Chapter 82

Douglas, however, crossed the street toward Cedric.

"When did you get back?" Cedric asked, his tone polite enough, though his gaze was unreadable. His eyes flickered to Liliana, who had disappeared into the building without a backward glance, and a cold smirk played on his lips. He turned back to Douglas, his gaze sweeping over him from head to toe.

"A few days ago," Douglas replied, seemingly unfazed by the scrutiny. "Are you here for Liliana?"

Cedric and Douglas had known each other since childhood, and their relationship had always been neutral. But when Douglas abruptly moved abroad two years ago, they had lost touch. Now, meeting again, a strange tension hung between them— not of strangers, but of a familiarity rooted in Liliana.

An unfamiliar sense of defensiveness rose in Cedric. "Of course. She's been acting out lately, throwing a bit of a fit."

"Girls just need to be coaxed a little," Douglas said, not pointing out that their problems had escalated to the brink of divorce.

Cedric pulled his hands from his pockets and adjusted his cuffs. "What brings you here?"

"Just passing by," Douglas answered crisply.

Cedric didn't buy it. Both the Sewell Group headquarters and the Sewell family estate were a long way from here. He continued to smooth his cuffs, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"We should get together sometime." He took two steps forward, stopping beside Douglas. He raised a hand and clapped him on the shoulder, the pressure light but carrying a subtle, intimidating force.

Douglas's brow furrowed instinctively. "Sounds good."

He turned, his eyes following Cedric as he crossed the street and entered Polaris Court.

Timothy had already found out which building and floor Liliana lived on. When Cedric arrived at her door, he found his assistant in a standoff with her.

"Ma'am, please, just come and see Mr. Forrest," Timothy pleaded, wedged in the doorway.

"No," Liliana said, pulling hard on the doorknob, trying to shut the door on the half of Timothy's body that was already inside.

Then she saw Cedric emerge from the elevator and was instantly reminded of the night he'd tricked her into coming home with him. She braced herself against the door, warding him off as if he were a predator.

Cedric strolled over, hands in his pockets, and stood behind Timothy. Their eyes met through the crack in the door, over his assistant's head. He saw the guardedness and defiance in her gaze, a starko contrast to how she had just been with Douglas.

A flicker of irritation crossed his face. "Give her the thing and let's go."

"Yes, sir." Timothy, caught in the middle, struggled to fish something out of his pocket.

Liliana blinked, noticing the grim expression on Cedric's face. A heavy feeling settled

in her chest. He was just here to drop something off? What?

"Ma'am, this is the dashcam from your car. The police have finished their

investigation into your accident, so..." Timothy held out a USB drive.

"No need to explain. Let her see for herself," Cedric cut in, his voice sharp. He

turned and walked back toward the elevator.

"Ma'am, please let go of the door!" Timothy begged, stuck.

Liliana took the USB drive, her hand instinctively loosening its grip. She stared at the small device, a thousand

questions facing

her mind. There was more to the accident? Could it be that the

shadow she saw wasn't an ov

hallucination after all?

As she stood there, lost in thought, the door was suddenly yanked open. A gust of wind rushed past her from behind, and she looked up just in time to see Cedric striding back toward her forcing her back into the apartment.

The door slammed shut with a deafening bang, and in the same instant, he pinned

her against the console table by the door.