Chapter 6

She tilted her head back, fighting the urge to cry.

Timothy sucked in a sharp breath. "But-the president's schedule is completely booked for the rest of the week."

"Then make it next week," she said, her knuckles white as she clenched the fabric

of her pants.

"I'll have to check his schedule when I get to the office and call you back."

Timothy would never dare make such an arrangement on his own. He hung up and immediately called Cedric.

Instead of Liliana coming home with her tail between her legs, Cedric got a call from his assistant about scheduling a divorce. A cold, furious laugh escaped him.

"She's gotten arrogant."

Hearing the anger in his boss's voice, Timothy immediately understood. "I'll find an excuse to delay it, sir."

"Don't bother," Cedric sneered. "Schedule it for a week from now." Delaying it would make it seem like he was reluctant. He gave her three days, tops, before she came back begging.

Timothy called Liliana back right away. The appointment was set for next Wednesday at nine in the morning at City Hall.

Liliana was exhausted, but sleep wouldn't come. After hanging up with Timothy, her chest felt heavy with a sorrow so deep it was suffocating. Lying in bed, she could hear her own heart pounding in her ears.

She finally gave in. Hot tears slid from the corners of her eyes, soaking her hair and the pillow beneath her head. The tiny sliver of hope she hadn't even realized she was holding onto that he would refuse, that he would apologize was completely extinguished.

What was she waiting for? For Cedric to admit he was wrong? That wasn't in his nature. And she couldn't tolerate a cheating husband.

Two years wasn't a long time, but for those two years, Cedric had been her entire world. The depth of her devotion to their marriage was immeasurable. She had almost forgotten what her life was like before him.

That evening, Liliana pushed down her grief, applied a touch of makeup, and went to the restaurant in East Borough, Traffic was heavy and

by

the time she arrived, the dining room

was already bustling with guests.

Juniper was waiting for her by the door. "I forgot you didn't have a car," she said, seeing Liliana step out of a taxi.

"It's fine," Liliana replied, following her inside. Juniper had a dress ready for her and led her to the changing room.

"You don't look so good. Did you get any rest?"

The light makeup did little to hide the pale, drawn look on Liliana's face. "I'm okay," she lied.

She changed into the elegant gown Juniper had chosen and walked to the grand piano at the center of the main dining hall. A book of sheet music was already on the stand. Taking a deep breath, she placed her slender, white fingers on the keys, and a wave of beautiful, melancholic music filled the room.

Upstairs, in a VIP suite overlooking the hall, a man in a white suit glanced down at the sound. He leaned over and whispered something to the foreign man sitting across from him.

Five minutes later, after she finished the piece, a waiter approached her.

"Miss Preston, a gentleman in the VIP suite has requested you come up and play a romantic piece for him."

There was another, even more expensive piano in the private suite, one Juniper rarely allowed anyone to touch. But she trusted Liliana completely, so when the request came, she had immediately agreed.

Liliana gathered the skirt of her

gown and went upstairs. The waiter opened the door to the suite, and she stepped inside. The room was bathed in a warm, golden light, creating an intimate, romantic atmosphere A table was set with a rich burgundy tablecloth, and crystal glasses reflected the light onto the three people seated there.

Her steps faltered when her eyes met Cedric's.

the