On the way to the restaurant, Sabrina noticed Cedric's face suddenly turn gloomy after he took a call-like a storm was brewing. Her heart skipped a beat.

Yep, he hasn't changed. Still has that scary temper when he's pissed.

So, the second Cedric hung up, Sabrina quickly said in a thoughtful tone, "If you've got stuff to do, just go. I can eat by myself, no problem."

"It's fine." Cedric's voice was still icy cold, not softening one bit.

Sabrina gave him a sheepish grin. She clearly didn't want to burden him, but twisted her words to sound like she was annoyed: "Really. With your gloomy face hovering around, I'm pretty sure anything I eat's gonna taste like cardboard."

Cedric was caught off guard for a second, then adjusted his tone. When he spoke again, it was gentler. He didn't argue, just said, "I'll drop you off at the restaurant. Just be careful on your own."

"Deal!" Sabrina agreed without missing a beat.

Still, she felt a little bummed. Once they said goodbye, who knew when they'd meet again?

But then she remembered that cooperation email from Gracewell. That gave her a flicker of hope again.

After hopping out of the car, Sabrina flashed him a bright smile and waved as he drove off. Only when his car disappeared from view did she head inside.

Honestly, it made sense Cedric didn't join her. Even though he'd seen her at her worst, it had been years, and she kinda wanted to show him the more refined version of herself. She'd already failed that once at the hospital, and was hoping this dinner would be her redemption arc. Too bad he had stuff to handle.

No biggie. Eating well came first.

So she opened the menu and, with zero guilt, ordered everything high-cal, rich, and delicious-looking.

BBQ ribs, buffalo wings, a whole fried chicken-she didn't hold back. And she definitely didn't eat like a lady, either.

She had a fried drumstick in one hand and a messy rack of BBQ ribs in the other.

She didn't even look up as she scrolled through her phone, typing replies with her pinky rather than give up either piece of meat.

Most of the messages were work-related. Skincare brands kept asking about her availability for collaboration on the next research phase with Twinkle.

Sabrina ignored them all.

Then her apprentice dropped a message, saying Gracewell was desperate to set up a meeting-they'd sent more emails. She asked what Sabrina wanted to do.

Just as she held down the voice button to reply-

"Ahem."

A cough came from across the table.

Sabrina was sitting at a big round table. The waiter had originally arranged a table for two, but probably upgraded her spot because she'd ordered so much, and the plates were massive.

She looked up, confused about who had just cleared their throat-

And froze.

Her whole body stiffened.

The drumstick and ribs slipped from her hands and landed with a thud on the red tablecloth.

"Your friend's got quite the appetite, huh?" The young cop, holding a notepad under one arm, tried to put it nicely.

Cedric let out a small laugh, eyes flicking over her shocked face like he was enjoying the show. "Yeah... she really does."

Sabrina felt like she got struck by lightning.

So that's how she ended up with both Cedric and the officer sitting at her table.

"Don't be shy. Eat up." Sabrina forced a smile, stood, and pushed the dishes around to make them look more inviting, trying hard to act like everything was totally fine.

The young officer gave the dishes on the table a quick side glance-dang, every single one loaded with calories. He scratched his head awkwardly, "Uh, no thanks, you go ahead."

Sabrina gave a sheepish grin. "I don't usually eat like this, seriously. It's just... I was kidnapped, stuck for a whole day, scared and starving..."

She said it like she was talking to the officer, but let's be real-she had someone specific in mind she hoped heard that explanation.

The cop chuckled, clearly trying to be polite. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."

Except no, he totally didn't.

Honestly, he debated pointing out that most people who go through a kidnapping can't even touch food right after, let alone tear through half the menu. But he bit his tongue.

"You go ahead and eat, no need to be awkward around me. I'm just here to take down your statement. Kidnapping's a big deal. Just tell me everything you can remember," he said, clicking open his pen.

Sabrina took a second to shift gears, then began recounting what happened.

Of course, she left out that the kidnappers were from the Pama Conglomerate and also didn't mention she was a skincare expert.

