Moreover, those things weren’t even particularly valuable.
So what if he sent more?
“I don’t need you to save me this little bit of money.”
Lillian felt like she couldn’t get through to this man.
“Some of the neighbors are new, and we’re not familiar with them. How do you expect them to return a gift if you give them this?”
As Lillian had feared, many people hurriedly returned the gifts. However, when they saw the row of bodyguards dressed in black standing at the door, they quickly pulled their feet back in, as if afraid the bodyguards would beat them up if they returned the gifts.
Conrad had just looked up when his eyes met those of a mother and her child, who had just come out with a gift.
Seeing the kid nearly in tears, Conrad coldly looked away and said, “Since they’re too scared to accept it, just take it back. Give it to the few households who’ve been particularly kind to your grandmother.”
Lillian knew this was his way of compromising.
Some neighbors quickly slammed their doors shut, afraid they were being targeted by a mafia group for extortion.
Lillian could only watch as Conrad’s men carried bags of gifts and knocked on the doors of nearby neighbors.
Some of the gifts included notebooks, tablets, and game consoles-clearly, they had been prepared in advance, knowing the recipients had children.
A chill ran through her body.
She stood there, not sure what she was thinking.
It felt like… she had been misunderstanding Conrad all along.
This man wasn’t letting her go.
He was just playing a different game now–making her think she had escaped, but she was still under his control.
She was like a kite in his hands; no matter how far or high she flew, he could easily reel her back in.
And as the one flying the kite, he could leave whenever he wanted, or stay whenever he wished.
“Lillian, why aren’t you coming in?”
Lillian snapped back to reality and saw her grandmother trying to get up, attempting to come out.
She didn’t care about Conrad anymore, rushing inside and putting down her bag. “Don’t come out.”
“I’m fine. Who were you talking to just now?” Her grandmother asked curiously.
Conrad stepped inside, putting aside his usual nonchalant attitude and respectfully said, “Hello, Grandma, I’m Conrad, Lillian’s boyfriend.”
Lillian’s face changed. “Conrad!”
Conrad smiled at her grandmother.
Her grandmother, Grandma Kristin, sized him up, “Boyfriend? You never mentioned him before.”
“I had a little quarrel with her a while ago. She was angry with me, and when I got back from my business trip, I found out she had taken you back to your hometown. So, I rushed over here.”
Lillian was completely stunned. Was this still the same Conrad? Now he could speak so calmly!
Grandma Kristin noticed Lillian’s reaction and looked at her suspiciously. “Really?”
Lillian shot him a glare. “No. He’s just my boss, my former boss.”
The smile on Conrad’s face faded, and he stared at Lillian without speaking.
“Really?” Grandma Kristin was nearly confused by their back-and-forth.
“Yes, he’s my boss,” Lillian emphasized.
Grandma Kristin, seeing how Lillian glared at Conrad, finally caught on.
“You came all the way from City N? That must have taken several hours. Do you have a place to stay?” Grandma Kristin asked.
“There are plenty of hotels outside,” Lillian quickly responded.
Conrad felt irritated. He hadn’t seen this girl for a while, and it seemed like she wanted to kick him out already. Normally, he was the one who disliked others, not the other way around. When had anyone ever rejected him at the door?
He was so frustrated he almost picked Lillian up and took her upstairs to teach her a lesson.
“Guests are supposed to be treated well. Your last name is Brown?” Grandma Kristin asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
“Yes, I’m Conrad Brown, I’m City N,” Conrad replied.
Grandma Kristin replied, “Well, I have an old friend who married into a family with the surname Brown in City N. It’s been many years since I’ve seen her, though. I wonder how she’s doing.”
Grandma Kristin added, “Oh, I’ve been talking so much, and I haven’t even invited you to sit down. Please, have a seat. Lillian, make some coffee for our guest. A guest is a guest after all.”
Lillian knew that her grandmother was very particular about manners. She gave a subtle look to Conrad, signaling him not to misbehave. She quickly went to make some coffee.
Conrad sat down and looked around the old house. There didn’t seem to be any signs that Lillian had lived there-everything looked extremely old-fashioned.
He was surprised that such things still existed, especially without having been replaced over time.
The house was clean, but the rainy weather still left a musty smell typical of old homes.
Lillian knew his habits and took out an unused cup to pour him a cup of coffee.
When Conrad took the cup, he casually held her hand as well.
Lillian forcefully tried to pull away, causing the water to spill out.
The hot water splashed onto the back of Conrad’s hand, but he didn’t flinch at all. He just kept his calm gaze fixed on her.
“Mr. Conrad, what do you do in City N?” Grandma Kristin asked, trying to break the silence.
Conrad snapped out of his thoughts. “Oh, not much. Just a small business.”
“Mr. Conrad, you’re being modest,” Grandma Kristin replied.
Lillian felt unease. Conrad wasn’t planning to leave anytime soon. She had no idea what he might say to her grandmother.
“How are you feeling? Do you still have symptoms like dizziness or fatigue? The doctor said you should really focus on rest, and make sure to follow through with your rehabilitation,” Conrad asked Grandma Kristin.
Grandma Kristin was surprised. “How do you know all that?”
Conrad smiled gently. “I used to visit you at the hospital frequently. Maybe you forgot.”
Grandma Kristin turned to Lillian. “Is that true?”
Lillian couldn’t help but glare at Conrad, amazed at how well he could fake things.
“I don’t remember,” Lillian muttered.
“She’s busy with work, so she probably forgot. Do you know my friend George?” Conrad asked.
Grandma Kristin immediately warmed up to him. “Dr. George? So, he’s your good friend?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it! The first time I saw you, you looked familiar.”
“I feel the same way about you, like you’re my own grandmother.”
Lillian stared at him in disbelief. Was this really Conrad?
“Oh, the shoes that were drying on the balcony, Lillian, you should go to bring them in,” Grandma Kristin suddenly said.
Lillian had no choice but to head upstairs again.
Conrad took a sip of coffee, his gaze sharp and wolf-like, staring intently at her slim waist.
She quickly grabbed the shoes and, when she came back downstairs, Conrad was already sitting next to her grandmother, turning on the TV.
“Conrad, so you’ve had a hard time at home, huh? Who cooks for you? Do you go out to eat?”
“My dad doesn’t care about me. The house is pretty empty. If there’s food, I eat it; if there isn’t, I mostly go hungry,” Conrad replied.
Grandma Kristin sighed in concern. “How could that happen? What about tonight? Did you book a hotel?”
Conrad glanced at Lillian, who was coming down the stairs, and coughed before answering, “It’s fine. I’ll go find a hotel outside.”
As soon as the thunder rumbled, rain started pouring down in sheets.
It sounded like beans hitting the ground. The yard, already cracked, didn’t have the best drainage system.
Luckily, when the old house had been built, they had added two more steps, preventing the water from flooding right up to the door.
“Such heavy rain! Conrad, why don’t you stay for dinner and leave afterward? You should try Lillian’s cooking.”