Chapter 148

Sylvia twisted the knife. "But she does have a point. Don't take it to heart, Designer Preston. Just try to move on."

Realizing her own tactlessness, Nina looked embarrassed.

Liliana strode forward, pulled out the chair, and sat down. The faint scent of tobacco, Cedric's scent, clung to the air around her, enveloping her.

"You know, Ms. Woods, you're right," she said, her voice steady. "My husband is a real piece of work. A mistress, emotional neglect... he's a terrible person."

Sylvia's eyebrows rose, waiting for more, but Liliana said nothing else.

It was Nina who gasped. "Your husband does that? He really can't compare to Sylvia's boyfriend!"

Liliana turned to her. "That's not a fair comparison, Designer Shepherd. You can only compare a husband to a husband. A boyfriend is a step down. The day Ms. Woods marries Mr. Forrest, I'll concede defeat."

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Cedric hadn't agreed to the divorce. Whether he was stalling or truly intended to use her as a cover for the rest of their lives, it proved one thing: the doors to the Forrest family were not open to Sylvia. Of course, without the arranged marriage, she herself would have never been worthy of him either.

Sylvia's expression remained placid, but under the table, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms.

"Don't talk nonsense," Nina hissed at Liliana under her breath before forcing a smile. "Let's talk about the design, shall we?"

"Designer Shepherd, why don't you go order for us? I'll chat with Designer Preston while you're gone," Sylvia said, dismissing her.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Nina got up and left without another word.

Liliana crossed her legs, her foot resting against the table leg. She appeared calm. "Sylvia, Cedric can treat you like a treasure for all I care You two can do whatever you want. But suggest you start treating me like I'm invisible."

"I'd love to," Sylvia leaned forward, her eyes glinting with venom. "But every time I see you two together, it hurts so much. Cedric can't stand to see me in pain, so he lets me take it out on you..."

"His punching bag?" Liliana's lips curved into a cold smile. "It took him two years to let you use me as a punching bag? He must not love you very much."

"You" Sylvia's composure finally cracked.

could

Before she could continue, Liliana cut her off. "And honestly, with his power, he could marry you despite any objections from his family. They can't control him. So why hasn't he? Because marrying you wouldtarnish the Forrest family name and hurt the company. That means you're not as important to him as his money."

It was the truth. And the truth often hurts the most. She wasn't sure if Cedric truly loved Sylvia, but she was certain he didn't love her. Sylvia had picked this fight, and Liliana wasn't going to back down. She would unleash all the hurt she'd received from Cedric right back onto Sylvia. No one was walking away from this unscathed.

"So I'm less important than money," Sylvia retorted, her voice dangerously low. "And

what about you? What are you more important than in his heart?"

She pulled a card from her purse and slid it across the table.

*The AuraRun Design Contest. Juror: Sylvia Woods.*

Liliana's breath caught. She stared at the card, her blood running cold. She could endure the emotional pain Cedric inflicted on her. But if Sylvia was threatening her future, her career... that was a line she would not let her cross.

"Cedric sponsored this competition just for me," Sylvia purred, tapping a manicured finger on the card. "He told me to have fun with it. To play however I want."