“It’s Conrad!”
“I guess it’s my lucky day.”
From across the green, Conrad and his group walked out, a mix of affluent men and women from prominent families, the type of people everyone else couldn’t dream of associating with. They’d paid high fees to get recommended as members, so no one wanted to miss a chance like this.
Lillian kept her back turned to avoid his gaze. She had just promised herself to stay away from him-and here he was, out of nowhere.
“Mr. Mark, I need to run to the bathroom.”
Mark frowned. “Alright, but hurry back!”
She nodded. “I will!” Then she quickly headed to the clubhouse, hoping to slip away before Conrad saw her.
Unfortunately, Janet had already noticed her.
Lately, tagging along with Evelyn, Janet had gotten a taste of the high life and even started dreaming about finding a rich boyfriend. Watching Evelyn, who was now in a totally different league thanks to Conrad, flaunt purses worth the price of a small apartment only fueled her envy. And seeing Lillian, effortlessly dressed yet still outshining her, brought all her pent-up resentment to a boil.
Feigning surprised, Janet loudly remarked, “Oh, isn’t that Lillian? That guy next to her-can’t be her boyfriend, can it?”
The whole group of men glanced over their shoulders, and then, as if on cue, looked straight at Conrad.
Janet, satisfied with their reaction, muttered, “The guy is too old, and he could be her dad! Well, I guess when she’s broke, she doesn’t have many options.”
Evelyn, glancing at Conrad’s expression, tried to calm things. “Janet, don’t talk like that. Maybe it’s work-related.”
“Oh, yeah, work-related… you’re probably right,” Janet replied mockingly.
Conrad’s nephew, Booth, chuckled darkly. “Evelyn, you might look a bit like Lillian, but you’re nothing like her.”
Blushing, Evelyn glanced at Conrad and asked, “What do you mean?”
Booth sneered. “That woman’s all about the money, everyone knows it. She’s just a gold digger. How could she ever compare to you?”
Evelyn didn’t respond, only blushing as she lowered her gaze, playing the part.
“Uncle, don’t you agree?” Booth asked,
However, Conrad just shot him an expressionless glance. “You sure have a lot to say, don’t you?”
Booth’s face fell, but he didn’t dare argue back. Instead, he turned away with a pout.
Seeing this, Evelyn softly suggested, “Lillian is always going on dates with strangers. What if one of them turns out dangerous? Should we give her a heads-up?”
Conrad wore dark sunglasses, his expression unreadable. “She can handle herself. Why are you trying to stop her?”
Evelyn let out a sigh of relief; it seemed Conrad didn’t care about that woman anymore. Whoever Lillian was with, as long as it wasn’t her dear Conrad, she didn’t mind.
Meanwhile, Lillian hurried back to the changing room, swapped out of the golf outfit, and threw on her own clothes, all the while glancing nervously at the door, afraid someone would catch her sneaking off.
No one knew better than her that when Conrad said he didn’t want to see her again, he meant it.
Having barely slipped away, she wasn’t about to willingly walk back into the lion’s den.
Just as she finished changing and stepped out, someone clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her toward the elevator.
“Mmmph! Mmmph!” Lillian struggled frantically, but when the server walked right past her as if she didn’t exist, her last hope vanished. She’d been so naive; now she was in serious danger.
As soon as they entered the elevator, she saw that it was Mark holding her. He looked at the bodyguard and ordered flatly, “Take her up.”
“Mark! What are you doing?” she shouted angrily, disheveled.
Mark looked her over as she resisted, her beauty striking even in her distress.
How had he ever thought he could get her for himself?
He lit a cigarette, dropping his previous polite facade entirely. “Lillian, “I’m in trouble because of you now. So, why don’t you head upstairs and sleep with that important guest? Do me this favor-help me out, and it’s a win-win for everyone.”
By now, Lillian fully understood the situation. But before she could scream, a bodyguard lifted her and threw her into a room, slamming the door shut behind her. She twisted and struggled on the bed, her body tense-until she froze.
A handsome man with a chilling gaze sat on the sofa, watching her intently.
From the moment she’d been shoved inside to her desperate attempts to break free, he’d seen everything.
“What’s wrong? Surprised to see me?” he smirked coldly, getting up slowly and approaching the bed. He placed one knee beside her and ripped the tape off her mouth.
The tape pulled painfully at her skin, even drawing a bit of blood. Before she could even process the taste of it, he lowered his head and kissed her.
It was like a vampire tasting blood, igniting something intense and dark within him. His lips crushed against hers, unrelenting, like he was branding her.
She tried to bite him, but he took advantage, slipping his tongue past her defenses, and exploring every corner, as if claiming her.
His hands roamed, relentless, and she was too furious to think, but too overpowered to fight back. The frames on the headboard shook with his force.
No matter how she resisted, it was futile.
When he finally pulled away, a thin line of saliva connected them, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Remember, you came to me this time. I didn’t come looking for you.”
“Conrad, have you no shame?”
He raised a brow. “Are you saying you didn’t come to me?”
“I was here minding my own business, and you show up. Did I tie you up and drag you here?” He arched a brow, loosening his collar as he leaned in to kiss her.
Lillian shouted, “Help! Somebody help!”
He just smirked. “That line is so overdone. Do you really think it’ll work?”
He slept with his woman, and not even the king of heaven himself could stop him.
Lillian glared, but he was faster. She tried to retreat, but he caught her ankle with ease, dragging her back, and then answered his ringing phone.
“What is it?”
“Got it. I’ll be right down.”
He hung up and, seeing the glimmer of hope in her eyes, gave a cold smile. Opening the drawer, he pulled out a pink feathered handcuff and clamped it to the bedpost.
“Conrad, you’re a psycho!”
“I hope your mouth keeps running like this later.”
As soon as he left, Lillian started trying to pull her hand out of the cuff, but he’d clearly measured it for her wrist-there wasn’t even a millimeter of extra space.
“That jerk!” she muttered angrily.
She was still fuming and had no idea what to do when she heard voices coming from the balcony.
The rooms in this part of the club overlooked the cliffs by the sea, with tall plants separating the balconies for privacy.
“Wow, Evelyn, this place is amazing! I’m so jealous of you!”
“Will you keep your voice down? You’re embarrassing me.”
Lillian’s eyes widened. It was Evelyn and Janet. She stopped struggling, leaning in to listen.
“Go put on that dress I bought you,” Janet urged. “When Conrad sees you in it, he won’t be able to hold back. You need him to see that you’re a thousand times better than that trashy Lillian!”
“But…isn’t this a little much?” Evelyn’s voice held a hint of hesitation.
Janet groaned, “Come on! Think about it. That Lillian’s a total leech, clinging to Conrad like a leech. You’re all shy and modest-how’s that gonna grab his attention? You need him to sleep with you, to never get enough of you!”
She continued, “We’ve been planning for this. You can’t let that trashy girl win, letting her steal Conrad right under your nose!”
Evelyn took a deep breath. “Alright. I’ll do it.”