Chapter 63

"Liliana!" Juniper stood just to the side of the door, her fiery red hair tied in a bun. She wore a cozy knit top with a chic, knee-length skirt. She gave Liliana a playful smile, then tilted her head toward the man standing in front of the door. "Bro, hurry up and bring this stuff in for her!"

It was Douglas standing directly in front of the peephole, his hands full with two large grocery bags.

Liliana opened the door wider. "Junie, Douglas, what are you guys doing here?"

"What do you think?" Juniper linked her arm through Liliana's and pulled her inside. "Why did you move here? You could have stayed at my place, rent-free."

Meanwhile, Douglas set the bags on the table and began putting the groceries away in the refrigerator. Liliana hadn't had a chance to buy food yet, so the empty fridge was quickly filled. The emptiness in her heart over the last few days began to feel a little less vast.

"It's closer to Cyan, which will be convenient for work," Liliana explained.

"My brother said I was being overbearing and that I should give you some space, so I'll let it slide. But I'm still coming over to cling to you every weekend," Juniper declared, pulling her down onto the sofa. She then waved a hand at Douglas. "Bro, cook something nice to fatten her up. Look how thin she's gotten!"

Liliana immediately tried to get up. She couldn't let a guest do the cooking. "I can do it!"

"Don't worry about it. You two just relax," Douglas said, leaning his hands on the dining table. A warm-toned lamp hanging above him cast a golden halo around him.

"Let me help....." Liliana started, but an old phrase drifted into her mind unbidden: *A gentleman as flawless as jade, a prince without equal.*

Douglas was handsome, but in a way that was completely different from Cedric. She stayed put, realizing the kitchen was too small for both of them to move around comfortably. The thought of being in such a confined space with him, both of them adults, felt potentially awkward.

"Come back and talk to me," Juniper said, pulling her back down onto the sofa.

Douglas's gentle gaze rested on her for a moment before he turned and went into the kitchen. He rolled up his sleeves and began working with a quiet methodical grace. Liliana felt a pang of guilt and kept one eye on the kitchen while chatting with Juniper, worried he might not be able to find something he needed.

Watching Douglas move around the kitchen, she couldn't help but think of Cedric. She had never seen Cedric in a kitchen. She had only ever seen two extremes of him: the

impeccably dressed, urismiling businessman, and the naked,

passionate man in the throes of

desire. She had never even seen him smile at her the way he smiled at Sylvia.

The difference between his love and his indifference was starkly clear. "Liliana, let's go hiking this Saturday," Juniper suggested, twirling a loose strand of hair. "We'll make my brother carry the bags. All we have to do is climb!"

Liliana snapped back to the present, blinking. "I don't think that's appropriate."

"What's not appropriate about it?" Juniper pouted. "He's been back for a while and hasn't spent any real time with me. He already promised to do whatever I wanted this weekend!"

Douglas truly doted on Juniper. Only a child raised with such affection could be as carefree and radiant as she was. Liliana envied her deeply.

"Douglas is always so busy. If he finally has a day off, we shouldn't drag him up a mountain."

Douglas was a perfect older brother, but he was *Juniper's* brother. Liliana knew she needed to maintain a respectful distance and couldn't be as casually demanding as his sister.

"He works all the time; he needs the

exercise. Hiking is good for him,"

Juniper argued, her logic

unshakable. Before Liliana could refuse, she darted into the kitchen to

run the plan by Douglas.