?<strong>Chapter 1213:</strong>


    Kira, taken aback by his stern tone, fell silent.


    Juliet, grasping the delicacy of the situation, quietly ushered Kira away. Laney remained frozen in ce, her eyes locked on Cliff. She watched intently as he walked toward her.


    Cliff paused, looking at Laney and then at the hangover cure soup in her hands. He had needed it earlier, but now it seemed unnecessary. “Why didn’t you tell me you wereing?” he asked.


    His words only deepened the hurt swelling in Laney’s heart. Why were those his first words instead of an exnation about his earlier actions with Juliet? But then, she dismissed the thought. Even if he exined, would it change what she had seen? She had witnessed them together, close and intimate as they emerged from the elevator. Actions spoke louder than words.


    Cliff made no move to exin. “Do you want to go home or to my office?” he asked, his voice steady as if the incident hadn’t urred. “I don’t want to waste the soup you brought. I’d like to have it while it’s still warm.”


    Laney’s eyes reddened, and she couldn’t hold back her question. “Have you been too busy to see me because you’ve been with Juliet?”


    Cliff took her hand, his face unreadable. “We’ll talk about this when we get back,” he said.


    For the first time, Laney resisted his touch. She pulled her hand back, her voice breaking with restrained tears. “I don’t want to wait. Tell me now.”


    Her voice, quivering with sobs, began to draw attention. The surrounding crowd, all influential figures, started to notice the disturbance.


    Cliff, aware of his prominent status, preferred not to cause a scene. “Laney, let’s discuss this calmly,” he said in a low tone, marked by irritation. “Please,e with me.”


    Defiant, Laney raised her voice. “I won’t!”


    Her outburst turned heads, including that of a nearby couple. The woman recognized Cliff and asked curiously, “Isn’t that Mr. Hopkins?”


    The couple approached, prompting Cliff to pull Laney closer, protectively positioning her by his side. He greeted them with a slight nod. “Mr. and Mrs. Cortez.”


    The woman, Sharon Cortez, eyed the tearful Laney and couldn’t hide her intrigue. “Mr. Hopkins, who is this?”


    Cliff responded smoothly, “My cousin.”


    Laney stiffened, feeling a sharp pain, as if her heart had plummeted into an abyss.


    “Cousin?” Sharon questioned skeptically. “I’ve known your mother for years and never heard she had a niece.”


    “She seldom visited us,” Cliff exined quickly, holding Laney’s hand a bit more firmly.


    Hearing this, Sharon’s suspicions were ayed.


    After a few more courteous exchanges, Sharon and her husband departed.


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