Though the kidnapping sounded intense, her account was short. She didn't know the area and could only say she'd been taken to some really out-of-the-way shack. That's about all she could manage.

Ten minutes later, the statement was done. The young cop left, with Cedric walking him out.

When Cedric came back and sat beside her, Sabrina frowned. "Why'd you come back?"

Had she known he'd return, she wouldn't have ordered so much-maybe just some veggies and plain oatmeal to keep up a "frail victim" vibe.

"I suddenly remembered you didn't have your wallet," Cedric fibbed casually, sipping tea from the cup on the table.

Sabrina instinctively looked down at herself-yep, still wearing the same trashed outfit. Her little purse and phone were long gone on some countryside ditch. "Oh, shoot! You're right!"

She'd completely forgotten. How ridiculous was she, walking into a restaurant dead broke like all was fine? Then she looked over at Cedric, eyes lighting up like stars. With him around, she didn't need to sweat the small stuff.

What a great guy... too bad someone else had his heart.

Frustrated, she bit into a massive buffalo wing. Whatever. A man that wasn't hers-what's the point pretending to be the perfect damsel?

Cedric wasn't quite sure if she believed his wallet excuse.

The moment she got out of the car earlier, he had driven through two intersections, seconds ticking slow and heavy. His gut kept twisting-she'd just been kidnapped, she must've been beyond shaken. Yet when he got that call, she quietly stepped aside and told him to go do his thing.

He never told anyone this, but the thing that always got him wasn't her anger, or her drama-it was her being too understanding, too ready to back down.

Just like years ago-thinking he had someone else, she simply walked away without a word.

Before his brain could even finish processing whether to go back, his hands already had the wheel turned around.

And since he was heading back anyway, he swung by the station and asked an old friend to tag along, get her statement recorded properly.

The meal wasn't cheap, but she devoured it all-and only left scraps. They looked hefty, but hardly had any meat.

Sabrina rubbed her full belly, and while Cedric was signing the check, she piped up, "About the bill-should we swap numbers? Once I get a new card, I'll pay you back. This place looks affordable but actually it's pricey, see? Just look at this-tons of bones, barely any meat. Totally not worth it~"Cedric clicked the pen cap on and listened quietly to what she said.

A waiter nearby couldn't hold it in and quickly jumped in, "Madam, our BBQ ribs are always full and juicy-usually even a group of guys can't finish a plate. You're really the first one to complain about the portion."

Sabrina had no words.

Outside the restaurant, Cedric kept walking. Sabrina picked up her pace, then tried again-light, almost casual.

"Mind if I get your number? Just to pay you back, I mean."

"No need," Cedric said without looking back, walking a few steps ahead of her. His voice came from in front.

Sabrina stopped in her tracks, caught off guard by his rejection.

"If you get kidnapped, anyone would step in," Cedric added, still not turning around-almost like he was explaining it to himself more than to her.

Sabrina had a feeling she knew what was coming, and when she spoke again, her voice was trembling, tears threatening to spill, "Why do you always act like this!"

Seriously, was she not allowed to feel anything?

Cedric didn't respond.

But in that split second, he realized he'd messed up.

As they were walking out, he'd spotted an elderly man sitting near the entrance. The man's profile looked a lot like his grandmother's.

His mood flipped, just like that.

Cedric had been raised by his grandma. His parents were barely around when he was growing up-it was his grandma who shaped the way he saw the world, who instilled his values. That calm wisdom of hers-he admired it more than anything.

That bond? Runs bone-deep.

When he didn't say anything, Sabrina's eyes welled up even more. Wiping her cheeks with her sleeve, she choked out, "If you don't like me, then just let me go. Don't save me, don't take me to the hospital, don't come back halfway to have dinner with me, and then say something like anyone would've done the same!"

She felt ridiculous.

Like someone being toyed with-the kind of guy who makes it look like he cares on purpose, only to turn around and say it was all just friendly concern.

Cedric didn't know how to respond. He stood there frozen for a couple seconds. When he glanced up, he saw Monica striding toward them in heels.

