Lillian’s hand twitched slightly, and she felt something warm drip onto her skin.
She touched the unfamiliar tears on the back of her hand, and her vision blurred.
She had imagined this moment for so many years… never expecting that when it finally happened, it would unfold like this – with him kneeling before her, saying those words.
They stayed like that for a long time – so long that Hogan muttered from a distance, “What the hell are they even saying over there?”
“Is she gonna forgive him or not?”
“That’s not for us to decide,” Gordon sighed.
Finally, Lillian spoke.
“I’m really grateful that you saved Jasmine,” she said quietly.
“You’re a good father. Jasmine loves you so much… I know now how much you’ve cared for her and how well you’ve raised her. Honestly… for years, I wondered what I’d do if my child was still alive. But when I finally saw her… I knew. My daughter – she’s wonderful. You’ve done a great job with her, and I’m grateful for that.”
“But… that’s all.”
“The Lillian standing here now… she just wants to be herself.”
“You don’t need to feel guilty about what happened. What happened between Frank and me… that wasn’t because of you. He died at my hands. I avenged myself.”
“So just keep being Jasmine’s dad… and let me be Lillian.”
“I once loved you so fiercely… and that’s enough.”
“My best love, my best years… I gave them to you. So please… just let me be selfish this once. I don’t want to live just as someone’s mother. I want to live as Lillian.”
She yanked herself free from his grasp – but Conrad grabbed her wrist tightly, refusing to let go.
Her words left him completely breathless. Conrad took a long, long time to compose himself before he finally spoke.
“You can’t marry him. He’s still tangled up with his ex-wife. They still meet up often. If you marry him… you won’t be happy.”
“I know,” Lillian said quietly. “I know all of that.”
“And you don’t care?” Conrad asked, his voice tight. “If you stay with me, you can still be yourself. I won’t restrict your freedom or stop you from doing what you want. If you want to make movies, I won’t stand in your way.”
“If you insist on marrying him… then just make room for me too,” Conrad added bitterly.
It took Lillian a while to process what he was saying.
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
“He can have you… and so can I,” Conrad said. “Just see me from time to time. I won’t interfere with you two. Jasmine will miss you too… okay?”
“Are you out of your mind?” Lillian couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I lost my mind a long time ago!” Conrad’s bloodshot eyes locked onto hers. “I’ve been insane for you! I’ve been crazy for you for years.”
In that moment, he laid everything bare – his twisted thoughts, his madness, his obsession.
All of it, just to make her stay.
“And what if I insist on leaving?”
“You’re just as stubborn as I am,” Conrad said hoarsely. “I won’t let go. I can’t let go. I can’t be like Ethan – letting his ex-wife leave just because she wanted to chase her career. From where I stand, that so-called ‘respect’ the world admires… that’s just helplessness in disguise!”
“Love is selfish,” he went on. “It’s full of possessiveness – eaten away by jealousy. Desire soaks it to the bone. Love itself is born from selfishness – it can’t even tolerate a third person stepping in. Even the smallest flaw can shatter it completely. It’s that fragile – so easily destroyed.”
“But at the same time… it’s powerful enough to torment someone until they lose their mind. The kind of love people praise… what does that have to do with me?” His voice grew colder. “If love is about letting go – about singing praises of ‘respect’ – then is it still love at all? Real love is twisted and ugly… It drags rational people into madness, makes the proud bow their heads, and gives courage to the timid. Something like that… how could anyone willingly let it go?”
“You can go back to him – I won’t stop you.”
He stood up but didn’t move away. Instead, he stood firmly in front of her and said, “I’ll wait for you. If a year isn’t enough, I’ll wait ten. If ten years isn’t enough, I’ll wait twenty. If twenty isn’t enough… I’ll wait until I die.”
“And in my next life… I’ll fall in love with you first.”
“No matter how much I change… I’ll never be like Ethan. I’m just me. And in this life… I’ll love you without regret – no matter what.”
Lillian listened to his words, then turned and walked away.
But after just a few steps, her tears broke free.
She spun back around, stormed over to him, and started pounding on his chest with her fists.
“Do you think you’re some kind of hero?” she shouted. “Do you think saying all this will make me feel guilty? Is this your plan – to guilt-trip me into staying?!”
“I’m telling you right now, Conrad – it won’t work! I told you a long time ago that I wouldn’t love you again. No matter what you do… you can’t change that! Not even Jasmine can! I’m me first… and then I’m her mother!”
“Conrad, you shameless, despicable bastard… is this all you know how to do?!”
He just stood there, unmoving, letting her hit him.
He didn’t even blink.
And then, out of nowhere… he smiled.
“You’re wasting your energy hitting me like this,” Conrad said with a faint smile. “If you want me to hurt somewhere specific, just tell me – I’ll do it myself.”
“I don’t need your pity act!” she shot back. After venting her emotions through tears, she suddenly shoved him again.
But Conrad was hardly someone she could push around.
He didn’t say a word; he just stood there smiling at her, as if her outburst hadn’t affected him at all.
Lillian’s frustration grew – she couldn’t beat him away, and she couldn’t push him off either.
“Don’t you find this exhausting?”
“I do. But you’re the only one I’d ever exhaust myself for.”
Lillian glared at him fiercely, then spun around and wiped her tears away.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “I don’t want to argue in front of Jasmine. Take her home.”
“She’s going to find out sooner or later,” Conrad said. “She’s an incredibly sharp kid – she’s been good at reading people since she was little. There’s no way she doesn’t see how resistant you are to me… but she also knows you love her.”
“But like you said… you’re Lillian first – and then you’re her mom. So just focus on being yourself. Jasmine has her own path to walk.”
“As for me…” Conrad paused, his gaze steady. “I’ll stay right where you can always see me… waiting for you.”
“Just like I said earlier.” He took two steps back. “He’s waiting for you. Go back to him – eat well, sleep well, live your life. It’s just a shame… your peaceful life is about to get messy again because of me.”
Lillian gritted her teeth. “You really think I won’t leave, don’t you?”
“No,” Conrad replied softly. “I just know you’re too kind.”
“When I’m with Jasmine,” he added, “I often wonder… before you met me, were you like her? A pampered little princess, doted on by your father… carefree and spoiled. But later… you were always so careful, terrified of making a mistake. I think it was only after being with me that you became the person you are now.”
“I just… I want you to be yourself again.”
“It’s been eight years, Lillian. I’ve been tangled up with you for eight years.”
“I want you to get to know me all over again. Hello, Lillian… I’m Conrad.”
Lillian saw the burning love in his eyes – so intense it felt like her heart was on fire. She turned sharply and hurried toward Ethan.
“Ethan, let’s go home!” She couldn’t listen anymore. If she listened any longer… she was afraid she might fall back into the same trap.
Conrad stood where he was, making no move to follow her. The sunset cast a brilliant glow around him, yet instead of sadness… he laughed – loud and unrestrained.
Even though he was the one who had been rejected… it felt like she was the one fleeing in defeat.