“How long has he been like this?” Gordon asked from outside the hospital room.
George rubbed his forehead. “It’s been a while.”
“What about his injuries?”
“We tried rehabilitation, but it’s like he didn’t even hear it. His spirit’s broken. Sometimes I really worry he’ll just give up one day.”
Gordon paused, finding those words absurd.
He didn’t want to live.
Conrad was willing to die for Lillian.
Three years ago, that would’ve been unthinkable.
Gordon had been about to leave, but after thinking for a moment, he turned back and went into the room.
George stopped him. “Don’t provoke him now.”
“I’m not provoking him. I just need to say a few things.” Gordon patted George’s hand before walking into the room.
It was so quiet, it was eerie. If Gordon hadn’t seen him sitting there, he might’ve thought Conrad had turned into a statue.
He had shackles on his hands and feet, and chains attached to the wall.
This was the special room Old Mrs. Brown had arranged for him.
Because without it, Conrad would surely break free, rip out all the needles, and head back to the lighthouse.
He was like a robot programmed to do one thing-you couldn’t stop him.
Gordon sat beside him.
“She’s gone, and she doesn’t want you to fall apart.”
“Lillian has changed a lot, from who she was back then to now, but I think the last thing she wanted to see was your change.”
“She fell in love with the old Conrad, the one before all of this.”
“If you’re like this, then you’d better live for her. Live well. Give back to her everything she gave to you in those three years she loved you. This life-she fought to give it back to you. How could you just waste it like this?”
Everyone in the spot heard what Hunter said when he was hung from the lighthouse.
“Lillian died because of you. I told her I had planted a bomb there, and that stupid woman would rather drag me down with her than let me go. She died because of you! You, Conrad, are a death curse-anyone who gets too close to you is doomed to die!”
Those bitter words, those malicious curses, were enough to break Conrad’s will at this moment.
“She jumped into the sea for you more than once. Even if she was a mermaid, that was enough.”
“Live. Live well. Build the Brown Family Group into something stronger. That way, she’ll know where you are and whether you’re doing okay.”
Gordon wasn’t sure if Conrad could hear him, but that evening, Ford came to the hospital.
“First thing, transfer all my shares and assets to Lillian.”
Ford knew nothing could change Conrad’s mind, so he wrote it down.
“Second thing, take Lillian’s ID and go get a marriage certificate, using our wedding photo.”
“Mr. Conrad? Miss Lillian’s condition is uncertain… are you sure about this?”
“Go get it done.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Third thing, establish the Lillian Foundation to support impoverished college students.”
“Fourth thing, restore Taylor Mansion to its original state. I’ll personally handle her things when I return. She doesn’t like anyone touching them.”
“Fifth thing, pull back the agents near Kama and Jack. She doesn’t like me spying on her friends. If she finds out, she won’t come back.”
He started mumbling to himself, “She didn’t like me smoking, didn’t like me always glaring at her.”
Ford bent down and looked at Conrad.
It seemed like he was lost in his own world.
“Mr. Conrad?”
For a moment, Conrad’s pupils refocused. “Bring Ada’s wife back. Don’t let them separate. That could be dangerous. Get a caretaker at home to tame her wild nature first.”
Once Conrad made up his mind, no one could change it.
When Old Mrs. Brown found out, she went along with it.
“Let him do whatever he wants. Once he’s completely given up, he’ll realize that girl is really gone.”
Getting a marriage certificate with a dead person, it didn’t matter anymore.
For over 20 days, they had tried everything-rewards, photos.
If anyone had seen something, they should’ve called by now.
You were supposed to see the living and the dead should be buried, but this girl had vanished without a trace.
Old Mrs. Brown muttered as she closed her eyes.
Karma.
It was all just karma.
“Mr. Kenneth’s locked up in the ancestral hall. Are you really sending him to a nursing home?”
“He doesn’t listen. He treats my words like the wind. Now Conrad’s in this state, all thanks to his collusion with outsiders. I have to choose between Conrad and him.” Old Mrs. Brown sneered softly, “Maybe this is the fate of the men in the Brown family-born to be lone wolves, unable to coexist with another head.”
Kenneth teamed up with the White family to set Conrad up. But even though Conrad wasn’t there, he still saw through their every move with absolute clarity.
Kenneth couldn’t be allowed to stay any longer.
“Send him far away. The Brown Family Group is already a ship speeding ahead, and the captain can’t afford to have room for anyone else.”
Her whole life had been devoted to the Brown family; she had to clear all obstacles for the future heir!
As for that poor girl, it was just that she and Conrad were never meant to be.
Life is about fate for everyone, men and women alike.
As for Conrad, his fate was something he would have to face on his own.
******
“Lillian, Lillian…” A familiar, gentle voice called out.
Lillian’s forehead twitched slightly.
Grandmother, is that you?
Are you here to take me?
Grandmother… grandmother…
It was as if she were in a chaotic, dark sea, drifting without a place to land.
She saw a ray of light in the distance and tried desperately to grab it.
When she suddenly opened her eyes, a rush of air filled her chest. Her mouth was dry, and she could feel her soul returning. It felt as if all her senses were waking up at once.
“You’re awake?” The man’s surprised voice came.
The bed shifted slightly as someone gently touched her cheek.
“You’re finally awake. I’ve been waiting so long.”
At first, Lillian’s vision was blurry. After blinking, she could finally make out the features of the man before her.
“Is it you?”
“Yeah, what? Don’t you want to see me?”
Lillian looked around the room, confused. “Where am I? How did I get here? Conrad… how is Conrad? Is he okay?”
The man’s smile stiffened, and his expression turned grim “Why? You miss Conrad that much?”
Lillian winced as he gripped her too hard, letting out a soft moan of pain. “Pain…”
He released her, but the sound of her voice lingered in his ears, sending a wave of tingling discomfort through him. His breath became heavy. “Lillian, I missed you so much.”
He tried to pull her into his arms. Lillian, feeling weak all over, trembled as she asked, “What do you want from me?”
“Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry. I would never hurt you. You’re my Lillian.” The man whispered soothingly, constantly repeating, “How are you feeling?”
Lillian stared at him, feeling something was off. “I just want to know why I’m here. Why are you here? Where is this place? How is Conrad?”
“Focus on getting better first. We’ll talk about it later.”
“Frank, can you at least tell me where we are?”