Chapter 18

After her spiel, Vida noticed Liliana wasn't responding and pulled the gift bags back. "I'm going to find you a proper doctor for a full check-up, and you are going."

"We'll see when I have time," Liliana said, trying to brush it off.

But Vida refused to hand over the bags until she agreed.

Left with no choice, Liliana relented. "Fine, let me know when you've made the appointment. I have to go."

Hale made an excuse, grabbing his jacket to follow her out.

"Hey, sis. You didn't drive?" he asked, gesturing to his black supercar.

Usually, Liliana parked her car next to his, but today, not only was the spot beside him empty, but the entire driveway was bare.

Liliana walked around to the passenger side and slipped in. "Nope. Where are you headed? Just drop me off at a bus stop if you pass one."

Hale got in, started the engine, and glanced at her from the corner of his eye as the car pulled out of the Preston family's estate and merged into traffic.

"Sis, is something wrong?"

"Why would you ask that?" Liliana replied, her expression placid. "What could possibly be wrong?"

Hale might have a laid-back personality, but he was sharp. "Normally, when Mom starts nagging, you'll at least put up a little fight before she wears you down. But today, you just shut down. And with you, the more you try to dodge something, the more it proves you're hiding it."

Liliana never realized she was that transparent.

Suddenly, she regretted accepting the ride. The enclosed space of the car felt suffocating with just the two of them inside, and a feeling of being completely exposed washed over her. Called out so directly, she didn't know how to answer.

"I remember when you graduated from college and landed that job at one of the top design firms," Hale continued, scratching his head with a hint of awkwardness. "I was so proud of you. But then you chose to get married and become a homemaker. You never say anything, but I can tell you haven't been that happy."

He fumbled for the right words. "I'm not great at sentimental speeches, and I don't know what's going on, but I just want to remind you that your life than just your is about mo mariage: There are so many other things you can do."

Liliana understood what he was getting at.

Lately, all her energy had been focused on Cedric, so any emotional turmoil she felt was undoubtedly related to him. Hale was telling her not to let her world revolve entirely around her husband.

She skillfully changed the subject. "Hale, you sound like quite the philosopher. Have you figured out what you want to do with your own life yet?"

"Dad wants me to join the family business, but I'm not interested. That's not my passion. A few friends and I are developing a video game. And don't you dare think it's just a hobby-the gaming industry's huge right now. Once I make it big I'll have your back. You won't have to take any of Cedric's crap. Why should you give up your dreams and stay home just because he says so?"

Hale's eyes lit up as he spoke, shining with the same brilliant excitement Liliana

once had when she first received her job offer.

The Prestons were old-fashioned;

they always put the boys first, and Liliana had felt it her whole life. But she and Hale had always been close. When they were kids, their father, Chuck, would only bring home treats that Hale liked. Hale didn't understand what it meant at first, but when he got older, he started secretly asking Liliana what her favorites were and then asking their father for them. He was the one person she could tell everything to, including her dream of becoming a world-renowned designer.

The dark mood Vida had created began to lift, chased away by her brother's words.

A small smile finally touched Liliana's lips.

She had him drop her off near Juniper's apartment complex. After watching his car disappear down the street, she picked up the two gift boxes and started walking toward the entrance.

Just as she reached the gate, her phone rang. She pulled it out and saw the call was from the Forrest Estate.

"Young Lady, it's terrible!" a frantic voice from the Forrest family's household staff cried out. "There's a fire at the estate, and the Dowager, she—"

Liliana's grip on the gift boxes tightened. "What happened? Isn't Grandmother supposed to be up at the mountain retreat?"

"There's no time to explain! Please, just... oh, dear, you need to get ahold of the Young Master and come back quickly!"

The "Dowager" the staff member was referring to was Cedric's grandmother, Dowager Forrest.

Liliana hung up and frantically hailed a cab while dialing Cedric's number.