Chapter 35

Liliana was quiet for a few seconds before saying, "Cedric helped find the lawyer."

Juniper had been the first person she'd told about her marriage to Cedric. The night before they'd registered, Juniper had taken her out for drinks and ended up sobbing, making her promise to be happy. Douglas had been there that night, so he knew.

Douglas had moved abroad so abruptly and had been away for two years.

As a result, Liliana no longer felt their relationship was close enough for her to announce her divorce the moment they were reunited.

Thankfully, Douglas didn't press the issue. "Whoever steps up to handle this is going to attract a lot of trouble," he said instead.

"Trouble or not, I can't abandon Hale."

Liliana knew that by being the public face of the family, she was putting a target on her back. Every move she made would be scrutinized, and the slightest misstep would bring a firestorm of public condemnation. But Hale was her brother. Even if it turned out he was at fault, she would still have to do everything she could to help him make amends. She couldn't just walk away.

"If you run into any trouble, let me know."

The elevator doors opened. Douglas held them, gesturing for her to go first. Liliana stepped out, straightened her clothes, and slipped off his jacket, handing it back to him.

"Thank you, Douglas."

The wrist of the hand holding the jacket was covered in an angry red mark from where the victim's brother had grabbed her. It was a shocking sight. Douglas's eyes lingered on it for a moment before he looked away and casually took the jacket.

"Don't mention it. Be careful on your way home."

Liliana said her goodbyes and headed for the parking garage. She was driving one of the Preston family's spare cars. With Chuck in the hospital, it wasn't being used, so she had decided to borrow it.

The night was dark as the Maybach pulled up to the villa.

Cedric got out of the car, his jacket slung over his arm, and loosened his tie as he walked inside. The house was pitch-black. His hand paused on the doorknob.

He had been so busy with work that he hadn't been home in days. The last time he'd been here was the night of Liliana's ridiculous outburst.

Usually, no matter how late he got home, the lights were on. She would be there to greet him at the door, her face it up with a warm smile asking about his day.

The darkness felt strange, unsettling.

He switched on the entryway light changed his shoes, and tossed his jacket and tie onto the living room sofa before heading upstairssto shower just as he always did.

But it was different. There was no one to ask if he was hungry, no one to pick up his discarded clothes. No one to satisfy his physical needs.

Cedric's brow furrowed. He pulled out his phone and made a call. "What's the status of the case?"

lan's voice came through the line. "Thanks to you, the case has gained a lot of attention. Even though it's just an animal, it's highly likely to go to trial."

"Good." Cedric walked out onto the balcony. The night breeze rustled the legs of his trousers.

"And the Preston case?" he asked.

lan's tone soured. "Attorney Kerr says it's tricky. He only gives it a thirty percent chance of success."

"And you? What would your odds be?" Cedric lit a cigarette, the glowing tip illuminating the sharp line of his jaw.

lan laughed. "I was actually

"was

interested in a case like that, just to test myself. I never thought about the odds. Now it seems you did me a favor by saddling me

Woods's case. It lets miss

keep my

undefeated record."

He hadn't lost a case in years and had been looking for a challenge.