The next morning.
Sabrina shot out of bed at the crack of dawn.
After a long, hot shower and a meticulous skincare routine, she stood in front of the mirror and started on her makeup. Her skin was flawless-smooth, radiant, and soft enough to bounce light.
Skincare was her profession, after all. Even in her mid-twenties, she could easily pass for a college student if she threw her hair into pigtails.
She slipped into a chic outfit and headed downstairs to catch a cab straight to Maxon Group.
She knew Cedric's habits like the back of her hand. He'd be the first person in the office. Always was.
On top of Gracewell Skincare, Cedric's main gig was running Maxon Group - an elite new-energy conglomerate headquartered in the heart of the city's financial district. Its towering glass building dominated the skyline, just like the man at its helm.
Sure enough, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up to the front entrance just as she arrived.
Cedric stepped out. The early morning sun cast a golden glow over his tall, commanding figure-6'2" of controlled power in a sharply tailored suit. His shoulders were broad, his waist narrow, and his face... cold as ever. Not a hint of emotion, just that same unreadable, aristocratic mask.
Still handsome as ever. No - scratch that - even hotter now with that sharp, mature vibe.
Sabrina stood up from the steps, ready to greet him with her most radiant smile.
But before she could take a step-her vision blurred.
Oh no. Low blood sugar.
She'd gotten up too early, skipped breakfast, and overexerted herself. A wave of dizziness washed over her, making her knees buckle.
It had always been like this. Back in the day, Cedric would scold her with that stern face of his-and then magically produce a chocolate bar or a protein biscuit from his coat pocket. He wouldn't leave until she'd eaten every bite.
Now?
He caught sight of her sitting there, weak and pale on the building's front steps-and turned away like she was invisible.
She may as well have been a speck of dust.
'This woman, no apology, no explanation - still clinging on. What, was she aiming to patch things up?'
'Did she really think he'd take her back?'
The mere thought made Cedric's expression darken. His lips pressed into a thin, hard line.
A nearby security guard, having noticed the brief flicker of annoyance in the CEO's eyes, immediately stepped forward, eager to please.
"You! Get up! This isn't a rest stop!" the guard barked, waving his hand like he was shooing off a stray cat.
Sabrina was too dizzy to argue. She just needed a minute to recover.
But the guard mistook her silence for defiance. His face twisted in irritation, and he reached down, grabbing her arm with a rough hand. "Didn't you hear me? I said get up!"
The sudden jolt made her stumble. Her head spun again. Between the dizziness and the manhandling, she felt humiliated and helpless.
She thought of last night-thrown out of Cedric's hotel suite like garbage.
Her chest tightened. Her eyes burned.
Was this how far she'd fallen?
Was Cedric always this cruel?
He wasn't innocent either. Back then, he'd "flirted" with the cheerleader before their relationship had even officially broken up. And now he acted like everything that went wrong was her fault?
The guard reached out again, this time ready to push her back.
But before his hand made contact, another hand shot out-strong, elegant, and adorned with a Patek Philippe watch.
It caught her arm gently but firmly.
Sabrina looked up-and locked eyes with Cedric.
She knew it.
"Cedric..." she whispered, her voice trembling, eyes filled with something dangerously close to hope.
Cedric clenched his jaw.
Damn it. Why did he react?
Why did his body still move on instinct the moment she was in danger?
He let go of her arm as if burned, then leaned in close, his voice low and ice-cold-meant only for her ears.
"Don't dirty the floors of my company," he said. "Leave."
Her smile vanished.
So did the color from her cheeks.
She blinked, stunned, as he turned and walked away without a backward glance.
The pain that bloomed in her chest was sharp and sudden.
"Sabrina!"
Monica Simpson came running up, panting and flushed. "What the hell are you doing here?! Do you know how crazy you've made your mom? She's been trying to call you nonstop! She was about to book a flight!"
"Monica... I'm twenty-six. Can't I live my own life for once? My mom-"
"Is overbearing and controlling, I know." Monica sighed. "But you disappearing like this? You scared the hell out of everyone."
Monica hesitated, something flickering in her eyes. Then she simply said, "You're not planning to go back anytime soon, are you?"
Sabrina shook her head.
"Then just... be careful, okay?" Monica murmured, then turned and left.
*****
Before Sabrina could breathe, another voice rang out.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to crawl back."
That shrill, judgmental tone made her lift her head. Sure enough, it was her half-sister Margaret Lionhart. Sabrina instinctively went on alert.
"How do you even have the guts to come back here?!" Margaret's brows arched sharply in disdain.
If Sabrina and her shameless mom hadn't "contributed" to Cedric's grandma's death, Cedric wouldn't have grown to loathe the entire Lionhart family. With the Stricklands' influence in the city, their fallout had dragged the Lionhart's business down year after year.
And now here she was, the reason behind it all, strutting back in public? Did she think the Stricklands wouldn't crush her?
"What's there to be ashamed of?"
"Sabrina, you seriously have no heart!" Margaret charged after her, voice rising like nails on a chalkboard, making Sabrina's ears twitch in annoyance.
Sabrina grabbed Margaret's arm hard. She winced, eyebrows tightening. "Margaret, what the hell is wrong with you?!"
"What's wrong with me? You should be asking what's wrong with you! You wrecked someone's life and don't even feel one bit guilty?" Margaret's chest heaved from the anger.
She wasn't throwing around accusations just because their family business tanked. To Margaret, Cedric's grandma had been a genuinely good person.
The Stricklands lived next door when they were kids, and Margaret remembered Cedric's grandma as sharp, warm, and super talented. Not only did she build Gracewell into the only domestic brand that could rival global giants, she also used to make the cutest little desserts.
As a kid, Margaret basically grew up on those sweet treats.
But that kind, gentle old lady supposedly died because of a request from Sabrina-because Sabrina decided to use her heart to save her own mom.
That kind of twisted betrayal was something Margaret had never wanted to believe, especially not from the happy-go-lucky, sunshiney Sabrina she remembered. But the truth was right there-there was even video proof.
Now Sabrina just stood there, even more confused. Hurt someone? Her? No way. She didn't even squish cockroaches when she saw them!
Could there be something she'd forgotten?
A headache started to pulse behind her eyes. Her stomach churned from hunger and stress.
Without a word, she turned and stumbled into a nearby café. She ordered two slices of cheesecake, hoping the sugar would calm her nerves.
She had just sat down when a shadow fell over her table.
A plain-looking man in a suit sat down across from her and slid a business card toward her.
"Ms. Lionhart. I'm from Pama. We need to talk."
His voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the authority in it.
Sabrina's eyes narrowed. "You... tracked me down?"
She had never revealed her identity to the public.
The man ignored her question. "This isn't a request. It's an order."
