When Lillian returned home with groceries, she ran into Robert’s family at the alley entrance.
“Lillian, you’re back,” Robert’s father greeted her.
Robert’s mother forced a smile and quickly pulled her husband inside.
Robert glanced at her, hesitating to speak.
“Robert, what are you doing at the door? Dinner’s ready.”
“Coming,” he replied.
Lillian continued walking towards her house.
The result, in the end, was as she had expected.
Because of John, they had offended all the village officials, making it difficult for them to stay in this town any longer.
“Lillian.”
Lillian turned her head to see Robert catching up to her.
“That guy who helped my family, is he your boyfriend?”
Lillian didn’t know how to respond.
Robert assumed her silence meant yes. “I always knew a girl like you wouldn’t belong to someone like me. Turns out I was right. My mom said from the start that you weren’t simple. I didn’t listen and thought I could win you over. Sorry about the past.”
“What do you want to say?” Lillian gripped the plastic bag tightly.
Robert pursed his lips. “I want to say, stop trying to dismiss people with money. Sooner or later, I’ll have money and power too. It’s not just because I don’t have-”
“It’s not that,” Lillian cut him off. “Even if you had power and money, you were never the person I wanted to choose. Don’t think I’ve been nice to you because of your father. Just because you couldn’t win me over and decided to force me into a kiss in front of your classmates doesn’t mean you’re capable of anything else. Since you’ve taken money and benefits from Conrad, why act like you’re the one who’s been wronged? Is there anything else you want to teach me?”
“You!” Robert was furious. He had indeed been about to suggest she was a gold digger. Otherwise, how could she have found someone powerful enough to help his family?
“Lillian, you’ll regret this. How many people in your line of work have good endings?”
Lillian smiled coldly. “I might not have a good ending, but being a gold digger is better than your whole family selling themselves while pretending to be virtuous. Oh, and by the way, the heir of the hospital you want to go to is someone I know. Aren’t you afraid I’ll make things difficult for you and send you packing?”
Robert’s face changed. “I regret ever loving someone like you.”
“Your loving is worthless. No need to add drama for yourself.” With that, Lillian opened the door and slammed it shut.
She had met many people like Robert and had grown accustomed to them.
What was his so-called loving? It was no different from loving a cat or a dog.
Because she was beautiful, she gave him a face. Because she graduated from a prestigious school, she had a new label. But once her tainted past was discovered, it became her fault.
She wasn’t going to be anyone’s accessory.
Selling herself to Conrad was enough. She wouldn’t die without a man.
When Lillian returned home, she felt a heavy weight pressing on her chest. It wouldn’t go up, and it wouldn’t go down.
She washed the ingredients and prepared to quickly make a meal and head to the hospital.
Midway, someone knocked on the door. Lillian glanced at the fish in the pot and rushed to answer.
“Sorry, we’re out of ketchup. I saw someone cooking at your place. Could we borrow some?”
“Sure.”
Lillian handed over the ketchup, and a moment later, they returned it with a bottle of milk. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Lillian prepared a few simple home-cooked dishes, packed the meals, and only then headed out.
When she arrived at the hospital, she first delivered food to her grandma. After handing the lunch box to Andrew, she didn’t plan on leaving.
It was Andrew who came over and knocked on the door, prompting Lillian to get up.
“What’s wrong?” Since her grandma was asleep, Lillian lowered her voice and turned to signal Frank.
Frank smiled and nodded, reassuring her.
“What’s wrong? The food doesn’t taste good?”
Andrew shook his head. “He won’t eat unless you come over. You should check on him.”
Lillian was speechless. “He’s not a child. Does he really need me to feed him?”
Andrew, being a quiet type, didn’t respond much, just standing still.
Seeing this, Lillian entered Conrad’s hospital room. The meal box was untouched, just as she suspected. She took a deep breath and asked, “Not to your taste?”
“I don’t feel like eating.”
“Are you really not hungry, or are you just trying to cause trouble?”
“Lillian, are you hoping I starve to death?” Conrad threw out a dramatic accusation.
Annoyed, Lillian sat down. “Can you be reasonable? Eat it or don’t. Your choice.”
She stood up to leave.
Conrad pulled her back. “Why are you so temperamental? I just said I can’t eat without you here. This room is too boring.”
Nothing to entertain him.
Lillian saw his pale face and reached out to feel his forehead. “Did you take your medicine properly?”
“I did.” Conrad enjoyed her caring gestures-it was an irreplaceable feeling.
Lillian’s expression softened as she opened the meal box. “I made the fish you like. I went to several food stalls, though the fish here isn’t as fresh as in City N. They claim it’s wild, but I’m not sure. Try it first.”
Without hesitation, Conrad took a bite. “Not bad.”
Lillian’s cooking skills had been honed under his supervision, so there was little room for error.
Lillian found him difficult to please. Even under these conditions, he acted like an emperor ordering a feast.
She added more dishes. “Once you recover, go back quickly. Having you here is unsettling for both of us.”
Before she could finish, Conrad suddenly pushed her away. Before Lillian could react, Conrad leaned over the bed and vomited blood.
The dishes crashed to the floor. The unexpected turn of events left her stunned.
Andrew burst through the door, his pupils dilating at the scene. He rushed toward Conrad.
“Sir, what’s happening?”
Conrad’s eyes were bloodshot, staring at Lillian in disbelief.
Lillian was equally clueless.
“What’s going on?” Andrew shouted suddenly.
Lillian tried to explain, “I don’t know. He just took a bite of my cooking and then vomited blood.”
Conrad’s face turned an ashen gray, and the blood at the corners of his mouth was dark red.
Andrew, his face grim, grabbed Lillian’s arm. “You’d better really know nothing!”
He then pushed her aside and spoke into his earpiece, “Prepare immediately! I’m bringing Mr. Conrad up now!”
Andrew lifted Conrad.
Despite the pain in her shoulder, Lillian hurried after them. “Andrew, I-”
He didn’t stop, clearly in a rush.
At the ward’s entrance, Conrad’s men had already arrived, quickly placing him on a stretcher. A helicopter, which had flown in some doctors from City N, was still on the hospital rooftop. Andrew ordered the elevators locked down.
As they were about to leave, Conrad fixed his gaze on Lillian and said, “Come here!”
Lillian rushed over, wanting to explain she knew nothing about why he vomited blood. But Conrad grabbed her wrist before passing out.
Though unconscious, his grip remained unyielding.