Chapter 144

Even after being caught, Cedric still scrambled for an excuse. He was never the kind of man to take full responsibility. Scarlett looked at him and let out a sharp, humorless laugh. Now that the illusion was shattered, she could finally see him for who he truly was. How foolish she had been, blinded by affection, mistaking deception for sincerity. That filter, the one named "love", was gone. All that remained was ridicule. "Cedric, I'll sign this contract. But first, I need the truth. That night, were you there or not?" Her eyes locked onto his, filled with an unrelenting demand for answers. Cedric shook his head. "At this point, does it even matter?" His voice dropped, laced with disdain. "I never thought you'd turn out to be such an easy woman, Scarlett. If you had just obeyed me, none of that would have happened at the banquet." There it was—the confession hidden between the lines. Scarlett closed her eyes briefly, emotions crashing over her like a raging fire, burning awa