Ford stood nearby, waiting for Conrad’s orders.
In the distance, the pier was visible-the focal point of their current mission.
Even if Conrad flew back now, it would take at least eight hours. By the time he arrived, there wouldn’t be much he could do.
Conrad made his decision quickly.
“Mr. Conrad, Mr. Steward is asking if you’re ready.”
“Let’s go,” Conrad said decisively.
******
The surgery stretched from morning until late into the evening. Lillian felt as if she had turned to stone, her senses and reactions growing duller with each passing second.
When the doors to the operating room finally opened, Lillian’s legs almost gave out. She nearly collapsed, but Frank was there to catch her by the elbow, holding her upright. He supported her as they quickly approached the doctor.
Melissa, snapping out of her daze, tried to follow but almost hit her head on a tile wall. A hand suddenly came from behind, protecting her head just in time.
Melissa looked up to see George’s expressionless face.
“Be careful,” George said flatly.
She didn’t bother replying and hurried toward the operating room doors.
“Doctor, how is my grandmother?”
“The surgery isn’t over yet. There’s nothing else I can disclose right now. Please wait.”
Lillian could only watch as the doors to the operating room slowly closed again. Another set of machines was wheeled inside.
“Lillian, why don’t you rest? I’ll stay here and keep watch,” Frank suggested.
“No, I can’t rest,” she said firmly.
She was terrified that if she closed her eyes, she might never see her grandmother again.
They managed to get her to sit down. As the night grew colder, Frank took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Lillian didn’t refuse. She barely noticed anything or anyone around her anymore.
By the time the clock struck midnight, George had taken off his glasses and was rubbing his temples.
He glanced at Melissa. “Go get some sleep.”
“No need,” Melissa replied stubbornly.
Her defiant profile caught George’s eye, and he suddenly realized it had been a long time since Melissa had smiled at him. She cared more about Lillian now because Lillian had no one else.
Melissa didn’t have the energy to tell George to leave. She knew that as long as he was here, there would at least be someone to handle things if anything went wrong.
“Does Conrad know Grandma’s having surgery today?” Melissa finally couldn’t hold back and asked.
Lillian stiffened at the question, then forced herself to look away.
“He knows,” George said in a low, steady voice. It was like the sound of a heavy bell, final and unyielding.
Lillian felt something snap deep inside her, as a taut string stretched too far.
The doors to the operating room opened, and everyone turned toward them.
“Is the family of Kristin here?”
“Yes, I’m here!” Lillian exclaimed.
“The surgery was a great success. We’ll move her to the recovery ward shortly. She’s completely out of danger now.”
The moment Lillian heard those words, tears spilled down her face. She turned and hugged an equally emotional Melissa tightly.
“Melissa!”
“I know, I know! It’s good news. Don’t cry. Let’s wait for Grandma to come out, okay?”
“Okay!” Lillian turned to Frank. “Thank you, Frank.”
She was profoundly grateful to anyone who had shown up today, anyone who had supported her, even a little.
Frank pulled her into a gentle embrace. “Good girl, it’s what I should do. See? God has given your grandmother back to you.”
Lillian didn’t push him away. She desperately needed someone to lean on. Tears blurred her vision as she let herself hide her emotions in his arms.
When Conrad appeared at the far end of the hospital corridor, this was the scene that greeted him.
Ford, standing beside him, looked surprised. Conrad said nothing. He turned and stepped into the elevator.
At that moment, Lillian, as if guided by instinct, looked up and caught a glimpse of the elevator doors closing.
She let out a faint, bitter smile, mocking herself for being so naive and delusional. Why would Conrad come here?
Ford glanced at Conrad, hesitating to speak.
Conrad had clearly decided earlier to leave this situation alone. But just before boarding the yacht, he had stopped abruptly, taken a deep breath, and pulled out his phone. The screen showed Lillian’s location, which had been stuck at the hospital for three days.
That stubborn girl-if anything happened to her grandmother, she might just lose the will to live.
“Mr. Conrad? You’re not leaving?”
“Tell them I’m heading back to the country.”
“But, sir, we’ve been waiting a long time to meet this old man!” Ford couldn’t understand.
If this deal went through, Conrad’s standing and financial power within the Brown family would reach even greater heights. They had worked so hard to arrange this meeting in secret, ensuring no one discovered their plans. Abandoning it now would mean years of effort wasted.
“Then just put him on the plane for me,” Conrad replied.
Conrad was the kind of man who always wanted everything. When making decisions, he didn’t believe in compromises.
Ford still didn’t get it. Why was Conrad pushing himself to rush back, only to leave again at such a critical moment?
“Mr. Conrad, what now?” Ford asked cautiously.
“Go back and rest,” Conrad said without further explanation.
Ford lowered his gaze. “Understood.”
******
Lillian’s entire focus was on her grandmother now.
“We can’t say for sure when the patient will regain consciousness, but the brain tumor surgery was very successful. At least her life is no longer in danger. Congratulations, Miss Lillian.”
Lillian couldn’t bear to leave her grandmother’s side, not even for a moment. Since the successful surgery, she had been tending to her grandmother without pause, afraid that when her grandmother woke up, she wouldn’t be the first person her grandmother saw.
When Helen started causing a fuss about wanting to see her mother, it didn’t come as a surprise to Lillian. But she wasn’t going to let Helen in.
Helen, furious, bombarded Lillian with messages and refused to leave the hospital room door.
Given Helen’s status, her tantrum was something John’s family was all too happy to see.
If Helen and Lillian ended up falling out completely, Helen’s wealth and influence could be manipulated by Grace, who wanted nothing more than to see Lillian disappear.
Grace hoped to cozy up to Helen, whom she considered a fool, while ensuring her own daughter Fanny got a shot at becoming a celebrity, turning her into the family’s next cash cow.
Grace wasted no time badmouthing Lillian to Helen. At first, Helen had her doubts. But after a few tense interactions with Lillian, Helen now believed every word.
Her daughter, in her eyes, was a lost cause-completely rotten.
Lillian didn’t want her grandmother to hear them arguing.
With Conrad absent for a while now, no calls or messages from him, and no visits to the villa, the two bodyguards weren’t taking her orders seriously either.
Left with no choice, Lillian dragged Helen to the stairwell. “What are you trying to do?” she demanded.
“You took my money but won’t let me see my mother. Lillian, are you trying to extort more from me?” Helen sneered.
Lillian smirked. “The money you gave me? I spent it all.”
Helen gave her a knowing look. “I thought so. So how much more do you need to let me in?”
“Three hundred million dollars,” Lillian replied casually.
“What did you just say?”
“I want three hundred million dollars. Back then, I sold myself to Conrad. Now, I want three hundred million dollars to buy myself back. Pay up if you can afford it.”
“You’ve lost your mind! Money has driven you insane, hasn’t it?” Helen yelled.
“Yes,” Lillian said bluntly.
“What about the money I already gave you? Where did it go?” Helen pressed.
“None of your business,” Lillian shot back.
Helen, livid, lost her balance and tumbled backward down the stairs. Lillian froze, then instinctively reached out to catch her. Helen landed against Lillian, who became her human cushion. Lillian’s head slammed hard against the wall.
Sophia, who had come with Helen and grown impatient waiting downstairs, arrived just in time to see Helen falling and Lillian appearing to push her.
Sophia erupted immediately, shoving Lillian aside without hesitation.
“Mommy!? Mommy!”
“Lillian, how could you be so cruel!? What did my mommy ever do to you for you to push her like that?”
Thanks to Sophia’s loud accusations, Lillian was taken to the police station.