Chapter 2 A New Substitute

Lillian was his. Conrad's woman.

He'd kept her around for three years, watched her go from a timid little thing to someone bold enough to curse him out while lying beneath him.

Conrad let out a cold laugh, gripping her chin and staring at the anger and defiance in her eyes.

"If I remember right, you were the one who begged me to take you back then."

Hearing him bring up the past, Lillian's eyes flickered, but she quickly spoke in that soft, dismissive tone of hers.

"Yeah, that was back then."

"Seems like I've been way too easy on you lately. So easy, you don't know your place." Conrad's face darkened. "Get out."

His car sped off, leaving her standing there under the harsh red glow of the taillights. The night wind sent chills through her, but she stood frozen for a while before shaking herself off.

She started walking, not even expecting to find a cab in a place like this. Her phone battery had died too, and she guessed it would be dawn by the time she reached the city.

Suddenly, headlights lit up in front of her, making her squint against the glare.

His irritated voice cut through the darkness. "You're slower than a turtle. Get in before I have to drag you in myself."

She wanted to have the backbone to refuse, but before she could say anything, he'd already slammed his car door and was striding toward her. He grabbed her and shoved her into the back seat.

The convoy headed straight to the Hillside Villa—his territory. From here, the view of City N was unmatched. She'd seen it from this villa for three years, but now, even after they'd torn into each other, Conrad still dragged her back.

He was furious. As soon as they got inside, he tossed her onto the bed, ripped off his tie, and loomed over her. She barely had a chance to protest. Her body had been trained to respond to him, and just one move from him had her pulling close, betraying her without shame.

Tonight, his touch was rough, and seeing her reaction, he gave a cold smile. "With you acting like this, you think you're going to leave me?"

She'd been the one to come to him first, so who did she think she was, deciding to walk away whenever she wanted? It was ridiculous. Who did she think he was?

Lillian wanted to curse him, but he silenced her with her own clothes stuffed into her mouth.

More than an hour later, Lillian lay weakly on the bed, listening to the sound of the shower. Once she managed to gather a bit of strength, she grabbed her scattered clothes and pulled them on quickly.

By the time she rushed downstairs, Conrad hadn't even noticed.

Her legs were shaky, and she probably had a fever. She stumbled as she opened the door, only to be caught off guard by the woman standing there.

It was a familiar face—someone who looked about eighty or ninety percent like her.

For a moment, Lillian felt dazed.

The woman, Evelyn, looked just as surprised, staring at her for a second before snapping out of it with a wary look. "I'm Evelyn. I came to return the coat Mr. Conrad left at my place." She clutched the bag tightly, as if afraid Lillian might grab it, and added pointedly, "He told me to bring it to him personally."

Lillian looked at her cheap outfit and the diamond necklace that seemed entirely out of place, then gave a cold laugh. So, he'd already found a new substitute to replace her. It seemed like Conrad didn't care about her as a person—he just liked the face. As long as a woman had that face, he'd take her.

Seeing Lillian stay quiet, Evelyn stepped inside, her eyes roaming around the room's decor, barely blinking. Her gaze fell on the shoe rack, where two pairs of slippers sat—one black, one pink. She immediately reached for the pink pair.

Without thinking, Lillian said, "Those are mine."

Conrad had just finished his shower and was coming downstairs when he overheard her. With a cold and mocking tone, he said, "Nothing here is yours. Even the lingerie you're wearing—I bought that too."

That was Conrad. When he wanted to spoil you, he'd reach for the stars for you. Cross him, though, and he'd leave you with nothing.

Lillian met Evelyn's slightly smug look and kept her expression calm, but she felt a heaviness in her chest. With a soft laugh, she stepped back into the room, then, right in front of Conrad, unhooked her bra and pulled it out from under her clothes.

Conrad's eyes narrowed as the bra, warm from her body, landed right in his face.

Then Lillian lifted her skirt, hooking her fingers around her underwear. Seeing his furious expression, she smirked and let the thin fabric fall onto his chest.

"There. I returned it. This dress, however, I bought myself. Has nothing to do with you, Conrad." With that, she walked past Evelyn, her expression flat.

"Mr. Conrad… did I upset you two?" Evelyn finally spoke up after a long silence, nervously glancing at him.

Her timid look was almost identical to how Lillian had looked in the past.

Only the wealthy could afford to live at the hillside villa, so there was no way she'd find a cab out here.

Just then, a car pulled up beside her, and when she turned her head, she saw Gordon Smith leaning out the window, flashing the headlights. "Need a ride home, beautiful lady?"

Lillian brushed her hair back and walked over without hesitation.

Even in the simplest clothes, she had a way of making it look striking. Her breasts were noticeable without a bra, and Gordon quickly looked away, tossing her a jacket.

The warmth in the car wrapped around her, driving away the chill from the wind, and she started to feel alive again.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"So, did you get on Conrad's nerves again?" Gordon asked, knowing there had to be a reason she was kicked out so late at night.

"Who, me? I wouldn't dare." She sounded as nonchalant as ever, gazing out the window, lost in thought.

Gordon was one of the few people in their circle who knew about her relationship with Conrad, so there was no need to pretend with him.

"Where to?" he asked.

"Elton Apartments," she replied.

Gordon almost hit the brakes. "What, did Conrad go bankrupt? He's got you living in a place like that?"

She said with a smirk. "Just moved in."

Gordon chuckled. "If you're done with Conrad, consider me. At least I wouldn't ditch a girl to walk through the mountains alone in the middle of the night."

Lillian was a rare beauty; half the men in their circle had their eyes on her. Having a woman like her around was a status symbol. Besides, she was gentle, and considerate, and played her role perfectly—an ideal mistress.

She casually tossed his cigarette out the window. "Sorry, I don't do secondhand smoke. Or secondhand men."

Gordon whistled. "Looks like the little caged bird's planning to fly away."

That nickname—"caged bird"—was all anyone saw in her now. Gone was the once-proud Lewis family heiress; after her family went bankrupt, that's what she'd become.

Lillian laughed with an alluring charm. The cage had a new bird, and she was definitely flying free. Better to pack up and leave on her own terms than be shown the door.

She could be with a man for money, but not if he was married.

Once they arrived, Gordon waved her off to get back to his own nightlife.

The security guard at the entrance stared at her slim figure, eyes scanning her curves under the thin dress, wondering how much it might cost to spend a night with someone like her.

Lillian folded her arms and walked quickly past, dragging her exhausted body up to her apartment.

As soon as she opened the door, a slap came down hard, sending her head sideways.

"Why didn't you answer my calls?"