Chapter 154

"Mr. Forrest, that's Mrs. Forrest!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from a short distance away.

She lifted her head and looked.

It was Timothy Stanton, and he was staring right at her.

Cedric stood at the corner, one hand in his pocket, half his body shrouded in the dim light.

The man's usually deep eyes met Liliana's tear-filled gaze.

Her forehead was red and swollen, her face streaked with tears. She looked disheveled and miserable.

He frowned involuntarily—

The moment her eyes found his, the storm of fear and sorrow inside Liliana felt a profound sense of solace. What surged in its place was a powerful, aching longing for him.

A longing for him to calm the chaotic storm raging in her heart.

A longing for him to hold her and tell her that Hale would be okay.

"Cedric..." Another voice shattered all of Liliana's fantasies about him.

It was Sylvia Woods.

She stepped out of the elevator, glanced first at Liliana, then walked to Cedric's side and gently took his arm.

She leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Mr. Wheatley is upstairs. His condition is still unstable. We should go see him now."

"You two go ahead." That one look from Liliana made Cedric's heart ache as if a piece had been carved out.

He was about to push Sylvia's hand away.

But then Sylvia added, "I saw reporters when I came in. They've snuck inside, probably following you..."

Cedric's movement paused, and his gaze instantly cleared.

He turned to the side and gave Timothy a low command. "Go check on my wife. Report back to me immediately if anything happens."

With that, he turned and led Sylvia upstairs.

Liliana's eyes watched them go, the light within them fading bit by bit.

She was suddenly reminded that he was the kind of man who would comfort Sylvia, offering a tissue to wipe her tears when she cried.

But he was not the person who would offer her warmth when she was grieving.

This unconscious expectation that arose from her heart was a raw, instinctual emotion for him.

And when she was lucid, this emotion was what wounded her most deeply, what filled her with the most resentment and sorrow.

"Ma'am."

A pair of men's leather shoes appeared before her, and Timothy's voice floated down from above.

She didn't look up again, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Timothy saw her state and hesitated, unsure of what to ask. Just then, the door to the hospital room opened.

Theon, Dr. Brooks gave your

physician came out.

"Miss

brother a sedative, He's asleep now Would you still ike to see him

"Yes." Liliana pushed herself up against the wall, gave Timothy a nod, and walked straight into the room.

At this point, she didn't even care for Cedric's concern.

Besides, he had only sent Timothy over to check on her.

"Hello, I'd like to inquire about Mr. Hale Preston's condition."

Timothy didn't follow her in. Instead, he handed the assistant physician his business card.

Seeing that he was from Zephyr Group, the assistant physician unhesitatingly reported all the details of Hale's condition.

Upstairs, outside Mr. Wheatley's room.

Cedric's hand rested on the doorknob, his mind filled with the image of Liliana.

He paused. "You can visit Mr. Wheatley on my behalf."

"Aren't sank. "Are

Des going in?" Sylvia's heart、

bet

you... going down to see Preston? Didn't you already

send Assistant Stanton?"

"What is it?" Cedric's already foul mood soured further with her incessant

questioning. "Do I need to report my actions to you?"

Sylvia's face paled, and she tried to

keep her voice steady. "Of course not. It's just that Mr. Wheatley is qu biggest client was worried I he wouldn't be important enough. Why don't we go in together, please?"