Chapter 55

Liliana understood. Juniper thought they were running into Cedric and Sylvia too often. Each time was another stab to the heart.

But she forced a smile and shook her head. "I'm not the one who cheated. Why should I be the one to leave?" Maybe seeing them together frequently would make her heart go numb faster. Maybe it would help her forget sooner.

"You won't say it, but I'm worried you're hurting." Juniper sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and resting her head against hers.

A warmth spread through Liliana's chest. "It hurts, but I'll get through it."

"Then I'll get through it with you," Juniper declared. "But don't be too grateful, and don't fall in love with me. I'm into men."

The heavy atmosphere was too much for Juniper to bear, and she quickly resorted to her usual nonsense. Liliana let out a small laugh, the clouds in her heart lifting slightly. But a sense of unease lingered, fueled by the ever-increasing online attention on Hale's case.

That night, she stayed in the hospital. Cedric never called, never texted. She was used to it, but her heart still ached with a familiar pang. She slept poorly.

The next morning, the shrill ring of her phone shattered the quiet of the room. It was Attorney Kerr. Her heart leaped into her throat as she answered.

"Miss Preston, your brother's case goes to trial tomorrow."

Her heart pounded against her ribs. "So soon? Do we have enough evidence?"

Attorney Kerr sighed. "The case has blown up online, and the court is under pressure to handle it quickly. The evidence we have isn't as strong as I'd like, so it's a bit of a gamble. But don't worry too much. Even if we lose, we can still appeal."

"I'm counting on you, Attorney Kerr," Liliana said. She knew nothing about the law; all her hopes were pinned on him.

After she hung up, she buried her face in her hands, curling into a ball on the bed. If they lost and had to appeal Hale would have to go to prison in the meantime. She couldn't imagine what that would do to him, to her family. How could that bright, cheerful young man survive in a place with no sunlight? He was innocent!

That evening, she messaged her father to let him know about the trial. Chuck didn't reply.

The next morning, with Juniper by her side, she went to the courthouse. As soon as she got out of the car, she saw Chuck and Vida cornering lan.

"Attorney Chase, what are our chances of winning my son's case?"

"My son is innocent, truly. Cedric must have told you, he's my only son! I can't live without him! He must have told you to do whatever it takes to get him out! Vida pleaded her eyes clinging to lan as if he were her last hope.

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lan looked flustered. "Mr. and Mrs. Preston, you've misunderstood. I'm not handling your son's case."

Chuck's anxious face fell. "That's impossible! I told Liliana to hire you!"

"It's really not me. It's my colleague, Attorney Kerr. He has more experience with these kinds of setup cases. You should..."

Before lan could finish, Vida spotted Liliana getting out of her car. She marched over. "Liliana, didn't you hire Attorney Chase?"

Chuck's suspicious glare followed. Ian gave Liliana a helpless shrug, leaving the explanation to her.

"Mom, Dad, Attorney Chase had other cases," she began, approaching them.

"Liliana!" Chuck's voice boomed, his

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face red with anger. "Are you getting back at me for leaving you at the parking lot? Did you deliberately hite some second rate lawyer to mËSS with me?"