Someone had arrived to be with her. That was enough reason for him to leave.

Sabrina saw him turn and walk off without saying a word. Furious, she shouted his name, "Cedric!"

But he didn't even glance back-just got in his car and drove away.

She instinctively wanted to run after him, but a hand suddenly pulled her back. She turned, breath hitching, and saw it was Monica, nearly out of breath.

Seeing someone like a big sister right in front of her, Sabrina couldn't hold it in anymore. The tears came instantly. "Monica..."

"Don't go running after him like that-come on, some dignity," Monica scolded, then wrapped an arm around her. "You scared me to death. Why didn't you call me when you got back?"

It was Cedric who had contacted her, saying Sabrina was at this restaurant. She rushed right over-still couldn't figure out what Cedric had said or done to upset her again.

"Wuuuugh..." Sabrina sobbed.

Partly because of how cold Cedric had been, but also because the reality of the kidnapping was finally hitting her. Her emotions always took their time-it was only after the fact that things started to scare her.

Monica gently stroked the back of her head, letting Sabrina cry on her shoulder.

After crying a bit, Sabrina calmed down. Between sniffles, she told Monica everything-how she was saved, got checked out, how Cedric had left but came back to eat with her.

Because deep down, she wanted Monica to say it meant something-anything. That Cedric cared about her. Not just because it was the "decent thing to do."

Monica knew exactly what Sabrina was thinking, but there was no way she was going to encourage it.

If a guy can be that cold to a woman, no matter what excuse he has, she's totally against chasing him back.

So, she didn't even continue the topic and just said, "Let me drive you home. Lynne's arriving first thing tomorrow-we'll pick her up together."

"Okay." Sabrina sighed in resignation, knowing Monica had seen right through her little plan.

The next morning.

After a solid night's sleep, Sabrina felt like her usual self again. She threw on a white tracksuit and hopped into Monica's car to head to the airport.

The terminal was packed and buzzing with noise.

Standing by the exit, it didn't take long before she spotted a graceful woman in a flowing white dress slowly wheeling a white suitcase out.

Sabrina's eyes lit up. "Mom!" she called out, waving.

Lynne Grant turned at the shout, her sharp gaze landing directly on the daughter who constantly stressed her out, and broke right into a scolding: "Wow, you're real bold now, huh? Ignoring my calls for a whole day? Next time I don't hear from you in five hours, just know you're asking for a beating!"

Sabrina froze for a second, then quickly realized-Monica must've helped cover up the whole kidnapping ordeal. So Lynne probably just thought she was being rebellious, not in any actual danger.

Sabrina shot Monica a grateful look. Given her mom's heart condition, she really couldn't afford any shocks.

Monica turned her gaze away, trying to keep it cool, but inside she was feeling heavy and bitter. This mother-daughter duo was seriously stressing her out.

"Mom, your room's all set. I'll bunk with you tonight," Sabrina said as she took her mom's arm, trying to sweet-talk her.

"Well, well, imagine that. You're actually volunteering to sleep with me? Aren't you usually all about clinging to Monica and pouring your little heart out about your girly problems?" Lynne raised an eyebrow, clearly teasing.

"Just one night, alright? I'll go back to Monica after," Sabrina grinned mischievously.

"Tch." Lynne scoffed.

The three of them grabbed a cab home.

Back before they moved abroad, the Lionharts lived here as a family of three. It was where Sabrina grew up-a standard two-bedroom apartment in a downtown neighborhood, just a short bus ride to the city's busiest spots. Quiet, yet convenient.

As soon as Lynne stepped in, she took a long look around. Waves of old memories rushed back.

Back when Sabrina's dad proposed to her here, waving that property deed around all full of promises about sharing a future together. Big talk. Didn't take long before he ran off to a fancier place with someone else.

Men. Not a decent one among them.

Noticing that classic expression of disdain on her mom's face, Sabrina knew instantly who was on her mind. With someone as easygoing as Lynne, there was only one person who could make her look so smug and bitter-her dad.

"Mom, go change-bet that dress isn't comfy," Sabrina quickly said, trying to snap her mom out of it.

