Kenneth smiled. “Don’t rush. You can think it over. Young people always have a bit of pride about them. I’ll give you some time to reconsider.”
“There’s no need for that. Mr. Kenneth, the reason you’re here today, talking to me like this, is because of this incident. You must think that I’m special to Conrad, so now you’re using the three years I’ve spent with him as a bargaining chip for negotiations. Since you’ve come in person, I already know how important I am to him. I understand what you said, but if I win Conrad over, I’d get double the reward.”
“My Lewis family estate and my father’s old company can’t possibly compare to your Brown Family Group. As for whether the elders of the Brown family approve, that’s something Conrad needs to think about.”
Kenneth suddenly laughed shortly. “Do you even know what you’re rejecting? Do you really expect Conrad to marry you?”
Lillian shook her head. “To be honest, I don’t know. But I’ve never liked doing things I don’t want to do.”
“You don’t want to be Conrad’s mistress, but you’ve been with him for three years, an unnamed and unrecognized woman in the background, and even that second-rate Evelyn can walk all over you. Are you really okay with that?” Kenneth had clearly done his homework before coming. He knew exactly what her situation was.
Lillian shrugged. “Since you know so much, you should also know the kind of people I interacted with before I met him. Mr. Conrad’s basic qualities… I wouldn’t hesitate to call him outstanding. And he has money, helped me clear my debts-it’s safe to say he’s my best option. Mr. Kenneth, you probably don’t know, but people like us, who end up in such a situation, barely survive. I chose to stay with him, voluntarily.”
“Well, Conrad does have the charm to make women fall for him. I’m not someone who likes to force people, though. If you don’t want to, you can leave now. But I won’t give you a second chance. Besides, you already know my secret. Are you ready for me to take my revenge?”
Lillian’s fingers twitched. “Mr. Kenneth, it seems like you’re not here to discuss business, and I don’t have the right to say no.”
“No, I’m just giving you time to choose. One day, you’ll beg me for this chance because my son, Conrad, won’t keep anyone around him, including women.”
After Kenneth finished speaking, he didn’t even drink his coffee. He waved his hand, and immediately a nurse pushed Lillian away.
“Foolish woman, thinking that little bit of affection can mean something.”
If it hadn’t been for that useless Evelyn, she might have been a good target after all. Having something to gain would have made the cooperation better. This Lillian actually thought she could get something back from Conrad with her feelings!
Alvin had actually fathered such a stupid daughter. No wonder the Lewis family ended up destroyed.
“Should we let Lillian go?”
“Let’s wait and see.”
Conrad actually risked so much for her, and she stayed with him for three years. He’d hidden her situation so well.
If it weren’t for the fact that Conrad’s life had been hanging by a thread this time… He might not have even discovered the truth.
What a pity. He missed the best chance and couldn’t take Conrad’s life in one go.
Kenneth darkened his expression. “Let’s go.”
After Lillian was pushed back into her hospital room by the nurse, she refused to let the nurse stay with her.
She now felt that this hospital, and everyone around her, were not to be trusted.
She began refusing to communicate with strangers, even insisting that they contact George every time they administered her medication, repeatedly confirming things before she would agree.
She was scared, but she didn’t know who to talk to about it.
She really wanted to see Conrad at this moment.
Sometimes, at night, when she lay awake in her bed, she desperately wanted someone to talk to and would call George to ask if she could leave the hospital. But George always refused outright.
“Conrad’s situation is still under a media blackout. It’s not safe for you to leave right now, and don’t tell anyone you’re in the hospital.”
She missed her grandmother. Although they were only a floor apart, she didn’t even have the right to go downstairs.
She wanted to talk to Gordon about the Brown family matters, but there were several times when she stopped herself, not wanting to drag him into it, silently swallowing her words.
Sometimes, she would wake up in the middle of the night, feeling lost and empty, only to lie back down again.
“Liar, didn’t you say you wouldn’t leave?”
“Liar.”
“Conrad…”
She opened her eyes again in the dark of the night, the cold hospital ceiling above her and the darkness of the room surrounding her.
She stared at the machines making mechanical noises, her eyes blankly moving around.
Ironically, she had thought just now that the man had come to see her.
She wanted to know what had happened to him.
Was he dead, alive, or perhaps crippled?
Had he not been able to see her?
Or had he simply not wanted to?
Lillian turned her body slightly, then froze in place.
She reached up to touch the necklace around her neck.
The cold iron feel, the raised, uneven texture, the hard black wolf totem, and the red gem at the wolf’s eye.
Ever since the incident, she had no idea where the necklace had gone.
But now, it had reappeared!
Conrad! He had come!
Ignoring the pain from her still-healing ribs, Lillian threw off the covers and got out of bed. Barefoot, she didn’t even have time to put on slippers and struggled toward the door.
She had wanted to escape this man’s side countless times, but now, she could hardly wait to see him again, just to know he was safe.
She wanted him to be just like he had always been-arrogant and untouchable, the Conrad she knew.
Lillian opened the door to her hospital room but found herself aimlessly standing there.
“Miss Lillian!? What are you doing out of bed?” The nurse on duty rushed over from the nurse station. “Your injuries haven’t healed yet. You need to go back and rest. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Conrad… was someone just here to see me?”
“No, we’ve been here the whole time. We didn’t see anyone. It’s already 3 a. m., so no one would be out this late.”
“There was someone! There was!”
“Miss Lillian, really, there was no one!”
“What are you stopping me for?!”
Lillian leaned against the wall, trying to go to another ward.
The guards here were so strict. He might be in one of those rooms.
She had to see for herself.
“Miss Lillian! Quick, we need to call Dr. George!”
In the end, two nurses had to help her back into the room.
By the time George arrived, she was sitting quietly, an endless loneliness surrounding her.
“Dr. George, Miss Lillian was very upset earlier…”
“I know, you two can go now.”
“Okay, Dr. George.”
George walked over to Lillian and handed her an envelope.
“Open it and see if anything’s missing.”
Lillian lifted her gaze and reached out to take the envelope.
It felt heavy, like it contained quite a few things.
She untied the string, and her passport, household registration booklet… all fell out.