After stepping out, Conrad ordered, “Find Lillian and tell her it’s time to pay up.”
“Oh, and her grandma’s specialist? Hold him up at the White family’s place,” he added.
Ford nodded. “White family won’t challenge you for him, but that doctor…”
“Pay him off.” No one got to escape his grip in City N without his consent.
Meanwhile, after a full night’s sleep, Lillian heard Evelyn was still on leave, holding up filming. She bought some flowers with Melissa and headed to the hospital. But when they got there, someone was already in her grandma’s room.
Frank was gently wiping her grandma’s hands. When Lillian stepped in, he looked up and smiled. “Lillian.”
She was surprised. “You actually made it here. Not busy with work?”
“It’s Saturday. Thought I’d come check on Grandma. I heard she hadn’t woken up, so I brought some fruit for the nurses, to thank them for taking care of her. And Grandma loves these bellflowers-do you think they look nice here?”
As much as she didn’t want Frank getting too close, his gentle gestures never failed to touch her.
Melissa raised a brow. “You are still as thoughtful as ever, huh?”
Frank pulled up a chair, making himself at home. “Here to see George?” he asked, causing Melissa’s smile to freeze.
Melissa waved her hand. “Don’t bring him up.”
“My bad,” he said, pouring her a glass of water.
Lillian checked on her grandma, still sleeping soundly, and quietly sat down to stay with her.
“I asked Dr. Beck. He said a specialist might be able to operate on Grandma?” she asked.
“Yes, but that specialist is here for another patient. Dr. Beck’s trying to get in touch.”
“If you need anything, just let me know,” Frank offered.
Lillian just nodded, not saying much.
Frank hesitated. “Where are you staying these days?”
“She’s at my place,” Melissa grinned. “So don’t worry about it.”
Frank looked a bit disappointed. “Then I’ll leave her in your care.”
“We’ve been best friends since forever. You don’t need to tell me; I’d take care of her even if you didn’t ask!”
When he went to pick up the medication, Melissa leaned in, whispering, “Honestly, Frank’s not bad. Handsome, talented, no baggage, and he’s totally into you.”
Lillian was adjusting her grandma’s bed linens. “Let’s not drag him into my mess.”
“You’re really not considering going for him?”
“How about you consider going for him instead?”
Melissa shook her head. “You know me-I’d rather not ruin a good guy like him. He’s totally the type who’d ask for permission on every move in bed. I couldn’t deal.”
Lillian rolled her eyes. “Since you’ve been with George, you’ve gotten worse. No filter at all.”
“Hey, I told you, don’t mention him! I hardly ever get out to the hospital with you.”
When Frank returned, he brought meals for both of them. “Melissa likes spicy potato strips, so I figured I’d be safe with that?”
“Got it right,” Melissa laughed. “You’re thoughtful. And you even brought sweet soup. Whoever marries you is going to be one lucky woman.”
He just smiled, handing out the knife and fork.
After they’d finished eating, Frank kept getting calls, so Lillian told him to go on ahead.
“Well then, Lillian, I’ll come by to see Grandma again soon. And if you need any help, please reach out.”
Barely a moment after Frank left, Melissa was in a hurry to take off too. “I’m taking your suitcase with me for now, and you know the code to my place, right?”
“What’s the rush?”
“George just clocked in, so I need to leave now, before he spots me-thanks to last night’s mess you got me into.” Melissa grabbed Lillian’s suitcase from the hospital cabinet and dashed out, making sure to avoid George’s department on her way out.
The room fell quiet, and Lillian noticed the thermos had been refilled with hot water, and her grandma’s patient gown was fresh. It looked like Frank had been there for a while and probably saw her suitcase, which explained why he’d asked where she was staying.
Since her dad’s bankruptcy, she’d been practically homeless. Besides, the look in his eyes… She could never repay that kind of affection.
That afternoon, after the doctors were back on duty, Lillian went to speak with Dr. Beck.
“The specialist? Miss Lillian, I’ve tried, but his assistant keeps putting me off. I’m doing everything I can, but have you managed to secure the surgery fees?”
“I’m working on it, and I promise I’ll get it covered. Please, just give me a little more time.”
“Miss Lillian, your grandma has been my patient here for years. Rest assured, I’ll do my best, but it ultimately depends on the specialist’s decision.”
Lillian knew that well enough. The White family didn’t owe her anything and had no reason to do her any favors. And as for Conrad-she’d thoroughly burned that bridge, giving herself to him only to be tossed aside.
If only she’d known that securing the specialist would be this hard, maybe she would’ve played along with Conrad a little longer.
But misfortune came in spades, and Conrad always knew just when to strike at her weakest spot.
The moment she saw an unknown number ringing, Lillian had a bad feeling.
“Hello?”
“Miss Lillian, it’s Ford. Since you blocked my number, I’m calling through the CEO’s office line. Here’s the situation: about that outstanding debt of three hundred million-how are you planning to repay it?”
Lillian gritted her teeth. “And what did your boss say? How does he want me to repay it? Does he have a preference for the sex position, or does he want to own me for a few years?”
Ford was stunned. He’d gotten used to Lillian’s soft, timid demeanor, so this blunt response threw him off.
“Well, either way, I can’t pay it,” Lillian said, but she didn’t hang up this time. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice, hanging up only to crawl back to Conrad, doubling her humiliation.
“Miss Lillian, you know that Mr. Conrad has been good to you. Last time, when he had me retrieve your documents and your grandma’s guardianship rights from your uncle, he also had me gather information on that specialist. You must realize-you’ll have to go back to Mr. Conrad sooner or later.”
Lillian’s only reply was, “I’ll think about it.”
Ford had barely ended the call when he noticed Conrad staring at him with a dark expression.
It finally dawned on him that the office line was connected to Conrad’s desk. Realizing the oversight, he quickly opened the glass partition to head over and knock on the CEO’s office door.
“Mr. Conrad,” Ford muttered, head lowered.
“You sure have a lot to say lately. Her grandma’s treatment needs you to tell her what to do?”
Ford bowed his head. “I overstepped.”
“Get out.”
Conrad’s words were harsh, but his actions didn’t match-he’d usually leave work whenever he felt like it, yet here he was, staying late at the office. Even though Alice had tried a few times to bring him coffee, someone else always beat her to it.
“Why hasn’t Mr. Conrad left yet?” one employee murmured. “Is there some big deal going on?”
Meanwhile, Lillian had already found out from Dr. Beck that the real issue wasn’t with the specialist-it was the White family refusing to let him go so he could be on standby for their own needs.