"Tell me about it. It's tight as hell, but my friend insisted I wear it," Lynne muttered as she headed to the room.

Later, dressed more comfortably, Lynne headed out to eat with Monica and Sabrina.

They were usually happy to go along with whatever Sabrina wanted.

But tonight, because of how pancakes reminded her of Cedric, Sabrina wasn't in the mood for a proper meal.

She had a craving-for every snack she and Cedric ever shared. One by one.Fried potatoes, spicy noodles, calamari, egg waffles... you name it.

The food street was buzzing, but Lynne never cared for crowds-too noisy, too messy. It was always Sabrina diving straight into the chaos like a busy little bee, grabbing the snacks and bringing them back for the three of them to share.

On the sidewalk, Lynne leaned casually against the railing. She was nearly fifty, but you'd never guess it-great skincare, and with a beauty expert for a daughter, her skin looked radiant and her figure was well-kept. At a glance, she could easily pass for early thirties.

Monica mirrored her posture. She and Sabrina were the same age, but total opposites in vibe. Sabrina was bubbly and sweet, while Monica had that sultry, hard-to-resist charm. Honestly, if Monica wasn't a neurologist, she and Sabrina probably wouldn't cross paths much.

The two of them watched the crowd. From a distance, they could see Sabrina struggling to order food at one of the bustling stalls.

Lynne sighed, her eyes following Sabrina with a hint of warmth. "Just like when she was a kid-still loves the noise, never backs down from trouble, always full of energy."

Her voice softened and her eyes misted up. She quickly turned away so Sabrina wouldn't notice, placing both hands on the railing, back facing the street.

Monica noticed and shifted her posture slightly, leaning her slim waist against the railing. "Don't get emotional now," she said gently. "Sabrina's doing much better than expected. At her current pace, any serious signs probably won't show until she's around sixty."

Changing the subject, Lynne asked, "Has she caused you any trouble these past few days?"

"Nope," Monica replied, but she hesitated, picturing Sabrina's distracted look lately. "Although... I think she's really trying to get back with her ex. I suspect that's the whole reason she rushed back home. You okay with that idea?"

If Lynne was on board, Monica wouldn't mind passing on a few of her top-tier tricks-moves that would've any guy wrapped around Sabrina's finger.

Lynne's face changed fast, and her voice shook a little. "She... she went to see Cedric?"

Monica raised an eyebrow, a bit confused, but nodded. "Yeah, they met already. Sabrina had a little mishap, and Cedric's the one who helped her out."

She made the word "kidnapping" sound like nothing.

Lynne pressed on, eyes tense. "Did she say anything strange? Ask you anything out of the ordinary?"

"No," Monica shook her head, now frowning too. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"I..." Lynne opened her mouth, but stopped short.

Monica's tone got serious, her smile gone. "We're in this together. If we want to keep things stable for Sabrina, then no secrets. I need the full picture to gauge how her memory issues are progressing."

Lynne hesitated, lips slightly parted, still unsure how to start-when Sabrina bounced back, loaded with twenty freshly grilled skewers in hand.

Lynne clamped her mouth shut in an instant. Monica picked up the cue, dropped her serious face, and went back to looking effortlessly chill.

Sabrina's cheeks were flushed red from the steam, but her smile was bright as ever. She handed out the skewers, splitting them into three portions. "Come on, dig in! This one's beef. The guy said they taste best while they're hot."

"Oh please," Monica huffed playfully, "the things I do for you-only my undying love would get me to eat street food on the sidewalk." Still, she immediately bit into the beef skewer.

Mmm... damn, that was good.

"I got it, okay? I know you both love me the most!" Sabrina beamed.

She wasn't just lucky to have Lynne, who always supported her dreams and never tried to hold her back. She also had Monica, who felt more like a big sister than a friend - always there to listen to her ramblings about her so-called girly troubles and even help her fix them, no complaints.

With those two around, Sabrina felt genuinely blessed.

"Hmph~" Monica huffed softly, pretending to sulk while digging into her skewer.

