Chapter 116

But on her figure, the soft fabric clung to every curve, outlining her exquisite form. For the first time, Cedric noticed a cool, detached beauty about her.

By the time he had dried his hair and changed, Liliana was already downstairs.

She had helped Erma set the table and only took her seat when Cedric came down. Cedric disliked talking during meals, so she ate in silence, just as she always had. But tonight, the silence felt heavy, lifeless.

He opened his mouth to say something, but just then, his phone, sitting on the edge of the table, began to ring. It was Mirabelle Kerr.

He put down his fork and answered.

"What's going on with the news online?"

Cedric had been buried in work all afternoon and hadn't seen the latest developments. But he could guess. "The shareholders are stirring up trouble."

"I don't care about the details," Mirabelle said, her tone sharp. "Get the PR department to handle it. Now."

She hung up.

Cedric opened his phone and finally saw the extent of the coverage. The story was everywhere. Two hours, and his PR team still hadn't contained it.

His expression darkened. He stood up and walked out to the balcony to make a call, dialing Sylvia directly.

She answered almost immediately, her voice bright. "Cedric."

"The company news. Why hasn't it been dealt with yet?" His tone was hard, a bucket of ice water on her cheerful mood.

She had deliberately let it fester. Liliana had promised a divorce and then backed out. This was her payback. *Let's see how she likes this,* Sylvia thought. *She must have seen the news and started a fight with him.*

Despite her anger, she kept her voice calm. "The PR team is on it, but Shareholder Lockwood is intentionally manipulating the media. It's a tricky situation, but I'll resolve it as quickly as possible."

Historically, any negative press about Zephyr Group vanished within an hour. Cedric was deeply unsatisfied with her performance this time. "You have ten more minutes. Get it done."

"I..." Sylvia started to protest, but was cut off by the dead tone of the disconnected call.

Her carefully composed features twisted in fury. She glared at the painting of two interlocked wedding rings hanging in her entryway. With a surge of rage, she hurled the water glass in her hand at it.

*Crash!*

The glass shattered, and the coffee inside splattered across the canvas. She was usually so composed, but lately, her patience had been wearing thin. Perhaps it was the news that Diana's condition might be improving. Once Diana was well, Cedric would no longer have any reason to give her special treatment...

The thought made her desperate.

Taking a few deep breaths, she slowly regained her composure. As long as she lived in this house, she would be a thorn in Liliana's side. A divorce? She refused to believe

Liliana could just walk away. And it seemed she was right-Liliana was already making moves trying to drive a wedge between her and Cedric.

***

When Cedric returned to the dining room, he found that Liliana had already finished her meal and gone upstars, She had eaten very little the dishes on the table were barely touched. His jaw tightened. He had lost his appetite. Perhaps he had just grown too accustomed to her cooking.

"Clear this," he instructed Erma.

"Yes, Young Master," Erma said, beginning to clear the table. "I'll be going home for the night, so as not to disturb you. I'll be back early tomorrow to make breakfast. If there's anything special you'd like, you can let me know in advance."

"That won't be necessary. My wife will make breakfast," Cedric replied. He truly disliked having other people in the house.

"Madam said she wouldn't be," Erma corrected him gently. She had worried about arriving too early and disturbing them, so she had specifically asked Liliana if they would be handling breakfast themselves.

Liliana's answer had been firm. "I'm not making it."

Her answer made Cedric's brow furrow. *She's not making it?*