Cecilia shrugged, involuntarily retreating.
She had heard of the Lawrences, the wealthiest family in Star City. They consisted of elite people, and Mr. Steven Lawrence, the current head of the family, was a formidable figure.
How did she know all this?
That was because...
Steven Lawrence had been searching for her like a madman through major media outlets abroad. To be more specific, he was looking for Riane.
Cecilia had no interest in being found and interrogated, so naturally, she tried hard to avoid the Lawrences all the time.
But seeing Emma waiting for her eagerly, Cecilia sighed.
‘Well, it should be fine as long as they don’t know my face.’
"Investigate all you want, but… aren’t you doing too much?"
The guards were serious, squinting at her as they replied, "We're just following orders. Please forgive us, Ma'am."
……
Cecilia sighed, "Never mind, I won’t waste time with you."
She took Emma's hand and approached the elevator, coincidentally brushing shoulders with Steven Lawrence.
Her casual ponytail in the morning was now a bit loose. A few strands of hair, with a gardenia scent, gently brushed against his ear.
Steven didn't turn around but stopped in his tracks.
He said in his deep voice, "Miss Morrison? So it really is you!"
Cecilia suddenly froze.
‘He recognizes me?’
When they passed by each other earlier, she had recognized him.
He was six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
He was always dressed in a black suit.
His black hair was always combed back with his forehead smooth, and he had enigmatic eyes that always kept him mysterious.
Moreover, his aura always kept people at a distance.
He was just like the Steven who had been relentlessly searching for her in the media abroad.
‘How did he recognize me?’
‘That's impossible, I've never shown my face publicly.’
As Cecilia thought all this in mind, she hesitated to turn around.
Just as she didn't know how to respond, she suddenly felt strong pressure from behind.
He threatened, “I’m warning you, stay away from my son. Don’t approach me or even dream of marrying me. Otherwise, I won’t be nice to the Morrisons!"
After that, he signaled the bodyguards to disperse.
"I’ve found the suspect, so we’re done here."
The guards cast disdainful looks at Cecilia as they walked past her.
Cecilia was puzzled, looking at Steven as he left with the guards.
‘What does he mean? Why is he acting like I’m some sort of pervert?’
‘And how is it my problem what he does to the Morrisons?’
Emma tugged at her sleeve with a confused look. "Mommy, what were they talking about?"
Cecilia shook her head. "I don't know. Let’s not worry and just go rest upstairs."
On the other hand, Steven returned to his Rolls-Royce, handing the small cake in his hand to his son, Alex.
Alex pouted, huffing. "In three minutes, I want all the information about that woman!"
Steven was helpless.
‘Where did this little brat learn to be so bossy?’
Steven reached out and patted Alex's hat. "Speak politely."
"Dad, do you know who she is?"
He sighed. "No, and it doesn't matter. You've seen many people like that before, right?"
Alex muttered in disappointment, lowering his head.
Steven looked at his son, confused.
Numerous women were trying to get into the Lawrences by approaching Alex, but he didn't like any of them.
He was like a small iceberg, unmoved by any attempts at flattery.
Despite that, why was he so obsessed with that woman Cecilia?
As Steven pondered, he absentmindedly brushed his ear that Cecilia’s hair had grazed. He could still faintly smell the scent of gardenia.
She was indeed beautiful, but that wasn't anything special to him and Alex.
Yet, in a short time, she had left such an impression on them both...
This only meant one thing.
This woman was more cunning than he had imagined!
At the Morrison mansion, Sophie had just finished treating her wound. She fell and sobbed into Samuel’s arms.
Their engagement ceremony had just been canceled, with the guests having left a while ago.
She whimpered through sniffles, “Samuel, would you still marry me even if my face was ruined?”
Samuel wiped away her tears, but he kept looking at the door.
"Of course I will. You've always been the most beautiful woman to me."
Moments later, Frank stormed into the room with a furious look.
"That wretched Cecilia! She took every last cent from the Leaves Fund! This ring is just a piece of junk now!"
As he said that, he harshly threw the ring to the floor. Upon landing, its emerald centerpiece shattered into tiny pieces.
Samuel’s eyes widened as he got up, his tone urgent.
"What did you say?! The money is gone?! You know that my grandmother—"
A flicker of panic flashed through Frank’s eyes.
Before he could continue, Sophie quickly cut in, "I know… Grandmother only allowed our engagement for those funds. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure we get that money back."
Samuel didn’t answer, only nodding briefly before leaving.
In the car, Samuel was driving absentmindedly as he sighed continuously.
Back when his grandmother had insisted on an engagement with Cecilia, he never understood why. He only saw Cecilia as mute and boring person—nothing compared to the lively, playful Sophie.
It wasn’t until Cecilia left that his parents finally revealed the truth.
Her mother, Lillian Walton, was the sole daughter of the prestigious Walton family. After her parents passed, she inherited a vast fortune and created the Leaves Fund before her death. Knowing the Morrisons were unreliable, she had entrusted young Cecilia to the Kingsleys under a marriage alliance.
The engagement ring was the only way to access the Leaves Fund. She made a promise with the Kingsleys that if their families got together, they can take the money from the fund.
Originally, only Lady Kingsley knew of this secret. However, a housekeeper was bribed into leaking the information to Samuel’s parents, who in turn told Frank.
They assumed that the ring could be used as long as there was an engagement, no matter who the bride was. Being a Morrison family member, Sophie had managed to exploit this hole in the agreement.
However, nobody had expected that Cecilia had already taken the money.
The more Samuel thought about it, the angrier he became. He slammed his fist against the steering wheel.
‘Damn it! If I had known, I would've just married Cecilia! Sophie is ugly and a complete pain—how was I so blind?!’
‘No! I need to get Cecilia back!’
‘She loved me so much before. If I just woo her a bit, I should win her back easily.’
He smiled triumphantly at his thoughts.
—
At the Lawrence family’s mansion, Steven faced the floor-to-ceiling windows, his silhouette stretched by the setting sun.
A figure emerged from the shadows—it was his personal assistant, Zane.
"Mr. Lawrence, we’ve found Riane’s track in Star City."
He handed over an envelope, hesitating slightly before adding, "But…"
"Speak up."
"It’s better you see for yourself."
Steven turned his head slightly, taking the letter between his fingers. His sharp gaze swept over the contents.
A moment later, the letter slipped from his fingers, the sunlight shining over the words on it.
Then, Steven’s infuriated voice echoed through the room.
"This woman—she’s asking for death!"