After they finished eating, Sabrina darted right back into the snack street, eager to chase after her next food find.

But the earlier conversation didn't come back up.

Monica could tell-whatever that was about, it wasn't something light. Otherwise, Lynne wouldn't have brushed aside Sabrina's condition to hide it.

And as for Lynne...

Since Monica didn't press her, she just played dumb for now. She needed time to figure out how to talk about it - properly.

Sabrina ran back and forth a few times making sure everyone had eaten enough before finally heading off to wash her hands.

That's when Lynne quietly brought the topic back. "Monica, I'm sorry. Just... give me a little more time. And I also need a favor - if Sabrina ever brings up Cedric, can you try to pull her back? Keep her away from him."

Then Lynne headed off in the direction of the sinks.

Monica stared after her, pretty sure her suspicions were spot on. That thing Lynne was hiding? Definitely heavy stuff.

This was the first time she'd seen Lynne - who usually encouraged Sabrina to chase after everything she wanted - actually step in to stop her from loving someone.

Since coming back, Sabrina and Lynne had been wandering around like tourists, checking out all the popular spots, snapping pics, trying all the food. Monica could see all their updates on her feed every day - almost like they were in sync.

Soaking in the fun, Sabrina had kind of put everything else on pause. The past few years, she'd basically lived inside the lab. No matter how legendary people thought the "Beauty Master" was, tossing around words like genius and gifted, only Sabrina really knew - every single breakthrough came from relentless hours in the lab.

Her days used to just be lab, home, sleep, repeat. All those jars and samples had been her whole life. Now that she finally nailed a formula she felt proud of, she figured she earned a proper break before starting anything new.

While Sabrina relaxed and enjoyed life, Gracewell Skincare Group was pretty much in panic mode.

During lunch, Cedric slipped away from Maxon Group to drop by Gracewell. The moment he stepped out of the car, Orion-his assistant from the executive office-was already rushing over, face tense.

"Mr. Strickland, still no reply from the Master."

"Did they reach an agreement with Pama?" Cedric asked right away.

"From what I've heard, no go," Orion replied, brows scrunched. "Honestly, I'm starting to think maybe the Beauty Master got picked up by some other giant brand."

After all, the beauty market was swamped with new skincare lines, and Pama wasn't the only big player besides them.

"Until we hear something, just keep contacting them," Cedric ordered as they walked into his office. Seeing the massive pile of documents on the desk, he rubbed his temple. "Also, dig up every possible way to contact the Beauty Master. I'm calling them myself."

"Got it. I'll send whatever I find to your inbox ASAP." Orion bowed slightly and left the room, giving Cedric space to tackle the mountain of work.

Two days later.

After partying a bit too hard, Sabrina finally dragged herself out of vacation mode and tried to switch into work gear. But before diving into any new projects, she needed to handle one very important task first: handing over the Twinkle to Gracewell Skincare Group.

She had been having too much fun lately and totally forgot about it.

Staring at her inbox flooded with hundreds of unread emails, she skimmed through them. Gracewell had sent her at least ten follow-ups-it was obvious they were eager to meet.

Pama Conglomerate ran a close second, their emails were more polished and full of tempting offers. But just reading "Pama" made her stomach churn.

Sabrina sighed and lightly smacked her forehead. She had meant to respond to their first email ages ago, but then Lynne dragged her off to have fun and... it slipped her mind completely.

She clicked open one of Gracewell's emails and was about to type out a polite reply when her phone suddenly rang.

Unknown number.

She stared at the screen for a few seconds. No spam warning popping up. With a shrug, she picked it up and swiped to answer. Before she could even say hello, a steady, deep voice came through the speaker.

"Hello, madam, this is Cedric Strickland, Executive Director at Gracewell Skincare Group..."

Boom.

It was like a lightning storm exploded in her brain.

Cedric?!

How did he even get her number?!

Sabrina jumped up from the floor like she'd sat on a hot pan, bouncing and pacing nervously. But her mouth refused to form a single word.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" Cedric's voice sounded polite and calm on the other end.

