Lillian watched Nancy move her luggage around, busying herself to settle everything.
“Miss Lillian, I’ve been caring for you for so many years, and I’m used to it. I’m getting old now, and if I switch employers, I’ll have to adapt all over again. Just let me stay with you. Plus, when your grandmother is discharged, someone will need to be there to take care of her, right?”
Lillian opened her mouth to say something but paused. She didn’t want to continue any financial connection with Conrad. After all, they had truly parted ways.
“Nancy, if you really want to stay with me, I’ll cover your salary from now on.”
Nancy hesitated for a moment. “That works. I’ll just let Assistant Ford know.”
Lillian tugged at the corner of her lips. Even though Nancy hadn’t mentioned Conrad by name, this word felt like it was etched into her bones. Just bringing up the people and things related to him still caused a dull pain in her heart.
Lillian nodded, “It’s up to you.”
“Shall we eat now?” Nancy smiled and took the bag from Melissa’s hands. “Miss Lillian, is this your friend?”
Melissa glanced up and down at Taylor Mansion, then smiled at Nancy before walking over to Lillian. “Wow. I won’t even mention the vase, but just this crystal chandelier-it’s practically a work of art. Now I’ve got a real sense of how rich Conrad is.”
Lillian shrugged. “Alright, I’ll sell it to you later. You can live here and touch it every day.”
Melissa raised her hands in surrender. “You really don’t understand my finances! There’s no way I can afford this.”
Nancy’s culinary skills had been carefully vetted through Ford, and there was no dish she couldn’t prepare. As long as Lillian could name the dish, she could make it happen.
Melissa ate to her heart’s content, then rolled around in the living room of Lillian’s Taylor Mansion.
Although the house was supposedly a gift from Conrad, in Melissa’s eyes, it looked more like a wedding gift.
It had the softness of a young girl’s pastel-colored room, but unexpectedly, a masculine, strong vibe also snuck in. The figurines, games, and even the pool table in the movie theater room and the leftover items in the gym…
“Why don’t you get a moving company to take this stuff to one of the other houses? Didn’t Conrad give you several properties?”
Selling those houses would result in a loss. Renting them out would be tough, too, since it was hard to find good tenants.
Lillian’s life and work were a mess right now, and her mind felt sluggish. “Forget it. I don’t come here often anyway, so just leave it for now. Nancy will take care of it.”
She didn’t pay attention to the places he used to frequent, but she couldn’t ignore the way the rooms were arranged.
Melissa stayed for a little while longer before she had to leave. Once she was gone, the house felt even emptier.
“Nancy, have the bodyguards leave.”
“Miss Lillian, I can’t make that decision. Maybe you could contact Assistant Ford?”
Lillian pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and then went upstairs to call Ford.
“Hello, Ford. It’s me, Lillian.”
“Miss Lillian, I know. Please, go ahead.”
“I’m back at Taylor Mansion, but it seems like you forgot to remove the bodyguards.”
“Oh, Miss Lillian, I think you’ve misunderstood. These bodyguards are here to protect Mr. Conrad’s property and aren’t related to you.”
Lillian immediately fell silent, embarrassment rising from her feet.
“Sorry, I misunderstood.”
“Is there anything else you need?”
“…No, that’s all.”
“Alright.”
Lillian put down her phone and sat on the bed for five minutes, then pulled the blanket over her head and face.
She didn’t know why she had thought the bodyguard was assigned to her. Turns out, she had overestimated things.
“Miss Lillian, I’ll take the clothes from your suitcase and have them washed. Is there anything else you need to be cleaned?”
“No, thank you,” She thought for a moment, then got up and opened the closet.
A whole row of Conrad’s clothes, watches, and diamond cufflinks were neatly arranged there.
Lillian hesitated, then took the valuables and locked them in the safe.
But even then, Conrad’s presence was everywhere. In the bathroom, there were towels, bathrobes, and toothbrushes with a matching cup on the sink.
As long as she saw them, she could close her eyes and recall everything that had happened here before.
She washed her face and stared at her somewhat lost reflection in the mirror.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Isn’t this what you always wanted?”
“Why do you feel so lost?”
It was the habit.
Yes, it was the habit.
Lillian started moving her things out of the room and into the guest room.
She even left behind the beautiful clothes she’d worn when she was with Conrad in the original room.
She only prepared some outfits suitable for school and part-time work.
The guest room wasn’t big, but it was enough to contain her loneliness and confusion.
Nancy searched for a while but couldn’t find her. Then she realized Lillian was lying in the brand-new guest room, curled up, resting.
Nancy sighed softly, covered her with a blanket, and turned up the room’s thermostat to a comfortable temperature.
Then she quietly left and closed the door.
Lillian started adjusting to a life without Conrad.
She often spent time alone in the study. Sometimes she’d help Nancy water the plants or do some housework. Most of the time, after visiting her grandmother in the hospital, she’d spend the entire day working in the study and return to the guest room at night to rest.
When she got a call from Jack, Lillian was getting ready to head to the library to borrow some materials.
“Has the movie started shooting smoothly? Wasn’t the project team stalled before?”
“There’s nothing to worry about now. It’s all thanks to Mr. Conrad. Don’t forget to come; this way, you can include it in your resume for your graduation project.”
Lillian hesitated, “Can I skip it?”
“Why? Such a great opportunity to be in the spotlight! Is it because of those people from last time? They’ve all been fired, and Director Karl and the team have given them a good talking-to. Anyone who dares gossip about you now will be kicked out! It was a mess, but things are different now. Lillian, you’ve worked so hard on this project. With graduation approaching, it’s really not worth giving it up now. You won’t get another chance like this, so seize it while you can!”
Lillian couldn’t explain why she didn’t want to go.
“I don’t care; I’ve already signed you up. You have to come.” Jack quickly sent over the shooting schedule.
The shoot was set for Monday at 8 AM.
Driving back to the set, Lillian had a sense of things having changed.
However, this time when she showed up, those who had openly mocked her before only greeted her respectfully as “Director Lillian.”
Lillian didn’t understand, but she assumed things were in the past now, and the fact that they were able to start shooting again was already a stroke of luck.
After all, it was true that she had been played by the crew and almost died because of it.
The actors were already dressed and ready.
Helen and Peter, who were supposed to join the project, didn’t show up.
Lillian didn’t intentionally inquire about Helen’s current situation, nor did she want to ask.
She quietly stood in the corner of the creative team, preparing for the shots.
“What are you doing here?” A man’s voice rang out.