Chapter 5

As night fell, the moon hung bright in the sparsely starred sky.

The restaurant in the heart of downtown exuded luxury in every detail of its decor.

Flora followed closely behind Katniss, her face clouded with worry. "Ms. Astor, do we really have to do this?"

Just last midnight, she'd received a message from Katniss about hosting dinner for the resort project partners.

Business dinners were nothing but negotiations with a change of scenery.

"Just the standard procedure of discussing business over a meal," Katniss replied.

Dressed in a tailored business suit with her hair elegantly pinned up, she embodied efficiency and gave Flora a reassuring look.

Flora wasn't concerned about closing the deal. The rumors about Katniss and Cedric's crumbling marriage had resurfaced with even greater intensity than before.

In high society marriages, appearances were everything. Katniss hosting clients at this critical moment was like pouring gasoline on a fire.

But since it involved her boss's personal matters, she didn't dare pry and simply nodded obediently.

"Our private room is on the fifth floor, room 306. The clients should arrive in about ten minutes."

Flora checked the time, not noticing that Katniss had suddenly stopped walking, nearly bumping into her back.

"What's wrong?"

Following Katniss's gaze, she realized they had run straight into Cedric.

"Katniss? What are you doing here?"

Lillian, dressed in a fiery red gown that accentuated her curves, deliberately wrapped her arms around Cedric's arm in front of them. She gave a little shimmy, making her ample cleavage quiver slightly.

Upon seeing Katniss, she first displayed surprise, then covered her mouth in mock realization, giving Cedric a meaningful look.

"You couldn't possibly have tracked us down, could you?"

"Did you come looking for me?" Cedric raised an eyebrow, surprisingly not showing his usual annoyance, as if thinking she'd realized her mistake.

Katniss frowned slightly. She'd seen enough of Lillian's two-faced act around Cedric and had no desire to waste time entangled with them. "I have business to attend to. Please excuse me."

"Business? What business could you possibly have, Katniss? Cedric's right here." Lillian clearly wasn't going to let her off so easily, grabbing Katniss's arm.

Knowing a peaceful exit was impossible, Katniss signaled Flora with her eyes to go ahead to the private room and stall for time.

"Don't tell me... you're still sulking?" Lillian glanced at Cedric's displeased expression, a hint of schadenfreude flashing in her eyes.

"You're overthinking things. That night, I called Cedric because I was drunk and feeling unwell. He really just came over to take care of me," Lillian blinked innocently as if explaining, but her tone was pure provocation.

Look at that—your husband rushed over in the middle of the night with just one call from me.

"It seems Ms. Watson doesn't have many friends," Katniss observed coldly, her tone tinged with mock sympathy.

More insulting than sarcasm.

"What?" Lillian clearly didn't understand her meaning.

"Otherwise, how could you have no one to call, not know how to buy medicine, not even know where the hospital is—having to rely on a married man to come take care of you?"

Katniss's words were casual, but her clear eyes, cold with disdain, met Lillian's hateful gaze. Lillian couldn't help but scoff.

"Katniss, so you just want Cedric to pay more attention to you." The hatred in Lillian's expression quickly gave way to a pale face. She turned to Cedric with a pitiful look, forcing an especially strained smile.

"Then you should give this to Katniss instead."

She removed a massive sapphire ring from her finger, noticing Katniss's confused expression before explaining.

"Cedric made this himself. You should like it."

The five-carat gem set in an intricately carved band glittered brilliantly under the hallway's amber light, its fire dazzling.

That gleam pierced Katniss's eyes deeply. She recalled how many times she had told Cedric she wanted a handcrafted ring for their anniversary.

She always felt that wearing a ring made by your lover was like touching their face when you absentmindedly caressed it—even when apart, you could feel that lingering warmth of affection.

Katniss never imagined that the warmth of affection she'd dreamed of day and night would be on Lillian's hand!

A sharp, spreading pain bloomed in her chest. Before Cedric could react, Katniss had already pushed Lillian aside and walked away.

Lillian cried out, conveniently falling into Cedric's arms.

"Careful!"

"Don't blame Katniss—I just lost my balance," Lillian said softly, lowering her lashes to hide the dissatisfaction in her eyes, as if afraid Cedric wouldn't misunderstand.

Ignoring Cedric's calls behind her, Katniss reached the private room door, took a deep breath to compose herself, and pushed it open with a smile.

Business deals were inseparable from drinking culture.

Ignoring the incoming calls on her phone, after several rounds of drinks, Katniss excused herself to the restroom to clear her head.

The cool water washed away the flush on her face. Now half-sobered, Katniss took out her makeup to touch up.

Leaving the bathroom, she stood by a window in the depths of the hallway for fresh air. Even though she navigated these situations with ease, she still disliked the scheming that came with business dinners. It was exhausting.

"I knew you wouldn't leave."

Lillian seemed to have followed her and waited. Without Cedric present, she no longer concealed her malice toward Katniss, contempt evident in every feature.

As a woman herself, Lillian saw right through Katniss's clumsy tactics. With venom in her voice, she said, "Are you deliberately clinging to Cedric? That's all you're capable of."

Katniss raised an eyebrow slightly. Faced with this provocation, she strangely countered, "Maybe I want to divorce him? Otherwise, you couldn't take my place, could you?"

"Who are you calling a homewrecker?"

Nothing infuriated Lillian more than being called the other woman. Without the Astor family, how could Katniss compare to her in any way?

Who was she to lecture her?

"Isn't that what you are? Otherwise, why not just tell Cedric you want to marry him? Why keep flaunting yourself in front of me?"

"Bitch!"

Something had touched a nerve. Lillian lunged forward to slap Katniss, but Katniss caught her wrist with quick reflexes.

Just because Katniss hadn't bothered to confront her earlier didn't mean she was easy to bully.

"What are you two doing?" Before Katniss could speak, a familiar voice came from behind.

Cedric's gaze locked onto Katniss's firm grip on Lillian's wrist, his brow furrowing involuntarily.

"Cedric!" Lillian's eyes darkened, and when she turned her head, she had already transformed into a helpless, pitiful figure.