Sabrina took two deep breaths. If air had shape, she was sure her nostrils were flaring like a angry bull's right now.

She opened her mouth, ready to say "Yes, I can hear you." But right before the words left her lips, a weird thought hit her-if she spoke in her real voice, Cedric might hang up on her on the spot.

Thinking back to that awkward, cold stand-off outside the restaurant... remembering how cold and distant he had been... Sabrina, just to be safe, grabbed a cushion from the sofa, pressed it to her face and replied in a small voice, "Hello."

"Hi. I was wondering if tomorrow works for you to meet? If not, we can reschedule. Totally up to you-I'll adjust to your timing."

Cedric's tone was calm, almost robotic.

But Sabrina knew how to read between the lines. A sentence like "I'll adjust to your timing" meant Gracewell was on the back foot. Otherwise, someone with Cedric's pride wouldn't say something that accommodating.

Sabrina actually felt a tiny twinge of pity for him. "Tomorrow's fine," she said.

"...Okay, see you then."

Cedric sounded like he wasn't sure he had just landed a meeting with the legendary beauty expert. He paused before confirming it.

Sabrina didn't say anything else and ended the call.

She collapsed back onto the couch, arms flopping out, and the cushion dropped to the floor. Staring blankly at the ceiling, the pity she'd briefly felt for Cedric quickly switched to feeling sorry for herself.

Seriously, it was his company asking for help-so why did she feel like she was the one begging to be helpful?

Groaning, she covered her face with her hands. Whatever, they were meeting tomorrow. Time to slap on a face mask and get herself looking perfect before she saw him again.

*****

Meanwhile...Gracewell Skincare Group CEO's office.

Even though the call had ended several seconds ago, Cedric was still holding his phone, staring at the screen like something was off and he couldn't put his finger on it.

His assistant Orion peeked at him cautiously, clearly freaking out inside. "Mr. Strickland? Did... did she agree to meet?" he asked carefully.

Right after asking, Orion gulped nervously, unsure whether to brace for disappointment or get excited. But judging by the way Cedric looked like his soul just left his body, it probably didn't go well. Maybe that famous beauty expert totally shut him down.

Orion sighed to himself, "Honestly, wouldn't be surprising if she turned you down. She's super mysterious. We barely know anything about her except that she's a woman. And she's so low-key! Every award she's ever won, no one's seen her show up to take it. Even with Twinkle-it's always someone else receiving on her behalf."

"Maybe Pama got to her already. I did hear they're offering her company shares to seal the deal. Makes sense, their best-selling product just got called out-turns out the ingredients are barely better than drugstore stuff, but they've been charging four grand a jar! Sales tanked, and now they need something solid to save the brand."

Orion spilled everything he knew in one breath.

Cedric processed his assistant's minor intel dump, and for the first time had a clearer picture of Pama's strategy. Business was tough across the board-it didn't matter the sector, competition was cutthroat everywhere.

Which only made him more determined not to let Pama win this round.

If he couldn't lead Gracewell to a breakthrough, he sure as hell wouldn't let someone else use him as a stepping stone to climb higher.

Standing beside him, Orion was visibly awestruck by the sudden intensity radiating off his boss. He looked up, eyes wide. "Wait, Mr. Strickland... you mean, she said yes?"

"She did. Tonight, prep the contract and all the relevant materials. And run an updated valuation on our shares. If it comes to it, we'll offer equity, too," Cedric said without hesitation.

He didn't completely get what made this Twinkle product so special, but if Pama was willing to give up shares over it, he wasn't about to play small.

Sometimes breaking into a new field isn't as hard as it seems. In business, what matters most... is profit.

Orion's eyes lit up, spine straightening. "Got it!"

*****

The next day.

Sabrina wore a simple white dress-less of her usual sass, more polish and poise. Her black leather handbag completed the look, borrowed from Monica. Word was, it cost a fortune and was oozing feminine charm.

The restaurant Cedric picked was no joke-Auburn Dining, an upscale spot with serious history. It's said even visiting officials dined there during field inspections.

