“I’m assigning someone to protect you, and you still don’t appreciate my good intentions.”
Lillian gritted her teeth. “If you stay away from me, that would be protection enough.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Conrad grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward him. Then, the black iron flashed in front of her eyes, and the necklace she had left at Taylor Mansion was once again placed around her neck.
“Lillian, try taking it off again and see what happens.” He was very close to her, but his eyes were serious. “Don’t take it off.”
She stared at the two diamonds on the black wolf pendant.
Unable to resist, she muttered, “I keep feeling like this thing is cursed. What if it has some kind of spell on it?”
“Lillian, can you stop watching so many mystery movies? Do you think I’m some kind of zombie? What spell would I put on you? If I could actually do that, I’d pay to get you one that makes you obey, so you stop making me mad all the time.”
Lillian realized her thoughts were a bit ridiculous. “I was just kidding.”
Conrad was so angry his head felt like it might explode. “Go back to sleep! And remember to make me breakfast tomorrow!”
Lillian mumbled an “Okay,” then packed up the lunchbox and left the room.
Andrew was waiting outside the door, his expression complicated as he glanced at the necklace around her neck.
After she was sent home, she saw all the fruit scattered on the floor and grabbed something to clean it up.
She went upstairs, but she didn’t have time to mop the floor. After packing her bags for the hospital and gathering important things like her computer, she climbed into bed.
She turned over but couldn’t sleep. She took off the necklace, turned it around in her hands, and carefully examined it.
The craftsmanship was delicate and intricate, and there were encrypted characters carved into it.
Lillian couldn’t read the words, and she mumbled, “Can you really protect me?”
******
Lillian didn’t sleep well the whole night, knowing John and Helen wouldn’t just let it go. But when someone arrived early the next morning, it was Frank.
He had probably just arrived; there was still dew from the morning mist on his shoulders.
“Lillian, I knew you’d be here.”
“How did you know I was here? Come in.”
Frank brought his suitcase inside and glanced around at the small yard. “Have you and Grandma been staying here for a while?”
“Yeah. Have you been here long?”
Frank let out a relieved sigh. “I was so scared. When I went to the hospital, they told me Grandma had been discharged. I couldn’t sleep all night, thinking you and Grandma had gone back to your hometown. I’m glad I didn’t make the trip for nothing. You had your phone off, and I couldn’t reach you.”
Lillian apologized. “Sorry, it was chaotic earlier, and I didn’t want to trouble anyone.”
“Lillian, I’m not just ‘anyone.’ Grandma took care of me when I was a kid. She’s like family to me, and that won’t change just because we’re not blood relatives.”
He brought his suitcase inside and looked around at the messy dining and living rooms. “What happened yesterday? Where’s Grandma?”
Lillian replied, “John came by, and Grandma got so upset she ended up in the hospital. I have to go there now.”
Frank grabbed her suitcase. “Then let’s go together.”
“I’ll get breakfast and bring it with me. Grandma’s already awake.”
“Good. The doctor said everything’s fine, right?”
“Yeah.”
Conrad was uncomfortable staying in such a shabby hospital room. Despite enduring a lot of pain, Master Conrad had always prided himself on his refined tastes, which were obvious to anyone who knew him.
He hadn’t slept much, just waiting for Lillian to bring him breakfast in the morning.
Conrad felt uncomfortable staying in this rundown hospital room. Despite having endured a lot, the young master Conrad’s eye for detail was still evident. He barely slept, waiting for Lillian to bring breakfast in the morning.
After waiting for a while, he got up and went to chat with Grandma Kristin. The hospital provided breakfast, and Conrad accompanied Grandma Kristin for a bowl of porridge. Just as he was grumbling about Lillian not showing up, he saw Frank walk in with breakfast. Conrad narrowed his eyes as the two men locked gazes for a moment.
Frank only glanced at him before walking straight to Grandma Kristin.
“Grandma,” Frank greeted.
