Chapter 150

Otherwise, Sylvia never would have helped Nina get in touch. Liliana wasn't sure how to feel about Cedric acting as the unwitting middleman in all this. After a moment, another message from Nina came through.

[I'm also a designer, but please don't misunderstand. I'm just a small-time creator. I'd love to connect and discuss design with you!]

Nina's profile was bare, with no personal information. She was well-known in the industry and clearly wanted to protect her identity.

Liliana typed back: [It's an honor. But I'm not a professional, so please bear with

me.]

[Nonsense! Anyone who can create a design like Expo Manor is either a professional or a genius!]

Nina noticed the account was brand new. Perhaps it belonged to a famous designer trying to stay anonymous? After a few more minutes of conversation, Nina had to leave for a meeting.

That afternoon, Liliana deleted her original Expo Manor design and started from scratch. Redoing the same project multiple times had left her feeling completely uninspired. By the end of the day, the design file was still a blank canvas.

After work, she drove the Maybach home, had dinner, and then turned her attention to her contest submission. Cedric wasn't happy about her bringing work home, but he had been busy lately as well. After dinner, they retreated to their separate spaces —she in the bedroom, he in the study.

When he finally came to bed late that night, she closed her laptop.

"Did Zephyr Group really sponsor the AuraRun contest?" she asked, unable to hold back the question any longer.

Cedric paused, the duvet halfway pulled back. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face before vanishing. "What? Do you have a problem with it?"

His defensive tone made her regret asking. What difference would it make? He wasn't going to take the power he'd handed to Sylvia and give it back.

She pursed her lips and turned away, switching off her bedside lamp. "Just asking."

Cedric watched her turn her back to him, her small frame looking fragile under the covers. He felt a surge of irritation. She never used to sleep with her back to him. After a

mament

he turned off his own light:

and lay down, mirroring her position. Cóntent

They fell asleep in a rare, deceptive peace.

But Liliana's mind was anything but calm. She didn't trust Sylvia. She desperately wanted to talk to Cedric about the contest, to plead with him not to tet Sylvia interfere, to give her a.chance. But she knew it was pointless. He had created this opportunity specifically for Sylvia, to let her vent her anger. No amount of begging or playing the victim would change his mind.

All she could do now was pray that Sylvia would keep her word.

She poured most of her energy into her submission for the contest. With three days left until the deadline, she finished the design but felt uncertain about it. She sent the file to Douglas, hoping for a second opinion.

[Come to my office at noon. We can talk over lunch.]

Liliana's spirits lifted. [Okay!]

On Friday, Douglas had a lighter schedule. He finished his work at Sewell Group and arrived at Cyan just before the lunch break. As soon as the clock struck twelve Liliana Stipped out and headed for his office. She was trying to be discreet, but as she neared his door, she

heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. Panicked, she

pushed open his door without

knocking and hurried inside.

"—no, I'll handle the AuraRun contest personally." Douglas was on the phone. His

voice cut off abruptly as the door opened. When he saw it was Liliana, he immediately ended the call.