Chapter 179
The man’s voice was teasing, and he made no effort to lower it.
Everyone in the room could hear.
Liliana was instantly mortified.
She understood why Cedric had asked her to come: to assert his ownership.
He wanted to put on a show for Douglas, to pretend that they were a deeply affectionate couple.
Oh, no-that *she* was deeply in love with Cedric.
But doing this in front of both families’ elders was social suicide for her.
She stood frozen in place, her toes curling inside her shoes, her face tense with discomfort.
“Sit here.” Cedric patted the spot beside him.
It was a reddish-brown wooden bench, big enough for two people, but it would be a tight squeeze.
The man looked at her with a smile in his eyes, like a doting husband.
But she just felt a wave of irritation.
Before she could even move to sit, she heard Chloe say to Mirabelle with a laugh.
“They seem so in love. Ah, my Douglas is such a worry. He’s about the same age as Cedric and still not married p>
Mirabelle wasn’t adept at this kind of conversation. She replied stiffly, “It’s normal for young people to prioritize their careers p>
Chloe’s eyes darted around, and she seized the opening. “But a career can’t carry on the family line, can it? There’s no end to work. Those shareholders at Sewell Group don’t respect him, forcing him to enter the real estate industry right after he took over p>
So, that was why the two families were meeting.
Liliana knew nothing about business. She obediently sat down next to Cedric, hoping that if she cooperated, he would be pleased and give her the allowance.
She sat pressed against him. His arm was firm, muscular, and well-defined.
A strand of her long hair fell across his elbow, the ends tickling his skin through his white shirt.
It sent a faint tingle through him. Cedric’s eyebrow rose slightly as he discreetly observed Douglas’s expression.
Douglas only glanced at Liliana for a second before turning his attention back to the game board in front of him.
And Liliana, after her initial nod to Douglas, hadn’t made eye contact with him again.
The three of them sat in silence, listening as Chloe first lamented Douglas’s single status and then brought up work.
Mirabelle wasn’t involved in the
domestic
side of the business; heret
focus was abroad so she
respond to Chloe’s comment.
Chloe had to be more direct. “Mrs. Forrest, tell me… do you think Douglas has what
it takes for real estate p>
The Sewell family didn’t want to offend anyone; they wanted to test the waters with the Forrests before deciding whether to enter the real estate market.
Stoddard took a sip of tea and glanced at Cedric.
After all, he was the one who called the shots at Zephyr Group.
In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned to Cedric.
Liliana found herself looking at him too, curious to see how he would defuse the situation while remaining calm.
Cedric’s expression was unreadable.
“First family then career. Does Me
Sewell have any plans for his personal life p>
“No plans.” Douglas held a game piece, his gaze fixed on the board, but he didn’t make a move.
“Is there anyone you’re interested in?” Cedric leaned back, resting one hand on the back of the bench behind Liliana.
The gesture was intimate, almost as if he were half-embracing her.
Douglas’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the game piece, but his expression remained unchanged. “Yes p>
Everyone except Liliana was a little surprised.
Perhaps Douglas had never mentioned having someone he was interested in before.
Liliana guessed it must be the person who had caused him to leave the country and then return so suddenly.
“From what family?” Chloe forgot all about business, craning her neck to ask.
The gazes that had been on Cedric now shifted to Douglas.
Aside from Cedric, that is. He wasn’t curious about who Douglas was interested in—
as long as it wasn’t Liliana.
He glanced sideways at the woman beside him. *His* Mrs. Forrest.