Back in the White Villa, hidden deep within the forest, Perry woke groggy. He groaned, stretched, and lay still for a moment, but something felt wrong. The side of the bed was empty. The room was pitch dark, and unease crept into his chest. He groped around quickly, his hand finding nothing but cold sheets. Shock jolted him awake. He sat up, the last traces of sleep vanishing, and reached for the switch beside his bed.
The light flickered on. Lilian was not beside him.
Just as he made to rise, the sound of running water reached his ears. Relief washed over him. He smiled, imagining her in the shower, perhaps preparing to please him. He had already planned in his mind to go beyond what he usually demanded of her.
He leaned back, waiting patiently. But five minutes passed. Lilian was still in the bathroom. Impatience gnawed at him. "Besides," he muttered to himself, "it's sweeter in the shower."
Feeling giddy, he marched into the bathroom with a wide smile. "Why didn't you turn on the—" His words froze.
The bathroom was empty. Only the tap ran, water splashing endlessly.
---
A chill ran down Perry's spine. A premonition gripped him, unease he could not shake. Without bothering to turn off the tap, he rushed back to his bedside, snatched his phone, and dialed a number. His hands trembled, his lips quivered.
"Fred," he rasped, "Lilian has escaped. Dispatch our men now. You must bring her back!"
Fred was stunned. Shock rippled through him. He had always thought Lilian ungrateful. Perry treated her exceptionally—aside from satisfying his own cravings, she lost nothing. Surely she could not escape him. And now, provoking Perry, she would lose every privilege she had. Fred shrugged, muttering to himself, "It's her business." Still, he went to carry out the order.
---
Perry quickly dressed, but stopped mid‑motion. Lilian hadn't packed her clothes. He sneered. If it's Lilian I know, she wouldn't care about trivial things like clothes. With her parents' life insurance invested for her, she'll lack nothing in the future. But I, Perry Jerome, will never let you off my hook, Lilian Asienwegher.
He stormed out, dialing her number. No answer. He had implanted a tracker in her phone. Following its signal, he reached the outer gate. Her phone lay discarded by the expressway, a hundred meters from the entrance to the thick trees that concealed his villa.
He picked it up, scanning the information. She had booked a taxi.
Any lingering hope that Lilian had merely stepped out vanished. Anger and disappointment consumed him.
---
Perry dialed his assistant. "Pass me Avery Macdonald's number," he ordered coldly.
Moments later, he called Avery. She was at a club, nearly drunk, entangled with a second‑generation rich boy. Seeing the strange number, she impatiently ended the call. But the caller persisted.
Driving at breakneck speed, Perry's voice thundered through the line. "Avery Macdonald, your sister has escaped. You must provide me with a positive answer."
Avery froze. Shock coursed through her. Perry Jerome himself had called her—because of Lilian? Could the rumors be true? That Perry, the notorious playboy and mafia heir, had become obsessed with Lilian?
For six months, Perry had stopped changing women, focusing only on her. Avery's jealousy skyrocketed. Lilian Asienwegher, what charm do you possess that tamed the almighty Perry Jerome, son of President Morgan Jerome?
But she dared not voice her thoughts. Perry was still on the line.
---
His voice cut through her silence, sharp and impatient. "Let me remind you, Avery Macdonald. If I cannot find Lilian Asienwegher, I will sell you out to satisfy dogs and horses in bed."
Avery trembled violently. "I—I understand, Mr. Jerome," she stammered, before regaining composure. "Don't worry. My sister has nowhere else to go. She will surely return home. I'm on my way back."
She fled the club, fear outweighing her hatred.
---
Hatred toward Lilian burned in Avery's chest, but fear was greater. She had no one to rely on. If her mother, Pamela Vuitton, were still alive, at least Lilian could help. But Pamela was gone—and Avery blamed Lilian.
Since childhood, Pamela had favored Lilian, her niece, over Avery. Avery's resentment grew into hatred. Pamela's reason was simple: Lilian's parents had died when she was less than two years old. But Avery later learned the truth.
Pamela had confessed, heartbroken, that Avery's father, Marvin Macdonald, had stolen everything Lilian's parents left behind—their wealth, their prosperous company. He had lied, hidden his family, and ruined their legacy. Pamela sobbed, guilt consuming her. "I feel guilty, seeing Lilian doing odd jobs while studying. Avery, bring her back, so I can face my sister in the afterworld."
But Avery refused. "Impossible! If I go, Perry Jerome will sell me to humans—"
Pamela's eyes widened. "What did you say? You sold Lilian to Perry Jerome?"
Her heart clenched. She collapsed, clutching her chest. By the time she reached the hospital, doctors confirmed her dead.
---
Lilian, kept by Perry but defiant against his advances, heard of her aunt's death. She begged Perry to let her pay her respects. He refused.
Desperate, she struck a deal. "If you allow me to see my aunt off, I'll agree to whatever you want."
Perry's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Don't even think about escaping," he warned.
Lilian nodded. He personally accompanied her throughout the funeral.
Afterward, Lilian confronted Avery coldly. "Avery Macdonald. Now that the only person connecting us is gone, I sever ties with you. From now on, I will have nothing to do with you. You'd better start looking for where to stay, because I will come back to claim my parents' house."
She walked past Avery with determination.
---
Avery's heart churned. If Lilian escapes, won't she be stranded? Their relationship had reached an irrevocable point.