Chapter 163 - 161: Both Dropped Out?
Cecilia Sterling spoke nonchalantly, as if it were a truly profitable venture.
But Bruce Coleman knew that if she could take out ten thousand yuan to buy The Courtyard, why would she care about a measly bit of monthly rent?
Especially not rent that was discounted by half.
This was purely a way to earn some pocket change, all so Blair and the Coleman family could have some peace of mind.
But to them, it was an immense kindness!
But Cecilia Sterling was just so young. Bruce Coleman, still apprehensive, spoke up again. "Miss, I’m not questioning you, it’s just... I’m really uneasy about this. I know you’re buying this courtyard to help us, but does your family know? I don’t want this to cause any unnecessary trouble for you."
"In that case, I’ll call you Mr. Coleman," Cecilia Sterling replied, perfectly composed. "Please, don’t worry. The money I’m using is my own. My other properties in Lorcain are in my name, and they’re all in a similar price range to this courtyard. I can definitely afford it, so please don’t worry."
Blair quickly chimed in, "Master, Cecilia is an investor. She’s earned a lot of money on her own."
Estelle Goodman, beaming with vicarious pride, nodded vigorously. "That’s right, Mr. Coleman! Cecilia is incredible!"
Hearing this, Bruce Coleman mulled it over for a moment before finally nodding.
But thinking about how much Cecilia was helping, he offered her an out. "Miss, if you change your mind later, or if something unexpected happens, I can cancel this sale with you anytime. If I don’t have enough money at that point, I’ll figure out a way to pay it back quickly so it doesn’t cause you any problems."
When it came down to it, he was still uneasy about Cecilia spending so much money on his courtyard all at once.
Cecilia naturally understood Mr. Coleman’s worries and good intentions. She didn’t offer any further explanations, simply nodding in agreement to set his mind at ease.
All the paperwork was completed within three days. Another property, a Courtyard, was now under Cecilia Sterling’s name.
"Thank you, Cecilia," Blair said, her gratitude sincere. "I’ll find a way to buy The Courtyard back from you someday. If I can’t, just sell it. Don’t feel like you have to hold onto it."
This was why she had insisted on selling The Courtyard to Cecilia instead of just borrowing money.
Because no matter what happened, Cecilia wouldn’t lose money as long as she had the property.
Cecilia gave a casual smile. "You’re the one who shouldn’t feel any pressure. And we have a deal—no prize fighting to raise money. Otherwise, there’s no point in me helping."
Blair nodded in agreement. "Alright, I promise!"
Before long, news that Shawn Lane had withdrawn from the university and was going abroad spread like wildfire through the astronomy department.
One day, Cecilia uncharacteristically woke up bright and early, deciding to feign diligence by attending a morning class. The moment she walked into the classroom, a classmate sidled up to tell her the news.
"Going abroad?"
Cecilia was surprised. ’This has completely deviated from what happened in my past life, hasn’t it?’
The classmate nodded. "And you know that freshman, Beatrice Lynn? The one who had a problem with you?"
The whole thing blew up in the cafeteria, so a lot of students knew about the drama between Beatrice Lynn, Shawn Lane, and Cecilia.
Simply put, Beatrice Lynn liked Shawn Lane and her hostility toward Cecilia was common knowledge.
Cecilia didn’t deny it, just nodding as she asked, "What about her now?"
"She dropped out, too. She just got in a few months ago, and now she’s withdrawn."
Cecilia was stunned again. ’Beatrice Lynn’s storyline has gone completely off the rails too.’
But she had a faint feeling that their back-to-back withdrawals were definitely connected.
"Cecilia, you’re amazing," the classmate said, giving her a thumbs-up. "You managed to drive them both away."
Cecilia, slightly taken aback, quickly shook her head in denial. "Don’t pin that medal on me. It has absolutely nothing to do with me."
Others might not have believed her, though.
But Cecilia didn’t care whether they believed her or not. In any case, she was delighted to hear about the two of them dropping out. At least her life on campus would be quieter now.
’As a faithful devotee, I vow to eat a balanced diet for the rest of my life. Please let this tragic pair of lovebirds suffer hardship abroad and never return.’
So Cecilia prayed.
She dozed off through the class, already regretting her decision to wake up early.
After class, she headed straight for her dorm, planning to crawl back into bed for a nap, but she ran into John Lawson downstairs.
"Director Lawson."
John Lawson was also surprised to see Cecilia, his face lighting up. "Well, this is a rare sight. You actually dragged yourself out of bed for a morning class?"
Hearing this, Cecilia pouted. "It wouldn’t be right to just never show up, would it?"
John Lawson just smiled without saying anything. Cecilia’s grades were excellent, so the professors tended to turn a blind eye to her spotty attendance.
Cecilia, meanwhile, observed Director Lawson’s condition. He looked the same as ever, full of energy and spirit.
"Have you been feeling unwell at all recently?" Cecilia asked with concern.
John Lawson gave her a reassuring smile. "Not at all. I’ve been taking my medication on time every day. The doctor said that as long as I do, the chances of an episode are very low."
Cecilia nodded, relieved, but she couldn’t help but add, "You need to have someone with you. If you have to, hire a caretaker. It’s better to be safe than sorry."
"Don’t worry. I’ve had my mother come stay with me. I’ll be fine."
With that, Cecilia could finally rest easy. Now, she just had to wait for the national database to find a suitable donor lung for Director Lawson. After all, surgery was the only way to completely cure his condition.
"When’s the court date?" Cecilia asked, abruptly changing the subject.
John Lawson was completely open with Cecilia now. She knew all his secrets—probably better than his own mother did.
"We just finished the pleading stage. Lawyer Quincy expects the hearing to be mid-next month." John Lawson asked with a smile, "You want to come?"
"Of course!" Cecilia declared righteously. "I’m the one who helped you set this up! Estelle and Blair, too. The three of us have to be there to witness your victory!"
John Lawson let out a soft chuckle and nodded. "Alright. I’ll send you the exact time when it’s set. The other party already knows Lawyer Quincy is representing me, and they’re panicking. The kids’ mother has been contacting me nonstop, trying to get me to drop the suit."
"What do you mean? You’re not getting soft, are you?" Cecilia’s brow furrowed. She knew Director Lawson was a man who valued his dignity; he wouldn’t have wanted to make things this ugly unless he’d been pushed into a corner.
Thankfully, John Lawson shook his head. "No. She wants to sit down and ’talk things over,’ then file for an uncontested divorce. I know she’s betting on my soft heart. She knows she won’t get a favorable outcome if we go to court, so she’s trying to force my hand. I’m not giving her the chance."
Cecilia’s heart suddenly ached for him.
Director Lawson was utterly and bitterly disappointed in his marriage and his wife.
But she also felt a sense of relief.
At least Director Lawson had come to his senses. He understood that constantly backing down and compromising wouldn’t get him a fair outcome, so he would seek justice through the law instead.
"Director Lawson, you’re a good man. You’ll definitely meet the right person someday," Cecilia suddenly blurted out.
John Lawson laughed out loud at her words. "Oh, forget about it. I don’t even know if I can be cured of this illness. I’d better not drag anyone else down with me."
With that, he waved his hand dismissively. "You should hurry back. Your eyes are all red; you obviously didn’t get enough sleep."