Chapter 10 I'm Not Tired Of You

• Conrad grinned wickedly. "Oh? Are you concerned about whether I sleep with her or not?"
• Lillian turned her head away with a scoff. "Go ahead, sleep with whoever you want. It's none of my business if you sleep with 40 or 50 women a night. You'd better get an STD. Don't mess with me."
• His gaze darkened. "And what exactly do you gain by provoking me?"
• If he hadn't been advised to abstain from sex, he'd have gladly put her in her place right then.
• "Stay here and behave." Just talking to her was enough to make his blood pressure spike.
• "Didn't I make it clear I want nothing to do with you?" Lillian felt completely drained.
• Conrad straightened, looking down at her. "Do you know what you're rejecting? Behave, and your grandmother can stay comfortably in the hospital."
• Of course, she understood his terms: go back to how things were, stay by his side, be his emotional doll to dress up, and wait for his return whenever he needed an outlet, until he inevitably tossed her aside. If she accidentally got pregnant, the child wouldn't be hers either.
• Lillian gave a cold smile. "Fine, I'll stay by your side on one condition."
• He narrowed his eyes. "Name it."
• Whatever her price, he had the means to meet it. Conrad was that confident.
• "You know what I want," she said, staring at him. "Make me Mrs. Conrad."
• A scoff left his lips. "It's broad daylight, and you're already dreaming."
• His answer didn't surprise her one bit. A man like Conrad would never love her. She had nothing—just debts to her name. There was no way Conrad would pass up Daisy for her, and his family wouldn't allow it.
• "Then we have nothing to discuss," she said calmly, tossing the covers off as she got out of bed. "You're young, rich, and powerful, Mr. Conrad. You have women lining up for miles."
• "And what about your grandmother?" he said, striking a nerve.
• Lillian's anger flared. "Three years by your side, and this is what you use to threaten me? I already told you—I don't stay with married men."
• "I'm not married yet." He sat on the sofa, his gaze slowly sweeping over her from head to toe. Even in her frail, post-illness state, she was breathtaking.
• "And you're right," he added. "I'm not tired of you."
• Before she could respond, Conrad was already on his feet. "So until I say otherwise, you're going to stay put. As long as you're here, your grandmother will be just fine."
• The door slammed shut with a loud thud, leaving her locked inside with no phone. She rushed to the door, twisting the handle—he'd actually locked her in!
• "Conrad! Let me out! Conrad!!"
• But he was already headed to his study, ignoring her entirely.
• Nancy followed him in with a worried look on her face. "Mr. Conrad, Miss Lillian is still sick. Maybe you should…"
• "Just focus on taking care of her. Don't worry about anything else," Conrad cut her off, clearly uninterested in hearing advice. If he couldn't have what he wanted, then what was the point of all his power?
• Upstairs, Ford followed Alice, overhearing Lillian's voice.
• "She's such a seductress," Alice muttered, jealousy dripping from her words.
• Ford glanced at her. "Have you forgotten your place? Since when do you have a right to talk about Mr. Conrad's business?"
• Alice pressed her lips together, but the resentment was still all over her face as they walked up.
• "Mr. Conrad, here are the documents that need your personal review," Ford said, setting a file on the desk.
• Very little of the Taylor Mansion was set up for business; most of it was stocked with things for Lillian—her favorite books, comics, even her art supplies, and a sewing machine.
• It was a very girlish room, and Conrad's presence there seemed out of place.
• Seeing him unoccupied, Alice spoke up. "Mr. Conrad, Miss Evelyn is still in the hospital, waiting for you. Aren't you going to visit her?"
• "Didn't you say she's fine? Tell her to focus on getting better and stop bothering me with this." His tone was laced with irritation.
• Alice bit her lip. "The White family's asking when you'll have time to join them for a meal. Miss Daisy's grandmother, Old Mrs. White's 80th birthday is next week."
• Conrad didn't reply. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and stared at Alice.
• A chill ran down her spine, and Ford quickly spoke up. "Mr. Conrad, if there's nothing else, we'll head out."
• "Go on."
• Once they were downstairs, Ford looked at Alice's discontented face and said, "If you want to keep your job at the Brown Family Group, learn what to say and what not to. Your position is easily replaceable."
• Alice shot a resentful look upstairs. She couldn't understand it—what did Conrad see in Lillian? Three years, and he still wasn't tired of her?
• Conrad, back to work, had just finished charging Lillian's phone. When he turned it on, a flood of messages popped up. Aside from a few work group chats, he found nothing from any men. But her aunt had sent over a dozen messages, all scolding her.
• One read, [Your uncle's business can't survive without Mr. Mark's support anymore. You think that little paycheck of yours is enough? Just listen to me. Mr. Mark likes you, and I've set up a golf date for you with him. Behave yourself, and we can secure the project.]
• Conrad's gaze darkened, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk.
• Upstairs, Lillian was sulking alone in her room. Suddenly, the door swung open.
• She shot to her feet, nearly stumbling. Conrad caught her.
• "So you say you want to leave, but here you are practically throwing yourself at me. Playing hard to get, huh?"
• She steadied herself. "Like you even need anyone to play hard to get for you?"
• Instead of getting mad at her remark, he actually seemed amused. "You've got a point."
• She looked at him, baffled.
• "Honestly, I'm not fond of you like this. Keeping a woman who doesn't listen? No thanks. Go ahead, leave if you want."
• He tossed her phone to her, watching her actually go and start packing her things.
• He added lazily, "But think it over. Once you're out, it won't be so easy to come back."
• With her back to him, she couldn't see his expression. "If I'm leaving, I won't be back."
• As she picked up her phone, Conrad spoke again. "After everything between us, you're really going to just walk out like that?"
• She paused, looking down. "If you're willing to give me some money and the house you promised, I'd be really grateful. I really need the cash."
• Conrad stared at her. "By sticking with me, you'd have had way more than that—everything you could ever want, right in front of you."
• Lillian stayed silent, stubbornly standing there, and it made him want to break her defiant stance.
• "Ford will contact you later. You'll get what's owed to you. Now go—and don't let me see you again."
• She hurried down the stairs without a single look back. But his voice, dark and menacing, echoed behind her.
• "If I see you again, it won't be up to you whether you stay or go."
• Her whole body tensed, but she forced a laugh. "Don't worry, Mr. Conrad. We're worlds apart, and I'll make sure to stay out of your way. Just forget about a clueless woman like me."
• She had nothing—everything she had came from him. With the money, she'd take her grandmother and leave, start fresh in a new city. She could make it work, she was sure of it.
• As for Conrad, she'd given him everything she had; there was nothing left to owe him.