Doted by Many: I became the Top-Tier Celebrity!-Chapter 323 - 322: Waiting for the Prey to Bite

Tiana Thorne blinked, as if holding back tears: "Mm."

"Lily Sloane, is she your sister?"

Tiana nodded again: "Mm-hmm."

Cain Rhodes felt a surge within him; discovering it himself and hearing it directly from her were two completely different concepts.

He didn’t know if it was because her acting was too good and she deceived him, or if it was her genuine emotions all along.

His breathing deepened, and for quite a while, he couldn’t snap out of this perplexity.

Tiana spoke again: "Once, I heard my sister say that her partner was a very warm man. He would become a celebrity superstar someday. The only person who could make her say such words must be you."

This sentence felt like a punch to Cain Rhodes’ chest.

He couldn’t remember which year it was, nor when it happened.

Only a vague image surfaced in his mind.

It was a winter, with snow everywhere.

Lily stood with him on the top floor of a tall building, enduring the heavy snow and cold wind.

She shouted loudly towards the sky.

What did she say then?

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck his heart.

She said:

Dominic Rhodes, Cain Rhodes, you will definitely become a world-renowned superstar.

Cain Rhodes, you can do it.

Cain Rhodes, I will make sure you get the trophy you desire.

Cain Rhodes...

Cain Rhodes...

"Brother Cain."

Tiana’s curious voice pulled his thoughts back.

His face remained gentle, but his eyes were a nearly blank shade, his lips moved, yet he couldn’t speak a word for quite a while.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Cain shook his head lightly, his voice somewhat hoarse: "I just recalled that your sister once said something similar to me; it made me a little absent-minded."

Tiana bit her lips softly: "My sister’s dream came true, you’re now a famous star, known by everyone; she should be able to rest in peace."

Upon hearing that, Cain remained silent, feeling as if a taut string within him might snap at any moment.

Tiana wiped away her tears, blinking again, trying hard to keep them in, and smiled: "I can’t cry, my sister dislikes it when I cry." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As she spoke, she looked at Cain: "It’s just I’m really excited to meet the man who occupied my sister’s thoughts."

"Occupied her thoughts..."

He murmured, not knowing if he was asking her or reminiscing about something.

Tiana nodded, smiling again: "Yes, I remember one winter, my sister came home for the New Year. The food was already on the table when she received a call. She said her partner had something come up, and then she left without eating anything."

As she spoke, Tiana’s expression became more and more sorrowful, her smile gradually fading: "After that, I never saw her again."

Cain’s gaze was deep, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

These things were too far back.

So far back that they felt like they happened in a previous life.

"Brother Cain, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore." Tiana shrugged, trying not to let herself feel unhappy: "Then tell me, why were you upset? While filming earlier."

Cain looked at her, a hint of scrutiny deep in his eyes.

However, her eyes only showed pure concern.

She didn’t seem to suspect Lily’s suicide at all, which instead aroused a sliver of doubt within him.

"Brother Cain?"

Cain shook his head: "Nothing, maybe I’ve just been feeling a bit tired lately. If I scared you, I’m sorry."

Tiana shook her head: "How could that be? When I’m tired, I’m in an even worse state."

She paused for a moment, then cautiously asked: "Brother Cain, I have a question I want to ask you."

Cain squinted slightly, took a while, then nodded: "Ask away."

A glimmer of hope spread in Tiana’s beautiful fox-like eyes, her voice low: "Before my sister committed suicide, she wrote me a letter."

Upon hearing this, Cain’s heart gave a sudden jolt.

He didn’t know, he had no idea about it.

He watched her, expressionless, gesturing for her to continue.

At such a moment, the more one asks, the more likely Tiana is to become suspicious.

Tiana continued: "In the letter, my sister advised me to study hard and pursue what I love. She also transferred a significant amount of money to Auntie’s account, a lot of money at that time."

Tiana’s gaze at him turned solemn, and she asked nearly word by word: "By then, my sister should have had a certain status, she was wealthy, beautiful, and worked with you, Brother Cain, so why did she commit suicide?"

When Tiana asked this, the suspicion in Cain’s heart finally dissipated.

This was the main purpose of her visit tonight, wasn’t it?

She was both doubtful and curious about her sister’s death.

Cain furrowed his brows, his voice deep: "She suffered from severe depression, diagnosed by the doctor due to excessive work stress."

He sighed slightly: "I also bear unavoidable responsibility. If she hadn’t been running around for me, maybe..."

"Brother Cain, you shouldn’t say that. My sister worked so hard to raise me and had to work outside alone. Her illness perhaps relates to her lack of stress tolerance, but..."

She paused, her voice choking: "I didn’t even know she had such a severe illness; it’s my fault for being useless, dragging her down."

Seeing this, Cain suddenly felt a pang of pity for her, soothing her with a gentle voice: "You were still young then, she didn’t want you to worry, so she’d only share the good news. It’s not your fault."

Cain never knew that Lily’s background was such...

His Adam’s apple bobbed several times, a dull pain spreading in the core of his heart, making him uncomfortable.

The last time he felt this was the day she died.

Tiana noticed the look in his eyes, a hint of cold maliciousness flashing through her eyes.

Ha.

This already feels uncomfortable?

Then how will you endure what is to come?

As he looked up at her, the slyness in her deep, ink-colored pupils was replaced only by strands of gratitude: "Thank you for letting me know the cause of my sister’s death."

"You’re welcome," he replied warmly and politely.

Tiana stood up, speaking obediently: "In that case, I’ll go rest first. Brother Cain, you’re the only one my sister ever cared about. You’re also my senior. I’m very grateful for our encounter. The doubts I’ve had all this time have finally been eased. Thank you."

She was waiting for the prey to slowly take the bait.

Cain said nothing, furrowing his thick brows lightly.

A sour feeling slowly spread across his heart.

He understood this heart was filled with guilt towards the little sister who had lost her family member.

After she left, a long time passed before he gradually came back to his senses, breathing heavily.

A glacial expression, fist clenched tightly.

Lily, since this girl thinks so much of you, should I let her join you, alright?