“Lillian, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“You must have a hidden agenda for sneaking in as a server…”
“I didn’t steal it,” Lillian replied coolly, facing the accusations.
“If you didn’t steal it, then take off your clothes and let us check. Who knows where you hid that crown, huh?” someone cackled, hoping to humiliate Lillian.
With her figure, it was no surprise that there were plenty of men eyeing her with desire.
But Lillian only looked at Conrad, repeating, “I didn’t steal anything.”
However, Conrad just stared at her in silence, allowing the others to mock, ridicule, and humiliate her.
Lillian’s heart sank. If even he wasn’t going to help her, it seemed unlikely she would make it out of this night unscathed.
“Then why did you go upstairs? I remember the waitstaff on the second floor wasn’t dressed like you,” several men spoke up at once.
“I was the one who told her to go up.”
“I told her to.”
“She came with me.”
“I’m the one who found her.”
Conrad’s face darkened instantly.
Everyone turned in surprise to look at Justin, Frank, Martin… and these men were one thing. But how had Gordon and George, who were on the second floor, also spoken up for her?
Those people had been in the ballroom the whole time, so how had they told Lillian to go upstairs?
Was this a lie?
Frank had come to this event because his company had recently reached the level of the City N elite. And since he was Alvin’s adopted son, it made sense that he would help Lillian.
Justin, the son of Director Vincent, was another ally. Martin was already set for a great future with the White Family Group and the Brown Family Group joining forces, and he was also a prized bachelor.
As for Gordon and George-well, their involvement was not surprising at all.
Who exactly was Lillian, and what did she have that made these men come together to help her?
As Simon and his group prepared to leave, they heard the noise and looked down from the balcony.
“Talent always emerges from the new generation. Why hasn’t this scene changed in all these years? I’ll bet five bucks she didn’t steal anything,” York clicked his tongue.
Paul glanced at him with disdain, then spoke to the people behind him, “What’s with your distant cousin getting involved? Didn’t they say he broke his leg? You don’t want to go down and watch the drama?”
Looking down while scrolling through his daughter’s latest selfies, Robin Smith remarked, “His leg’s broken, not his heart. But he’s not my son, so I can’t control who he stands up for. Once this is over, let’s head back and get some local specialties. Bring some local specialties-my daughter specifically asked for souvenirs from City N.”
“Don’t rush, let’s at least finish watching the show,” someone replied.
The venue fell silent-
Until the lead man coldly sneered and leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee and swirling the wine glass in his hand.
“Who was it that wanted to see her strip?”
Frank immediately pulled Lillian behind him, “Mr. Conrad, I believe this is all a misunderstanding. I’m sure Lillian didn’t steal anything. No one actually saw her take anything.”
Conrad looked up, his gaze fixed on Frank’s hand that was holding Lillian’s. He then sneered, not taking Frank seriously, “Do you really want to see her strip?”
A group of young heirs and heiresses in the crowd immediately erupted with loud cheers.
The people who had shouted the loudest earlier joined in, chanting in unison.
“Strip! Strip! Strip!”
Just as Gordon was about to speak up, George pressed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head to signal him to stay quiet.
Lillian’s blood rushed to her head as she stared at Conrad, unblinking.
Conrad also locked eyes with her.
At that moment, the elders had moved to another part of the hall, leaving the younger generation to their own devices. They had no interest in participating in this gathering. Let them do as they wished.
If Lillian were really stripped, it wouldn’t matter-it would be just another insignificant act.
Even if the elders knew, they would only sigh and say, “Alvin’s daughter, huh.”
No one would stand up for an orphan.
When someone has no power, no influence, and only beauty, they would become nothing but prey for the wolves, vulnerable to anyone who wished to take advantage.
“Take it off or not?!”
Someone suddenly took a sip of their drink and leaned in close to Conrad, staring at Lillian. “Conrad, can I have Lillian later?”
Conrad smirked and turned to look at him. “You like her?”
“Like her? She was off-limits because she’s Alvin’s daughter, but now… she’s just a worthless bitch. I’ve got a few friends who also have some interest in her.”
Conrad smiled coldly, suddenly crushing the wine glass in his hand and driving the shards into the young man’s face with a sharp thrust.
“Ouch!” the man screamed.
Conrad grabbed his hair and yanked him, slamming his face into the nearby coffee table again and again, cracking the surface.
“Oh! No!” Cries of horror echoed from the crowd.
Conrad kicked the man aside, who now lay crumpled like a dead dog, and sat back down, expressionless, staring at Lillian. “Come here.”
Lillian stood still, unmoving.
Frank grabbed her tightly, afraid Conrad would suddenly grab her.
Conrad tapped his knee with his fingers. “Do I need to say it again?”
Lillian finally pulled her arm away from Frank’s grip, and Conrad narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.
Lillian pursed her lips and slowly said, “I’m just a waitress. I had no way of getting close to the crown. But I did hear something-‘the thief calls out thief’-someone who shouts that loud is probably the one who stole it.”
“Lillian, stop slandering innocent people when you’re the one who’s guilty!” someone shouted angrily.
“Innocent people? Who’s innocent?” Conrad suddenly turned his gaze on the woman who had shouted the loudest just moments ago.
“Take off your clothes,” Conrad said coldly. “Your bodies might be terrible, but it seems like you all really enjoy stripping people down.”
The women’s faces changed. “Mr. Conrad, my father is-”
“I don’t care who your father is. This is my territory. You don’t get to speak. Either take off your clothes, or apologize with a 90-degree bow.”
“I… I didn’t say it alone, okay? She… she-”
“Right, one at a time, don’t rush.” Conrad smirked, “I’ve got all the time in the world.”
“Mr. Conrad, Lillian is a thief. She’d do anything for money. We’re not wrong about her.”
“Who was it that said they saw her go upstairs?”
At this point, Evelyn was already frozen in fear and dared not speak. She quickly hid behind the White family members, and no one paid her any attention.
Just then, Ford rushed in from outside. “Mr. Conrad, we found the crown.”
Everyone exhaled in relief.
A young girl nervously entered the room. “I didn’t steal it! I just wanted to wear it and take a picture. Mr. Conrad, you personally had someone invite my mother back to the country. I spoke with you earlier, you recognize me, don’t you?”
Sophia hurriedly greeted Conrad. She had passed by the changing room earlier and had gotten an itch to try on the crown. She was the first to put it on, but then Pandora came next. Sophia hadn’t even gotten a picture before Pandora took it from her. She’d been trying to get the perfect photo ever since, but the time had dragged on, and by the time she realized the commotion downstairs, everything had already started.
“You’re a diamond or a stock in a fund, huh? I’m supposed to know you? Whatever, do what needs to be done. If you stole it, I’ll have your hands cut off.” Conrad said, turning to leave, his annoyance clear from the chaos that had unfolded.