Just before heading out, Sabrina felt a flicker of nerves. She had no clue how Cedric would react when he realized the beauty expert he'd been dying to meet was actually her. Judging by how warm and hopeful he'd seemed at first and how it shifted after they'd started interacting... yeah, the guy might hate her more than she thought.

Still, she figured he was a grown man now. Surely he wouldn't risk company interests just to hold a grudge... right? After all, they say when someone accepts your gift, they owe you a favor. And if he took what she brought him today, she doubted he'd still be able to act high and mighty around her later.

Thinking that, Sabrina smirked to herself, feeling confident again.

She didn't tell Monica or her mother-luckily, neither of them were home at that time. Sabrina quietly slipped out and arrived at the restaurant a solid thirty minutes before Cedric's set time.

She got the private room first-talking business always needed a bit of peace and quiet. Plus, if Cedric came alone, a guy and a girl chatting behind closed doors was a bit... well, dodgy. Just saying.

The room had this classy Eastern vibe going on-totally matched the restaurant's name. The huge, sweeping landscape paintings were seriously stunning. After settling in, Sabrina pulled out her phone and dropped Cedric a quick message with the room number.

He replied right away, said he'd just arrived downstairs, wanted to prep a bit early, but clearly, she beat him to it.

Sabrina kept it chill and texted back that she had the same idea.

Phone down, she took a deep breath, glanced at her long dress and smoothed it out one more time. Still not satisfied, she clicked over to the glass wall nearby and used the faint reflection to fix her hair. Once all that was sorted, she returned to her seat.

Fingers laced on the table, she took in every detail of the room's decor and couldn't help getting a bit emotional. Who would've thought she'd ever face Cedric like this, not fighting but possibly working together?

A few minutes later, a knock came at the door. Sabrina stood up instantly, eyes on the entrance.

Cedric came in, nodded politely to the server who opened the door. His assistant, Orion, was right behind, holding a sleek black binder under his arm-the kind filled with documents worth more than gold. If they managed to seal this deal, this skincare line would be Gracewell's crown jewel for years.

Cedric walked in steady and cool.

He wore a navy blue suit-less stiff than black, gave off a tidier, laid-back vibe. Sabrina once said when he wore black, he gave off serious "don't mess with me" energy. Since this was a first meeting, he probably didn't want to come on too strong.

But the moment he came around the divider and saw who was standing beside the table, he completely froze.

Orion didn't react fast enough and almost crashed into Cedric's back. He gasped inwardly, then quickly stepped back.

"You're here! Come on, have a seat." Sabrina put on her best host smile and brushed past Cedric's cold aura, pretending everything was fine.

Cedric stayed rooted where he was, eyes locked on Sabrina, scanning her like he was trying to figure out if it was really her-or maybe someone who just looked exactly the same. Was the legendary skincare expert... actually Sabrina?

Cedric didn't move, so of course Orion stood still too. The tension in the room was instantly off the charts.

The smile on Sabrina's face started to stiffen awkwardly. If Cedric kept standing there like that, she really had no idea how to play this.

It wouldn't be a big deal if it were just the two of them, but now that someone else was in the mix, she didn't want this blowing up into something dramatic.

Cedric finally broke eye contact, though his expression said it all. This was no mix-up. The skincare expert was indeed Sabrina.

And suddenly, it felt like someone had played a cruel joke on him.

Thinking back to all those emails Gracewell had sent begging for this partnership-emails that now felt like they'd slapped him square across the face-made his blood boil.

This brand was his grandma's lifework. And here he was, practically kowtowing to the one person he never wanted to bow to...

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

"Let's go," he said, then turned around and walked out. Just like that. No hesitation.

"Huh? Mr. Strickland?" Orion blinked, thinking he must've misheard.

People had been dying for a meeting with this skincare pro, and Cedric? One call, and she showed up? That alone was brag-worthy for a year. But now he'd leave before even saying a word?

"Cedric!" Sabrina panicked and bolted after him. He was walking, but she ran-and caught up in seconds. Grabbing the hem of his jacket on impulse, she shouted, "Why are you doing this?!"