Grandma Kristin’s cloudy eyes looked at him before uncertainly saying, “Frank? You’ve grown so much?”
“As long as you remember me, Grandma,” Frank said, immediately busying himself around her.
The nurses at the station were puzzled. “What’s the deal with the patient in Bed 9? So much fruit and flowers yesterday, and today someone else is bringing gifts.”
“No idea, but they all seem to be younger relatives. Her children don’t seem to have visited.”
Conrad watched the busy man in the room and angrily bit into the bread Lillian had handed him.
“You almost bit my hand,” Lillian couldn’t help but tease.
Conrad looked up, chewing with deliberate force. He was thinking, I should just bite you.
“Grandma, here’s the tea you used to drink. I specially went to an old shop to get it for you this time.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.”
“It’s the least I could do. How are you feeling? I noticed there’s sunshine this afternoon. The doctor said it’s good to get some sun. How about Lillian and I take you downstairs for a bit?”
Conrad took a deep breath, feeling that in this day and age, it wasn’t just the girls who needed watching; guys could be just as scheming. And Lillian seemed to be falling for it.
“Don’t you have work?” Conrad asked, eyes narrowing.
Frank glanced at Conrad with a smile. “Nothing is more important than Lillian and Grandma. I can always find another job.”
“… Damn it,” Conrad muttered, genuinely amused by his anger. God should strike these pretentious people with lightning, he thought.
Sensing Conrad about to lose it, Lillian quickly grabbed his hand. “Uh, Grandma, I’ll go ask the doctor about your care instructions.”
“Yes, go ahead. And Conrad, you should rest too. Don’t push yourself just because you’re young,” Grandma Kristin added.
Lillian wasted no time leading Conrad out, seemingly afraid he’d lose control if they stayed any longer.
She didn’t even realize her instinctive reactions towards Conrad were different from how she treated others.
Grandma Kristin, however, noticed every affectionate gesture that Lillian couldn’t hide.
“Frank, what have you been up to these years?” Grandma Kristin asked.
Frank’s eyes lingered on the door until it closed, then moved from Lillian’s hand on Conrad’s wrist.
“About the same, working in a company. My boss appreciates me,” Frank said as he peeled an apple for Grandma.
“You’ve worked hard,” Grandma Kristin sighed.
“It’s not hard. As long as you and Lillian are well, I’m content,” Frank replied with a smile.
Conrad really wanted to get rid of Frank. The pretentious act, talking as if everything was for Grandma-such a phony.
When you disliked someone, even their breathing felt wrong.
Conrad mentally annihilated Frank before turning to Lillian, saying, “You better not be fooled by that your so-called brother. That guy is full of deceit; not a word he says is honest.”
Lillian was speechless. “Did he offend you? You’re always bad-mouthing him.”
Conrad retorted, annoyed, “What, do you think I’m purposely talking bad about him?”
“Your tone makes it hard not to think that,” Lillian replied.
Conrad sighed, “Lillian, you didn’t remember anything I told you, did you? You’re just trying to drive me insane.”
Lillian quickly changed the subject, “There’s pineapple. Do you want some?”
Conrad was momentarily speechless. “What, you think making me some pineapple fried rice will make me forget this?”
Lillian asked again, “So, do you want it or not?”
“You cook my lunch personally. If you get someone else to do it, I won’t eat it,” Conrad insisted.
Lillian felt helpless. She didn’t even understand why, besides taking care of Grandma, she had to serve this demanding man.
“When are you going back to City N? It’s not good to keep skipping work,” she asked.
“Why? Afraid the Brown Family Group will collapse? Don’t worry, even if I don’t go for half a year, it won’t collapse,” Conrad said as he pulled her closer. “Listen carefully, stay away from that sneaky guy. He’s definitely up to something.”
“I got it. I wasn’t that close to him in the first place,” Lillian replied.
But the more Conrad brought it up, the more it made her think about it.
What Lillian didn’t expect was that not long after she and Conrad left, the village head and some officials showed up at the hospital.