assurances, Mrs. Hughes finally relaxed.
"Mom, actually, Mr. Hawthorne has always been single. You've seen it in the news, haven't you? He's never married… because he was waiting for me." Thinking of Damian Hawthorne's words, Serena Hughes's face flushed red.
She couldn't believe something so wonderful could happen to her.
'Who could refuse someone so handsome and capable?'
'Besides, he's so good to me.'
Thinking of everything Damian Hawthorne had done for her, Serena Hughes's heart began to race uncontrollably.
'A man like that, planning everything for me, protecting me from any hardship.'
'If this continues, can I really keep myself from falling for him?'
"Serena, you can't trust the affections of a rich man."
Mrs. Hughes clearly didn't believe that her daughter could have actually caught Damian Hawthorne's eye.
She had only ever seen this man in the news. He was a man of wealth and power, someone who could practically do whatever he wanted in Korsyth.
If her daughter really managed to marry him, not just her own life, but generations to come would be set.
"What if one day Damian Hawthorne doesn't like you anymore?"
"He won't…" Something occurred to Serena Hughes, and a determined look appeared on her delicate face. "He'll always like me."
It took a lot more coaxing before Serena Hughes could finally put her mother's mind at ease.
Serena Hughes thought about what mattered to Damian Hawthorne, and a hint of anxiety appeared on her face.
'Damian Hawthorne said he was always looking for me.'
'I suffered a head injury and have a period of missing memories. Damian Hawthorne said those memories are of the time we spent together.'
'Damian Hawthorne said he would help me remember.'
'But no matter how hard I try, I can't recall anything…'
Outside Korsyth Hospital, people came and went in a ceaseless flow of traffic.
Cecilia Nathan stood on the curb waiting for a ride. She wore a long black dress that made her look tall and sharp, its wide hem swirling in the wind like an untamable black rose.
Damian Hawthorne stood not far away, his gaze fixed on her, unable to look away.
Cecilia Nathan's beauty was elegant and fatal.
In the years she had been with him, she had paid close attention to her figure, often practicing yoga and exercising.
'That irritating black dress is hiding her stunning waist and hips.'
Remembering what his mother had told him, Damian Hawthorne scoffed. Just as he was about to approach her, he saw Cecilia Nathan get into a Maybach.
…
After getting into the car, Cecilia Nathan thanked the man inside. "I didn't expect you to come pick me up."
Hugo Grant looked up, a hint of warmth in his usually cold eyes. "We're friends."
"Oh, really?" Cecilia Nathan blinked, asking playfully, "I remember when we first met, you sneered at my pursuit of Damian Hawthorne and said we could never be friends."
Back then, in order to get close to Damian Hawthorne, she had tried her best to curry favor with his friends, hoping they would put in a good word for her with him.
The other men, seeing she was attractive, had all shown her some courtesy.
Only Hugo Grant had been completely unreceptive, even advising her to give up early on.
"It's been four years. Even enemies should become friends by now," Hugo Grant didn't deny it.
'Yes, four years. Long enough to warm a stone, but I couldn't warm Damian Hawthorne's heart.'
"My cousin is a professor at the University of Music of Korsyth. She's been busy with the graduation ceremony lately and needs to hire a teaching assistant. Are you interested?"
"A teaching assistant?" Cecilia Nathan was surprised, then smiled. "Is my musical skill level even good enough to be a teaching assistant?"
Hugo Grant said meaningfully, "With your level of skill, being a teaching assistant would be a waste of your talent."
Cecilia Nathan just smiled without a word. "You're exaggerating."
"If it weren't for getting together with Damian, you could have stayed at the university and become a professor, right? But you gave up on your musical dreams because you were chasing him."
Hugo Grant's words stunned Cecilia Nathan.
'I didn't expect Hugo Grant to know even that.'
"My cousin asked me for help, and I can't think of anyone more suitable than you. The TA position is temporary, but the pay isn't bad."
Cecilia Nathan thought about her current savings and had to admit she was short on cash.
Although Damian Hawthorne had been generous with money, she had no intention of spending another cent of his.
Hugo Grant probably knew her personality, which was why he thought of her for the job.
"Alright, I'll take the teaching assistant job. But I want to meet your cousin first and do a free trial lesson. If she's satisfied with me, then I'll accept the position."
Hugo Grant's handsome face softened. "Okay."
Just then, Hugo Grant's phone rang. He glanced at Cecilia Nathan before answering the call.
"Hugo Grant, where are you?"
It was Damian Hawthorne.
Cecilia Nathan looked up, glancing lightly at the phone.
Damian Hawthorne's voice betrayed no emotion, but it was clearly strained.
"I'm out," Hugo Grant replied calmly.
"Who are you with? What are you doing out?" Damian Hawthorne was losing his composure. He coughed a few times. "Hugo Grant, you're my brother… and a brother wouldn't do something to betray me, right?"
Hearing Damian Hawthorne's furious voice, Cecilia Nathan's brow furrowed.