Meanwhile, Lillian stepped out of the elevator and went to unlock her door-only to find her suitcase dumped at the entrance. She opened it up to check. In her rush, she’d packed just a few clothes and bedding, and now everything was tossed around in a mess.
And the lock on her apartment had been changed.
She angrily contacted the management office.
“Sorry, Miss Lillian, but our checks show that you’re still a student and haven’t graduated, so you don’t meet the requirements. We’re just following the rules here. If you have any issues, there’s nothing we can do.”
Lillian was ready to argue over their so-called “rules.”
“I’m graduating soon, and I already have a position with a film crew-it just hasn’t started yet! I’ve got a real job. Hello? Hello!” The line went dead, and she realized they’d blocked her.
A sinking feeling hit her; she guessed someone was deliberately giving her trouble. She picked up her suitcase but had nowhere to go.
Just then, Melissa called.
“Lillian, I sold your items for $500, 000. That’s the max, and I’ll transfer the money to your account soon.”
“No, don’t send it to the bank. Can I get it in cash instead?”
If it went through the bank, Conrad could freeze it, and she’d be out of luck.
“Sure, I’ll have them send it to me first, and I’ll switch it out for cash.”
“Thanks, Melissa.”
Lillian was about to ask if she could stay with her for a few days when Melissa continued, “I’m heading out on a business trip. I’ll come find you in a few days.”
Lillian held back the words, “Alright, go handle your stuff. No rush here.”
After hanging up, she thought it over and decided to stay with her grandmother at the hospital for a few days until Melissa returned.
But as soon as she got to the hospital, the head nurse hurried over.
“Miss Lillian, did you offend someone important? Word came down that your grandmother needs to be moved out within a week. She can’t leave the hospital now, especially with Dr. Beck arranging a specialist for her!”
A flare of anger rose in Lillian’s chest.
Conrad! That insufferable man.
“I’ll get it taken care of soon,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Oh, that’s good.”
Lillian put her things in her grandmother’s room and stayed with her for a bit, then went out onto the balcony and called Ford.
He answered quickly. “Hello, Ford speaking.”
Lillian’s throat felt dry. Every time she’d needed to find Conrad before, she’d called Ford to check his whereabouts. Funny how, now that she was trying to leave him behind, she still had to make the same call, just from somewhere else.
“It’s me, Lillian.”
“Miss Lillian, what can I do for you?” Ford’s tone was polite but distant.
Lillian held back her frustration. “Where’s Conrad?”
“Sorry, but Mr. Conrad doesn’t see just anyone. If you have a business matter, please contact our staff.”
“Wait… That’s Conrad’s response?” So he thought she no longer had the status to see him?
Ford was just following orders, clearly unwilling to tell her where Conrad was.
But if she couldn’t get to him, no one else in City N would be able to help her.
Closing her eyes to gather herself, Lillian called another of Conrad’s friends, Hogan.
At that moment, Hogan was playing cards at a club with Conrad and a few others. When he saw her name on his screen, he glanced over at Conrad.
“Hey, it’s that little bird of yours. Should I pick up or ignore her?”
Conrad didn’t even look at him, and the others around laughed. “Man, how many ‘little birds’ do you have, huh?”
Hogan chuckled, shuffling his cards. “Shows what you know-this one’s high-end. The real gold-feathered bird here.”
Conrad had been known to spend lavishly on Lillian. Compared to her, the other women might as well be sparrows.
“Hello, Lillian! Got time to meet me for dinner?” Hogan’s tone dripped with fake charm.
Lillian kept it light. “Mr. Hogan, where’s Mr. Conrad? I need to see him.”
Hogan smirked at Conrad, who was still focused on his cards. “Hey, Conrad, your little bird’s looking for you. Should I tell her?”
Lillian could hear the background chatter of mahjong tiles and was already running through likely spots Conrad might be visiting. But then came the answer on the other end-a cool voice, “I don’t know her.” And the line cut off.
Taking a deep breath, Lillian knew exactly what Conrad wanted: for her to come to him. Fine, she’d go.
She climbed into a taxi and told the driver the name of the club.
