Chapter 94\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
68%\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next day at work was just as hectic, with everyone preparing for next Monday\u2019s design exhibition. By the time most people had left, I was still in Ridley\u2019s office, finalizing my presentation report. Aiden was there too, quietly observing our conversation from the corner leather armchair, occasionally sketching something in his notebook.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the spatial flow diagram for the Lake Shore project needs more emphasis on the transitional spaces,\u201d I concluded, sliding the last rendering across Ridley\u2019s minimalist desk. \u201cThe clients specifically mentioned they wanted \u2018breathable boundaries between the living zones.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley nodded, his expression giving away nothing as he studied the blueprints. \u201cMake it happen.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we wrapped up for the day and made our way through Next Design\u2019s glass\u2013walled lobby, the evening light casting long shadows across the polished concrete floor, a familiar voice called out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCedar! There you are!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selena\u2019s stilettos clicked rapidly across the floor as she hurried toward me, her expression one of exaggerated delight. The enthusiasm in her eyes was so theatrical it almost made me believe we had the close sister relationship she pretended we did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instinctively stepped back, avoiding her outstretched arms. Selena didn\u2019t seem bothered, her face immediately softening into practiced\u00a0<\/p>\n
vulnerability.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just passing by on my way to an appointment and thought I\u2019d see if you were still here. I hope I\u2019m not interrupting anything important?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWright Creatives doesn\u2019t have any projects in this district,\u201d I replied coolly. \u201cIt seems unlikely you\u2019d be \u2018passing by.\u201c\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew Selena well enough to recognize when she was lying. After multiple attempts by her and Elara to cause problems for me, I wasn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
surprised they\u2019d try to ambush me at work. I just hadn\u2019t expected such boldness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I actually do have something important to discuss with you,\u201d Selena said, her expression shifting to a look of feigned concern. \u201cTomorrow\u00a0<\/p>\n
night is Grandfather\u2019s seventieth birthday celebration. I know you\u2019ve\u2026 distanced yourself from the Wright family, but that doesn\u2019t change the\u00a0<\/p>\n
fact that you grew up with us. Grandfather doesn\u2019t know about the\u2026 situation between you and the rest of us. He asked why you haven\u2019t called\u00a0<\/p>\n
him in so long\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pressed my lips together, memories flooding back. Jonathan\u2019s father, Nathaniel Wright, was a traditional man with outdated views\u2013including\u00a0<\/p>\n
favoring his male heirs over females. When I lived with him during my childhood years, no matter how well\u2013behaved I was, he never warmed to\u00a0<\/p>\n
me the way he did to his biological grandchildren.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t have much emotional attachment to the man. Yet I couldn\u2019t deny that despite being adopted, he hadn\u2019t completely neglected me. When\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was accepted to college, Elara nearly burned my acceptance letter, but Nathaniel intervened. I only had the opportunity for higher education\u00a0<\/p>\n
because of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beneath his prejudices lay an unwavering belief that education was the comerstone of the Wright family legacy, regardless of gender.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s the invitation,\u201d Selena continued, extending an elegant cream envelope. \u201cWhatever issues you have with our family, Grandfather has always been fair to you. I hope you\u2019ll attend his birthday celebration.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I accepted the envelope, feeling its expensive weight in my hand. \u201cFine. I come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Mon, Feb 2 DBB\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 94\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could at least pay my respects and give him a gift, acknowledging the opportunity he\u2019d given me years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly for her?\u2018 Ridley\u2019s cold voice suddenly cut through our conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selena\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
68%\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d been waiting outside Nest Design for nearly an hour before Cedar finally emerged. My frustration disappeared instantly when I saw who was with her. This was even better than I\u2019d hoped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rushed forward with calculated enthusiasm, trying to look as genuinely sisterly as possible. \u201cCedar! There you are!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She dodged my attempt at a hug, but I didn\u2019t let it bother me. What really interested me was assessing her relationship with the two Sterling males beside her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Was it possible? Had this plain, nobody designer actually managed to get close enough to Ridley Sterling that he\u2019d consider letting her become a stepmother to his children? The thought made my blood boil.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Cedar finally agreed to attend the party, I nearly smiled in triumph. One task accomplished. But then I heard Ridley Sterling\u2019s deep voice: \u201cOnly for her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart leaped. This was the perfect opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not,\u201d I quickly produced two more invitations, holding them out \u201cMr. Sterling, young Mr. Sterling, Wright Creatives would be honored if you could join us as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden accepted his invitation politely. Ridley, however, barely glanced at the envelope before delivering his cutting remark:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Elegance Hotel? Has the Wright family fallen so far?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice dripped with contempt, and I had to dig my nails into my palm to maintain my composure. Our family\u2019s decline was largely thanks to Sterling Design Group stealing our clients, yet he had the audacity to mock us!\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I couldn\u2019t show my anger. Not when I needed him there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling,\u201d I said softly, letting vulnerability seep into my voice, \u201cwe\u2019re struggling financially. This celebration at the Elegance is stretching our resources to the limit. But what choice do we have? Grandfather is getting older, and his seventieth birthday is significant\u2026\u201d I paused delicately. \u201cYou\u2019re Chicago\u2019s most respected designer. If you attended our celebration, it would mean so much to my grandfather.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley scoffed. \u201cYour grandfather\u2019s happiness is hardly my concern.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My face flushed, but I quickly recovered. I wasn\u2019t new to Ridley\u2019s sharp tongue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps not, I conceded, \u201cbut I think my sister would be happier if you accompanied her to the event, wouldn\u2019t she?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you like me to accompany you?\u201d Ridley turned to Cedar, his intense gaze fixed on her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I silently fumed at how he sought her opinion rather than simply accepting my invitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Mon, Feb 2 DBB\u00a0<\/p>\n
We Want Mommy, Not You, Daddy!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our UnfiAnished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 94 Chapter 94\u00a0 Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0 68%\u00a0 The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zero-stars-for-daddy-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30493\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}