At that moment, Peter and his wife hurried in, probably unaware of the situation.
“Mr. Conrad, I’m so sorry. Whatever happened, I apologize on behalf of my daughter. Please, can you forgive her mistake? We’ll make sure to compensate for Miss Pandora’s loss.”
Upon seeing Conrad’s expression, no one else was foolish enough to follow the earlier crowd. They quickly took sides. “Miss Pandora has no real loss, but Ms. Helen, the one accused of stealing, is just a waitress.”
Helen, hearing it was a waitress, didn’t think much of it. “It’s fine. I’m willing to offer monetary compensation. It’s just a misunderstanding.”
Helen raised her gaze and, upon seeing Lillian, realized what she had just done. She stood still, and Sophia, crying, rushed into her arms like a bird seeking comfort from its mother.
Conrad wasn’t about to indulge anyone, especially since girl was not his. “If you’re wrong, apologize. Don’t stand there crying, take it outside.”
“Monetary compensation? What, are you rich, or is everyone else broke?” Conrad scoffed.
Lillian looked at Helen’s awkward expression and the girl in her arms, whose tears were falling in streams. For some reason, she felt a strange, suffocating ache and a sense of unfairness.
It seemed like this kind of favoritism and protection had never been offered to her by that woman. If there was even a tiny bit of care for her, it would’ve been fine…
“I’m sorry, really sorry. But Sophia is just a foolish child. Mr. Conrad, and… and this young lady, can you forgive her? I will offer whatever compensation is possible,” Helen said as Peter wrapped his arms protectively around his wife and daughter.
“Yes, my wife’s opinion is also mine. I’ll agree to whatever requests you made earlier,” Peter added, looking toward Conrad. “Is that acceptable?”
Everyone exchanged looks.
What had Lillian asked this old man for?
Was she really selling herself to be that old man’s mistress? It was such a spectacle. But it seemed like they had a strong marriage. How shameless could Lillian be?
It was hard to understand how Lillian managed to handle so many men.
Lillian wanted to say she didn’t need any of it. After all, she’d been used to this for years. She was short on money, but she didn’t want theirs.
Conrad was about to snap back when he heard Lillian lightly agree, “Alright, I’ll send the information to your assistant. You’ll be able to receive it, right?”
Peter nodded quickly, “I’ll remind him to check it.” Then he turned to Conrad, his expression urgent. “Mr. Conrad, is this acceptable? I won’t take a single penny. I’ll take full responsibility for everything.”
Conrad stared at Lillian, as if daring her to embarrass him again. If she did, he’d make her regret it.
However, Lillian merely tugged at the corner of her lips, indifferent. “That would be best. It would save me money, since I’m pretty broke.”
Conrad’s anger flared. He kicked the man who had collapsed beside him and was now wailing. “Aren’t you going to apologize? Didn’t you just yell louder than a dog?”
As Conrad lost his temper, several women flushed red, pushing and shoving each other until they were in front of Lillian.
“Li… Miss Lillian, I’m sorry…”
“Louder, didn’t eat today?!” Conrad snapped, and she was so frightened that she cried.
She bent down so far that her head nearly touched her knees. “I’m sorry! I’ll never speak out of turn again!”
She then looked up at Conrad, her expression terrified.
Conrad’s gaze shifted away from her, and he motioned for her to get lost.
“Next.”
One by one, no one dared to speak. Each of them bowed before Lillian, apologizing.
Peter was about to leave with his wife and daughter, but Conrad flicked a lighter. “What? She apologized?”
“I already…” Helen hesitated.
“You’re you, and she’s her.”
Sophia tugged at Helen, feeling wronged. “Mom, I don’t want to apologize to a waitress. Let’s go back home.”
Helen looked at Lillian with a conflicted expression, as if the words were stuck in her throat.
Helen was undoubtedly beautiful. Time didn’t seem to have left many marks on her face; she still looked graceful and elegant.
But Conrad had always been the kind of man who could ruin anything beautiful.
“If you don’t apologize, you’ll be left with just one hand. Andrew,” Conrad said coldly.
Andrew, always obedient to Conrad, immediately moved to grab Sophia’s hand to cut it off at the wrist.
Sophia screamed in terror, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
Conrad didn’t even look at her. She quickly bowed and apologized. Lillian, watching the scene, couldn’t help but notice the pained look in Helen’s eyes, and a sense of sadness washed over her.
Everyone who needed to apologize had already done so. Conrad, irritated by the sound of women crying, was growing restless.
Lillian’s tears made him want to comfort her and have sex with her, while others made him want to snap their necks. He couldn’t tell whether he was at a funeral or not.
“Let’s go,” Conrad said.
He didn’t want to stay any longer. With a glance, he signaled Pandora to leave.
Pandora immediately lifted her skirt and followed him quickly. The crown was handed over to the Brown family’s bodyguards to be taken away.
As they walked away, everyone noticed that Conrad had just stood up for Lillian, but now he totally ignored her. It seemed like he was really just angry that this woman, who had come out of nowhere, had secretly worn the Brown family’s crown.
Once Conrad was gone, no one dared to target Lillian anymore. All the frustration was now directed at Sophia.
Helen and Peter, unwilling to let their daughter be mistreated, rushed upstairs.
Lillian didn’t know where to go. Justin had been called back by his mother, and Martin was too afraid to speak up because of his family. Only Frank followed her out of the banquet hall.
Conrad’s helicopter had already left. He never cared about anyone else, and if he felt uncomfortable, he wasn’t going to stick around until the next day when the cruise ship docked.
Frank took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “It’s windy outside. Come rest in my room, and I’ll rest in my friend’s room.”
“I’m fine, I just want some time alone.” She didn’t want to see anyone or talk to anyone right now. “I just need some time by myself, is that okay?”
“Of course.” Frank, as always, didn’t refuse her.
He stood there for a moment, controlling the urge to hug her, before turning and heading back into the cabin.
The deck was windy, and the sea was rough. The night was dark, and the wind blew her hair into disarray.
The jacket, still warm from Frank’s body, was suddenly yanked off her and thrown forcefully onto the ground.
As Lillian turned, Conrad’s face appeared before her.
“You’re stupid. I told you I was leaving. Why the hell are you following me?”
Lillian felt a pang of frustration but didn’t want to argue with Conrad today.
She stared at him, silent. Conrad wiped her face roughly with his hand, then picked her up and started walking toward the helicopter.
Some people were coming out onto the deck to get some fresh air.
“Hmm? Didn’t Conrad leave? Why is there still someone taking a helicopter out?”
“Who knows? Didn’t they say the King Family Group president came too? He’s always in and out without a trace. Anyway, I won’t be making a scene where Conrad is from now on. Don’t want to get myself killed.”
Once on the helicopter, Conrad, with a dark expression, took out a disinfecting wipe and quickly began cleaning Lillian’s wrist. He had wanted to do this for a while. The smell of disinfectant in his nostrils finally made him feel a bit better.
Lillian couldn’t help but wince. “It hurts!”
“Let it hurt then, you’re as dumb as a pig. You ran over here to be a waitress for Peter? You’re embarrassing me. Why don’t you go downstairs and wash some dishes?”
Lillian muttered, “Washing dishes is for internal employees. I’m just a temporary worker, a waitress who got in by showing my face, working for daily wages. I don’t even have my salary now.”
“Pathetic. Do you really want to go that far?” Conrad was almost furious with this girl.
“Wait, how did you know I came here for Peter?”
Conrad glanced at her expressionlessly. “Earlier, Peter said he’d agree to whatever you wanted if you didn’t press charges. Am I an idiot? Do I not understand?”
Lillian nodded. “Oh, I see.”