My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: One-Sided is Called Wishful Thinking

Jared Hawthorne knew she was shy and didn’t want to push her too hard.

However, he was very pleased with her reaction just now.

He hadn’t expected Luke Lockwood to still be hung up on Vesper, repeatedly coming to Northolme to pester her.

’Looks like he has too much time on his hands lately.’

A cold glint flashed in his narrow eyes.

"Are you hungry?"

Vesper Grayson nodded. "Mhm, a little."

She’d been busy with the online and offline store openings lately, often working until after dark. She’d just been grabbing quick bites to eat.

Gwen Grayson hadn’t been at the company recently, so Vesper also had to oversee the projects Gwen was handling.

"Western? Chinese?"

"How about barbecue?"

She hadn’t had it in a long time and was suddenly craving it.

But she was worried Jared Hawthorne might not like it.

Jared Hawthorne said casually, "I know a seafood barbecue place by the sea. The food’s authentic. Want to give it a try?"

"Sure!"

The Seaside Seafood BBQ restaurant had two floors. The first floor had a bustling atmosphere, while the second floor faced the ocean, where you could listen to the waves and gaze at the starry sky.

"Elias, what a rare sight! What brings you here?"

The still-charming proprietress walked over. Her gaze fell on Vesper Grayson behind him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, which was quickly replaced by a knowing smile.

"Is this your girlfriend?"

Jared Hawthorne grunted in affirmation. "Nash, are there any tables available?"

"Yes, this way to the second floor, please."

The proprietress led them upstairs.

"Last time, Noah said you were off the market. I thought he was joking, but I can’t believe you’re really seeing someone," she said in a low voice. "You’ve got good taste. The young lady is very pretty."

Jared Hawthorne’s lips curved into a faint smile, but he said nothing.

After they were seated, the proprietress handed them the menus.

"Order first. Once you’ve decided, I’ll come get it."

After she left, Vesper Grayson asked in a low voice, "Do you come here often?"

’It seems like he knows the owner really well.’

"The last time I was here was for the grand opening, just to show support." Jared Hawthorne leaned back lazily in his chair, handing her a pen and gesturing for her to order before he continued unhurriedly, "That’s Casey Nash. Noah Nash’s aunt."

’President Nash’s aunt?’

’No wonder her features seemed so familiar,’ she thought. ’I felt like I’d seen her somewhere before.’

"Why would she open a restaurant way out here?"

’For a family like the Nashes, the dividends from their companies alone should be enough for her to live a life of luxury. She shouldn’t have to go through the trouble of opening her own restaurant.’

"When she was younger, she went traveling in Caelus and fell in love with a Caelusn culinary master. The man followed her back to the country to settle down, and they opened all sorts of restaurants. They have about a thousand locations across the country now."

’...’ She was speechless. ’I guess my horizons are just too limited.’

"Nash manages it herself and holds the financial reins."

"So impressive."

’I knew it,’ she thought. ’There’s no way a woman from a family like the Nashes would be doing so poorly.’

"You have to have Jinro with barbecue. It cuts the grease and is really refreshing. I also brought you a bottle of makgeolli. It’s sweet; girls usually love it."

Casey Nash came over and placed the alcohol on the table.

She picked up the menu and glanced at it.

"You two have a drink first. I’ll have them hurry up with your food."

Casey Nash returned to the counter and called Noah Nash.

"I just saw Elias’s girlfriend. The young lady is gorgeous. When are you going to bring a girlfriend home for your aunt?"

"Don’t you have enough admirers of your own?"

"You little brat, don’t try to change the subject. You’re not a kid anymore. It’s time to think about marriage."

"Auntie, please, spare me! I still want to enjoy my freedom for a few more years," Noah Nash said cheekily. "If you’re really that bored, you and Uncle should work on making a baby to play with."

"How old do you think I am? All you do is spout nonsense!"

"Okay, okay, I’m busy here. We’ll talk another day."

Casey Nash shook her head helplessly. Every time she brought this topic up with him, the little brat would pull the "I have to hang up now" trick.

She rested her chin in her hand and looked up, her gaze landing on the handsome man and beautiful woman on the second floor.

’What a perfect couple,’ she thought. ’So easy on the eyes!’

’I used to think Elias wasn’t interested in women, that maybe he wasn’t straight. Turns out he’s just incredibly picky.’

"Mom, pour me some tea. I’m dying of thirst."

Sheryl Garland sat down on a stool, fanning herself with her hand.

"You really need to work on your stamina. How long were you even running to be this out of breath?"

Casey Nash poured a cup of tea and handed it over. Sheryl Garland took it and drank it all in one go.

Her gaze unintentionally swept across the second floor, then paused, a flash of delight in her eyes.

"Mom, it’s Jared."

As she spoke, she stood up and started to head upstairs.

Casey Nash quickly grabbed her. "He’s on a date with his girlfriend. Don’t go up there and bother them."

"Girlfriend?" Sheryl Garland was stunned. "Since when does Jared have a girlfriend?"

"He’s already thirty. It’s perfectly normal for him to be dating someone."

"But Mom, I thought Jared didn’t like women?"

’The truth was, she had fallen for Jared the very first time she met him. But because he was so cold and aloof, rarely smiled, and didn’t seem to like women, she had always hidden her feelings, never daring to confess.’

’She just never imagined someone else would beat her to it.’

’If she had known he was straight, she would have confessed her feelings long ago.’

Casey Nash didn’t notice her daughter’s emotional state and said with a laugh, "It’s not that he doesn’t like women; he just hadn’t met one who truly captured his interest. Look how proactive he is now that he has!"

’The youngest leader of the Hawthorne Family, patiently grilling meat for a woman.’

’If anyone from the outside world saw this, they would be absolutely stunned.’

Sheryl Garland grabbed Casey Nash’s arm. "Mom, I like Jared too. Why don’t you mention it to Grandfather Hawthorne..."

Casey Nash was taken aback. "You silly girl, what are you saying? You’re not even twenty..."

"I don’t care, I just like him! Didn’t you and Dad always say that age is never a barrier to love?"

’It’s only a ten-year difference.’

’That’s not so much.’

She had just graduated from Seoul National University this year, rejected a job offer there, and decided to return to the country to build her career, all for Jared.

Seeing the serious look on her face, Casey Nash was startled. ’When did Sheryl develop such feelings for Elias?’

"Sheryl, age isn’t a barrier to love, but that’s only when you’re both in love. When it’s one-sided, it’s just unrequited, and it will only cause problems for the other person."

’She admired Elias and knew he was an outstanding man, but he wasn’t someone a young girl like her could handle.’

’Setting aside whether the Hawthorne Family would even agree, she didn’t want Sheryl marrying into their family anyway.’

’The waters of wealthy, powerful families run deep, full of scheming and cold indifference. She didn’t want her daughter to get entangled in complicated family disputes; she just wanted her to live a simple, happy life.’

’She’d heard that Elias had been hunted by assassins when he was just a teenager and had nearly lost his life.’

’He was sent abroad for his own safety.’

Sheryl Garland bit her lip. "But I’ve liked him for five years."

The first time she saw Jared was five years ago. Her cousin had taken her on a trip to New York, and as the host, Jared Hawthorne personally drove to the airport to pick them up.

He was just standing at the arrivals gate, dressed in simple, black casual wear. He stood tall and straight as a pine, with a noble yet distant air about him. His features were exquisitely handsome, so dazzling that it was impossible to look away.

In that moment, all the noise around her faded away, and her heart began to beat uncontrollably.

One glance felt like an eternity.

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