Monte Hotel operated on a strict reservation basis, hosting only eight tables a day, with each group receiving a private room.
When Conrad arrived, the entire White family was already there. Even Daisy’s two younger brothers and three cousins stood up in unison, greeting him with “Conrad.”
Conrad gave a slight nod, noticing only the empty seat next to Daisy. He stayed standing.
Sensing his hesitation, Daisy quickly stood up and had someone move her father’s spot to make room for Conrad. Only then did he sit down.
Daisy’s father, Nelson White, managed a slight smile. “Sorry, the arrangements were a bit rushed; I was busy at my company today.”
“It’s manageable,” Conrad replied.
Meanwhile, Lillian stayed quiet, blending into the background as much as possible. Unfortunately, her face was memorable, and several of Daisy’s siblings noticed her immediately.
“Lillian? So now you’re with Conrad?” one of them asked, prompting Lillian to look up with a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying. Sure, she’d followed him, but she had no intention of staying forever.
Daisy’s smile didn’t falter, but it cooled.
“Lillian, why don’t you sit, too?” Daisy’s younger brother Martin suggested, signaling the server to add a chair.
But Mrs. White laughed coldly. “Martin, Miss Lillian is here for work. Having her sit for dinner would be inappropriate. Miss Lillian knows her place well. Miss Lillian, don’t pay attention to him.”
Everyone knew that back in high school, when Lillian had been known as City N’s future “beauty queen,” Martin had been her most ardent admirer. When Conrad entered, Martin’s attention had gone to Lillian rather than his brother-in-law-to-be.
Mrs. White’s meaning was clear to everyone at the table: Lillian was no longer the person she used to be. Her reputation had gone downhill, and a high-society woman like Mrs. White would never respect someone she saw as a disgrace. Just thinking about her son’s obsession with Lillian made her stomach churn.
Right then, Mrs. White dropped her fork on the floor. Of course, the only person expected to pick it up was Lillian.
Ford was Conrad’s man, and even Nelson respected him. No way Mrs. White would ask Ford to do such a menial task-Conrad would lose it.
As Lillian bent down to pick it up, Martin tensed, but Conrad lit a cigarette, his tone cold. “What? Did all the waitstaff at Monte Hotel die off?”
His woman-he wouldn’t let a single hair on her be harmed. Yet, these people had the nerve to have his woman serve them.
The White family was there today to push Conrad on the engagement matter.
After all, the engagement announcement had already been made, and the two families should have agreed.
The group was about to begin its fundraising. The core technology was also about to be integrated.
It wouldn’t look good if they hadn’t even set a date for the engagement.
No engagement meant everything was off-balance. Something was still missing.
Who would’ve thought Conrad would say something so off-putting? Daisy’s face went pale, and her delicate makeup couldn’t hide it.
Everyone was staring at Lillian. She continued to bend down to pick up the fork, then went and got a new one.
Conrad’s face darkened completely.
Mrs. White raised an eyebrow and smiled, “The last time, your grandmother Old Mrs. Brown mentioned wanting to drink our family’s fruit tea, we’ve made quite a bit this year from the garden. I’ll have someone send it over.”
Conrad responded with a simple, uninterested nod.
Mrs. White started asking Lillian to serve coffee again, but Martin immediately stood up. “I’ll do it,” he offered.
Meanwhile, Nelson and Conrad were trying to have a conversation, but Conrad’s mood grew darker by the minute, and Nelson finally gave up on talking.
When some scalding coffee spilled onto Lillian’s hand, Conrad got up right away. “What’s this? You’re treating my assistant like she’s here to play maid for the White family? You’ve got some big expectations-I’m done with this.”
Conrad dragged his chair back, the screech echoing through the quiet private room. “We’re leaving.”
At his word, Andrew opened the door from outside, and no one dared to stop him.
The White family could only watch him leave. Only Martin, looking completely stunned, called after him, “Don’t drag her around like that-it hurts!”
Conrad didn’t even glance back, just tightened his grip on Lillian.
Nelson slapped the table in frustration. “No manners at all!”
Mrs. White’s face darkened, too. Once they got in the car, she sighed. “With that attitude, just imagine how much our Daisy will have to put up with if she marries him.”
“He may be tough, but he looks out for his own,” Nelson replied. “You didn’t need to make things difficult for Lillian. Her father’s been gone for years-why hold a grudge against his daughter?”
Mrs. White huffed. “The woman Conrad kept was most likely this Lillian. Daisy shouldn’t marry him just to end up sidelined by this woman. And look at her, got poor Martin wrapped around her finger! It’s like she’s here to mess with our family!”
Nelson took a breath, not answering right away. But he knew he had to secure this alliance with the Brown family if he wanted to remain on top in City N.
“This marriage can’t be called off.”
******
“Are you an idiot? Planning to lose your skin? If she asks you to serve coffee, you serve it. Why don’t you change her adult diapers while you’re at it?” Conrad yanked her into the car and tossed her a tube of ointment that didn’t have any recognizable brand on it.
“It’s a scar cream developed by George’s family. It’s not on the market yet, but he says it works really well.” Conrad frowned as he looked down at her bruised hand, his brows furrowing with irritation.
Lillian noticed his expression, thinking his tongue had gotten even sharper. He was practically cursing her future mother-in-law with a bed-bound fate-he even brought up adult diapers!
“What’s with the look?” he shot back. “Think I’m wrong? You let them order you around. Picking up forks for them-do you work here? Or just addicted to this servile nonsense?”
Lillian sighed, annoyed. “I was just trying to get on Mrs. White’s good side to help my grandmother. It’s not like I wanted to play waitress.”
He scoffed. “Makes sense, I guess. You’d do just about anything for your grandma-even grovel.”
“I don’t have time to wait,” Lillian said, anxious. “Dr. Beck told me this specialist is top-notch, and if he leaves the country, who knows when I’ll have another chance to get his help?”
“Relax, I’ve got my own ways of handling it. If you go begging, you’ll owe them. Just wait.” He took her hand and gently applied the ointment.
George’s family, the Thomas family controlled City N’s medical technology, and their lab’s products were top-tier. The cool gel instantly eased the sting on her hand.
Lillian looked up at him. His sharp features were softened in the dim light of the car, and the brief flashes of streetlights revealed an unexpected expression in his eyes-focused, and maybe even a hint of tenderness.
“Alright, if you don’t want a scar, just make sure you put it on every day. When you run out, go ask George for more,” Conrad told her. “Should be easy for you.”
After all, Melissa was her close friend, so getting more scar cream shouldn’t be a problem.
“What about the specialist-” Lillian started to ask, but Conrad cut her off. He closed his eyes and casually laid his head on her lap.
Lillian felt the weight on her legs and hesitated. “Just drop me off at Melissa’s place…”
He didn’t open his eyes, but the air in the car felt tenser. “I haven’t slept enough with you yet. And you want to leave after getting what you wanted? What am I, your unpaid gigolo?”
The bluntness of his words had both Ford and the driver up front trying to act like they didn’t exist.
Lillian barely kept from rolling her eyes. What on earth was he even saying?
When they got back to the Hillside Villa, Lillian nearly zoned out. She was afraid of seeing any signs that Evelyn had been there, but thankfully, her things hadn’t been moved at all.