Chapter 181

It felt awful.

It was as if appearing in public as Mrs. Forrest was some kind of reward Cedric had bestowed upon her.

Liliana had only been half-joking when she asked if he was jealous.

But his response, as always, was a knife to the heart, leaving her utterly humiliated.

Her face flushed from red to white, then to a pale shade of green.

Cedric, however, seemed to relish the moment, enjoying the sense of control he had over her.

He pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to her. "I was not satisfied with Mrs. Forrest's performance tonight. Your allowance is halved."

"You—" Liliana's throat tightened, a glint of moisture welling in her eyes, but she forced it back.

"If you're unhappy, quit your job and go back to being the docile Mrs. Forrest," Cedric said, pressing the card into her palm.

He was completely serious.

For some reason, he truly wanted her to be the old Mrs. Forrest again.

He needed a wife who was gentle and obedient, not this new version who constantly made him uncomfortable.

Seeing her on the verge of tears didn't make him feel like he'd gone too far.

After all, she could easily go back to being Mrs. Forrest.

If she just behaved, he would eventually give her the public recognition she wanted.

But she insisted on being disobedient, scheming behind his back for that recognition. Who could she blame but herself?

Liliana didn't know how she managed to put the card in her pocket, swallowing her pride and accepting his 'charity'.

"I need to go to the hospital to see Hale later. I can't give you a ride home."

She took her car keys from her pocket, but just as she was about to head to her car, they were snatched from her hand.

Cedric dangled the key ring from his finger and got into her car first. "I'll take you."

He sat in the driver's seat, started the engine, and gestured for her to get in.

Liliana hadn't intended to leave him stranded.

The hospital staff was still working, and she wanted to pay the bill to avoid having to take another day off.

But on second thought, the idea of Cedric hailing a cab was absurd.

She walked around the front of the car, climbed into the passenger seat, buckled her seatbelt, and let him drive.

At five o'clock, just as the workday was ending, they arrived at Riverbend Hospital.

Liliana unbuckled her seatbelt and dashed out, hoping to catch Jude Brooks before he left so she could ask about Hale's condition.

She didn't have time to say anything to Cedric, but she didn't need to. He wouldn't wait for her.

She hurried into the hospital, not noticing that Cedric had pulled the car over to the side of the road to wait.

From behind a pillar at the street corner near the hospital, Sylvia emerged, wearing a black mask.

Her expression darkened as she watched Cedric park the car, waiting for Liliana.

"Are you sure that murderer is in this hospital?"

Baber's mother gripped the railing, looking up at the hospital building.

Sylvia's thoughts snapped back to the present She turned and said with certainty, "Of course. He's on that floor, enjoying the best care the hospital has to offer. His family is so rich, yet they only gave you ten thousand dollars, which cost you your insurance payout. Now your son and husband are in jail. Can you really live with that?"

"Of course I can't!" Baber's mother felt no gratitude for the ten thousand dollars Liliana had given her.

After all, her original plan was to get millions from both the Preston family and the insurance company!

But she eyed the heavily disguised Sylvia suspiciously. "Who are you? Why are you telling me all this?"

Baber's mother had to be wary of a stranger who was deliberately hiding her identity.

Sylvia stared at her for a few

seconds before pulling a thick wad

of cash from her purse. "Here's five thousand, Go'demand more money from the murderer. Once it's done, I'l give you another five thousand."

Baber's mother's eyes lit up. Demanding money from Hale was a win-win situation

for her!

An extra ten thousand dollars? What a steal.

She immediately snatched the money and clutched it to her chest, though a flicker

of doubt remained. "Is this... real?"

Sylvia's gaze filled with a trace of

"If you don't believe me,

check it But dont make a get

tonight. Find another opportunity."