Lilian ended the call and placed her phone down slowly.
Kendra raised an eyebrow. "That was bold. But what if Alicia reacts? What if she exposes the marriage?"
A faint smile curved Lilian's lips.
"She won't," she said confidently.
Kendra frowned. "How can you be so sure?"
Lilian leaned back slightly, eyes calm and certain.
"Because she's too proud."
A pause.
"She would never lower herself to fight for something like this."
She looked at the dark screen of her phone, her confidence sharpening.
"A woman like her would rather suffer in silence than become a joke."
Kendra studied her. "And if you're wrong?"
Lilian's smile didn't waver.
"Then I'll deal with it."
But her eyes darkened slightly.
Three years ago, she had already sensed it.
Alicia Blackwood—quiet, composed, controlled.
But not indifferent.
She had seen it in the way Alicia looked at Alexander when she thought no one was watching.
Care.
Emotion.
Attachment.
A feeling carefully buried… but not gone.
