Chapter 5

"Liliana, did you two fight about the party he threw for Sylvia?" Juniper asked.

The news had gone viral, so of course, Juniper had seen it.

"We didn't just fight, Junie. We're getting a divorce," Liliana said, her eyes vacant but her tone firm.

Juniper frowned, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Did you ask him what happened? Are you sure it's not just a misunderstanding?"

"Here, see for yourself if it's a misunderstanding."

Liliana pulled out her phone and played the video for her. She hadn't even gotten to the point of confronting him about the affair; his attitude had already confirmed everything.

Juniper glanced at the screen and immediately pulled the car over to the side of the road.

"Holy shit!" she exploded, her temper as fiery as her bright red hair. "That bastard is cheating on you! Shouldn't he be the one groveling? How dare he kick you out in the middle of the night? He's the one who should be thrown out with nothing!"

Liliana took her phone back. "I didn't bring it up."

"Why not? You have all the leverage!"

"It would just make things uglier for me," Liliana said softly. What would happen if she exposed him? He'd never agree to be left with nothing. His family was too powerful, and her own parents would never take her side. The Prestons still needed the Forrests.

Juniper opened her mouth, then closed it, swallowing whatever she was about to say. She put the car back in drive.

The Sewell family was also prominent in Riverbend City, and when Juniper

graduated from college, her parents had bought her a chic downtown condo. By the time they arrived, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

Liliana dropped her suitcase and sank onto the sofa, her mind drifting.

Seeing her so dejected, Juniper asked, "So what's the plan?"

"First, I'll call Cedric's assistant to schedule a time to sign the papers," Liliana said, then added after a pause, "And I need to find a job. I have to support myself."

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Her allowance of fifty thousand dollars a month seemed like a fortune, but it went quickly. She managed every aspect of Cedric's life, from buying the best organic food to purchasing weekly gifts före his parents and grandmother during their mandatory family dinners. She only had about ten thousand dollars left in her account.

"Well, until you find something, you can help me out," Juniper said, not wanting to leave her alone to wallow. "It's a real emergency, too. The pianist I booked for tonight just bailed on me."

Juniper managed several of her family's upscale restaurants, which featured live music from well-known pianists every night.

Liliana had studied piano since childhood and was a conservatory-level musician. She understood what Juniper was trying to do@uniper was giving her something to focus on, and liana fett truly grateful for that.

"Okay," she agreed.

Juniper's schedule was packed, so she couldn't stay. "Get some sleep. The gig is at the East Borough location tonight. I'm swamped, so I won't be able to pick you up."

"Don't worry about it. Go do what

you need to do," Liliana said. They had been friends since they were in diapers, and their bond had only

strengthened after the Prestont.ne

fall,

from graes. There was no need for th formalities between them.

After Juniper left, Liliana called Cedric's assistant, Timothy Stanton, to schedule a meeting.

"Mrs. Forrest, are you joking?" Timothy asked after a long pause. "If you need to speak with Mr. Forrest, you can just wait for him to come home this evening."

"We're scheduling a time to finalize our divorce," she said, her voice clipped. The words felt like acid in her throat, and her eyes began to sting.