After checking multiple parking lots, she finally spotted his car.
Now that she knew he was here, she looked up at the club’s flashing sign.
Who knew what would be waiting for her inside?
She hesitated, torn between confronting him to ask what he wanted from her and knowing exactly what he’d say.
He wanted her to go back to her old role: to sleep with him for his money, wait for the day her youth faded, and get whatever payout he felt like giving. Only if she served him well enough could she ever be considered worthy of having his child.
The Brown family line was powerful and exclusive, and Conrad was the only heir-his only brother had stayed overseas for years. It was understood that Conrad would inherit the Brown Family Group, and no one seemed to know much about that older brother.
Conrad’s son would be the pride of his lineage, and she, as a mistress, wasn’t deemed worthy to raise him.
But if she didn’t go up there, what about her grandmother? She still hadn’t secured what John had promised her…
Lillian took a deep breath, trying to clear her head and mentally prepare herself before stepping toward the entrance.
Just as she approached, someone stopped her.
“Miss, who are you looking for? Do you have a room number?”
“I’m here for Mr. Hogan,” she replied calmly.
The guy at the entrance looked at Lillian, noting her striking beauty but also her simple, student-like clothes. He hesitated. Sure, he knew who Hogan was-everyone did-but the women around him were usually dressed a lot more luxuriously than this.
He picked up his radio and asked someone upstairs to check. After all, they couldn’t just let random people disrupt the peace for their high-rolling guests.
A waiter knocked and entered Hogan’s room. “Excuse me, Mr. Hogan, there’s a Miss Lillian downstairs asking for you. Should we let her up?”
Hogan, cigarette dangling from his lips, smirked. “Looks like our little bird knows how to make moves. Hey, Conrad, what do you say? Should I let her in or not?”
Conrad sneered. “Isn’t she here for you? Why are you asking me?”
Hogan shrugged. “Alright then, no go. After all, someone’s got to feel sorry for their woman, and it’s not gonna be me if she comes up here crying. Whoever made her mad can deal with it.”
Hogan wasn’t about to get involved in the messy back-and-forth between Conrad and Lillian. Getting caught up in their drama would only be trouble.
“Sorry, Miss. Mr. Hogan says he doesn’t know you.” The waiter gave Lillian a quick brush-off.
Lillian had grown used to cold shoulders by now. She’d heard “don’t know her” so many times it barely fazed her. So she just stood by the door, her expression calm.
“Miss…” the guard started.
“I’m just standing here,” she replied. “It’s raining outside; I won’t bother your business.”
Her face was elegant, and stunning in a quiet way, even without makeup, almost like a painting. The waiter had no response to that and let her be.
Lillian watched the fine mist of rain coming down, sometimes squatting to rest, then standing again. She could feel other people’s eyes on her and overheard a passing server muttering.
“What’s she doing? Why hasn’t she left yet?”
“Probably hoping to snag a rich guy. Shouldn’t a girl her age have better things to do?”
Lillian glanced at her phone-it was almost midnight. If she didn’t find Conrad tonight, she’d have to find a hotel, since the hospital wouldn’t let her back in.
She was chilled to the bone by now, but when she spotted a group leaving the parking lot with Conrad in the lead, she rushed toward him without thinking.
But the cars pulled away fast, vanishing before she could reach them. She stomped in frustration as the last car, Hogan’s, sped through a puddle, splashing her from head to toe.
Lillian was a mess, unsure where Conrad was headed next.
Without any other choice, she tried hailing a cab to chase after him. She knew that if she didn’t catch him, no one else in City N would help her.
Looking back, she regretted leaving sooner-she should have taken her time and planned her escape better.
But it was too late to look back now. All she could do was hope to catch him somehow. She tried to hail a cab, but there was none in sight.
Taking a deep breath, she couldn’t hold back her anger any longer and shouted, “Conrad, you damn bastard! May you be impotent for the rest of your life!”
She screamed with everything she had, finally feeling some of her frustration release. Just then, headlights flashed, blinding her momentarily.
She squinted, and sure enough, there was the car and the man, stepping out with a hard expression, ready to confront her.