Chapter 85

But Liliana's work had been significantly affected by him these past few days. She had to wear a silk scarf to the office, which felt uncomfortably tight every time she looked down, but she couldn't take it off. By Friday evening, the marks had faded enough for her to finally remove it.

Nina, feeling it would be too cruel to make Liliana go to Sylvia's alone to take measurements, decided to accompany her. Since Liliana didn't have a car, Nina drove. Sylvia had sent the address to Nina's WhatsApp.

Nina disliked Liliana, and Liliana didn't initiate conversation, so the atmosphere in the car was glacial. Liliana sat in the back, scrolling through messages from her mother, Vida.

"Liliana, how could you tell your father to stay out of your business?"

"He was furious. He blamed me for not raising you right."

"You were never well-liked in the Preston family, so I pitied you and let you have your way. It's my fault I spoiled you..."

The self-blame in Vida's messages was palpable, and it sent a chill through Liliana. Had Vida really spoiled her? Not at all. As far back as she could remember, all she heard was:

*Liliana, you have to be good, so your father and grandmother will like you.*

*Liliana, you have to be obedient. Don't talk back.*

*Liliana, if you don't do this, your father will be angry.*

Besides the texts, Vida had also tried to call her numerous times, but Liliana had set

her phone to Do Not Disturb and missed them all.

[Liliana, you've disappointed me so much!]

The last message had been sent in the early hours of the morning. The words felt like a sharp pang in her chest. Still, she chose not to reply To give in now would mean returning to the old days, letting Chuck dictate her every move. It would mean going back and begging Cedric, continuing to be the meek, pathetic wife he saw her as. Every time she pictured the look in Cedric's eyes, it felt like a thousand needles pricking her heart.

She pressed her fingertips to her forehead, trying to process the wave of negativity from her mother's messages. They were still her parents, and she still had Hale. She didn't want to sever ties completely Beuntil

But until she was divorced from

Cédric, giving in to the Preston family would only bring more trouble.

Yet, there was still no response to the divorce papers she'd sent. She couldn't figure out what Cedric was thinking or how she was supposed to finalize this divorce.

The car came to a stop.

"We're here," Nina said curtly, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out. She moved so quickly that by the time Liliana looked up, she was alone in the car.

Liliana grabbed her bag and the laser measure and hurried out. Nina was already a good distance ahead, and she rushed to catch up. But as she took in the magnificent villa before her, she stopped dead in her tracks.

Expo Manor?

In disbelief, she looked around. The estate was situated halfway up a mountain, in an exclusive

community of only eight villas. After scanning her surroundings again, she confirmed her fears. This was her and Cedric's marital home. She had designed every single detail of this house herself.

How could this be Sylvia's home? Why would it possibly need renovations?

"What are you standing there for? Come on, ring the doorbell," Nina called out impatiently from the front gate.

Liliana clung to a sliver of hope. Maybe they were just meeting here? Maybe Cedric had bought Sylvia the villa next door? Anything was better than the alternative—that Cedric had let Sylvia move into their home.

Her heart pounded, each beat a wave of pain. Forcing down the turmoil, she walked up the steps to the front door.