Chapter 117

"Whatever," Cedric snapped, turning and heading upstairs.

In the bedroom, Liliana had just finished her shower and was making the bed. As she bent over, her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, offering a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage. Cedric stood at the foot of the bed, watching as she smoothed the sheets and then, following his routine, lit the incense on the nightstand and placed his current book beside it.

"It's getting late," she said, pulling back the covers and sitting on the edge of the bed to look at him. "We should get some sleep. We both have work tomorrow."

Cedric's throat tightened. Before he could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was Timothy. The two-hour scandal had impacted the company, and there were several urgent issues he needed to address immediately.

"I've got it."

Work always came first. He forgot whatever he had been about to say to Liliana and went to the study.

Liliana watched him go, the hand clenched under the thin blanket slowly relaxing. She could refuse to make breakfast, refuse to wait on him hand and foot. But sharing a bed was unavoidable. She had been steeling herself for it, but now that he was gone, she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and lay down.

Though it was an emergency, Cedric was able to handle everything remotely. By the time he was finished, it was two in the morning. He stretched, reaching out to his right, but his hand met empty air.

Usually when he worked late, Liliana would bring him a glass of milk or freshly squeezed juice. If he was working for a very long time, she would even make a late- night snack and bring it to him. He never ate the food, but he always drank the milk. And he would always tell her, with a touch of impatience, not to disturb his work.

Tonight, she hadn't disturbed him. And for some reason, that left a hollow feeling in his chest.

*It's just habit,* he told himself. He stood up, left the study, and returned to the bedroom. The woman in the bed was sleeping soundly, her eyes closed, her breathing even.

In the dim light, Cedric's sharp gaze fell on the small form curled under the covers. She seemed so tiny. Had she been crying? The corners of her eyes looked a little red. As he moved closer, she murmured something in her sleep.

Cedric froze, holding his breath, but she just rolled over and fell silent again.

He let out a slow breath, got into bed, and adjusted the covers she had disturbed. His arm slid around her slim waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Liliana's sleep had been restless, filled with dreams of Hale crying in her arms at the prison gate. But as the warmth of another body enveloped her, her troubled sleep finally deepened into a peaceful slumber.

Her internal clock woke her at six a.m., as it always did. This was the time she used to get up to make Cedries breakfast. She opened her eyes to the sight of a man's broad, muscular chest, radiating masculine heat. It took her a moment to remember where she was. She was home.

He had held her all night.

His steady breath washed over the top of her head. Her long lashes fluttered as she carefully, quietly, slipped out of his arms.

She was still up early, but instead of making breakfast, she got dressed, washed up, and prepared to leave for work. It was a thirty-minute walk to the bus stop and then another hour on the bus to get to Cyan. That would put her there right at eight. Cóntent

Just as she was ready to leave, Cedric came downstairs.

"I'm heading to work," she said as she put on her shoes.

The words sounded so foreign coming from her lips that Cedric didn't immediately register them. It was only after she had walked out and closed the door behind her that it sank in. Liliana was going to work.

To Cyan. To Douglas's company.

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

***

For the first time, Liliana felt like the villa was a cage. Stepping outside, the fresh morning air seemed to

clear her complicated thoughtsnet

lifting her spirits.

the bus ran

less frequently than she expected, only once every twenty minutes.

She was late.

She had only just started, and already she had taken a day off and was now late.