Chapter 8

"You two are a match made in heaven!" the foreign man exclaimed. Though he

hadn't gotten the better end of the deal, he seemed genuinely impressed, showering Cedric and Sylvia with compliments.

Cedric's brow twitched at the phrase, but he knew the man was a foreigner and didn't fully grasp the implications of his words. There was no point in correcting him.

Sylvia simply smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Wheatley."

A bitter smile tugged at Liliana's lips as she looked away from Cedric. After his initial glance, he hadn't looked at her again. It was as if he was afraid someone might discover she was his wife and embarrass him.

Although Juniper treasured this piano, in the eyes of wealthy men like these, she was just part of the entertainment, an amusing diversion.

She knew she should leave, but she found herself frozen, her eyes fixed on Cedric as he lit a cigarette.

Finally, Sylvia rose from the table and walked toward her, holding her wallet. She pulled out a thick wad of hundred-dollar bills-at least a thousand dollars-and held it out.

"You play beautifully," she said, her voice low. "This is a tip from my boyfriend and me."

Boyfriend? Tip?

The words were like daggers. Liliana looked up at Sylvia, whose calm expression couldn't hide the triumphant glint in her eyes. It was then that Liliana knew for sure: Sylvia recognized her. The anonymous text, the video-it was all connected to her. She could tolerate Cedric's cruelty, but she would not stand for Sylvia's smug provocations.

Liliana opened her mouth to retort, but Cedric's sharp voice cut through the air. "What are you waiting for? Get out."

His eyes were cold, a clear warning. If she had any sense, she would have stayed home and begged for his forgiveness instead of cornering him here.

The look in his eyes was all it took. Liliana's brief flash of defiance vanished. She took the money from Sylvia, rose from the piano bench and walked out of the room. Sylvia's confidence came from Cedrio. It front Ceckio. It is was battle she couldn't win. There

a battle was no point in making a scene and humiliating herself further.

She returned to the main hall and continued playing until ten o'clock. When she was done, Juniper went to get the car while Liliana changed and waited by the entrance. I autumn night was cool, and she shoved her hands in her pockets, staring out at the deserted street.

Cedric came up behind her, stopping so close their shoulders almost brushed. He lit

a cigarette, the flame briefly illuminating his sharp features.

He glanced down at her. "Don't ever come looking for me like this again. If you have something to say, say it at home."

Pet

Liliana turned her head. The man beside her was a full head taller, the light from above casting a golden halo around him. His features were perfect his jawline sharp as he held the cigarette between his lips He exuded an aura of lazy, arrogant power that struck the numb part of her heart, making it ache with a fresh wave of pain.

He was so certain she was there for him, that her entire world still revolved around his.

"You're mistaken," she said, taking a step away from him. "I'm here helping Juniper."

"I don't care why you're here," he said, his voice low and laced with menace. A cloud

of smoke escaped his lips. "Don't come back. Stop embarrassing me."

"We have a secret marriage. No one knows I'm Mrs. Forrest. If it bothers you that much, we can sign the divorce papers tomorrow." The words were a shield, but his coldness still cut deep. The air between them, once filled with intimacy, was now thick with tension.