Time seemed to fly, yet Lilian remained dreadful of her past experiences. For the past three months, every time she closed her eyes, nightmares haunted her. She would wake up trembling, her heart pounding, unable to escape the shadows of her memories.
Despite this, progress was being made. With Elsie's help, Lilian had secured a suitable site to launch her company — a business dedicated to luxury goods and services, including high‑end retail, fashion, and jewelry, as well as a health and wellness center. Elsie, who had completed her final exams three weeks earlier, now devoted herself fully to assisting Lilian. She supervised renovations, oversaw decorations, and managed the details that Lilian refused to handle in person.
Lilian, still unwilling to step outside, insisted she would only appear once the company was ready. For now, she relied on Elsie to bring anything requiring her attention back to the cottage.
---
One evening, Lilian lay casually on the couch. Sleep overtook her, and once again she found herself running desperately in her dream. Perry's men pursued her, their shadows stretching across the ground. She ran until she reached the end of the road. Before her lay a vast, endless sea; behind her stood Perry, and on both sides his men closed in.
She was left with only two choices: surrender to Perry's mercy or drown in the sea. Determined to free herself, Lilian leapt into the water. She struggled, gasping for air, until she jolted awake, panting and drenched in sweat. Her chest heaved as she clutched it in fear. The dream had felt so real that she could still sense the chilling cold of the sea water against her skin.
---
Meanwhile, in Perry's villa, no one could manage his temper. For months, his rage had been uncontrollable. Morgan Jerome, seeing his son's decline, decided to spend more time with him. Perry often relied on sleeping tablets to rest, and one night Morgan entered his son's room quietly. He sat beside the bed, watching Perry's handsome face, finally relaxed in sleep.
Just as Morgan was about to leave, he frowned. Perry was talking in his sleep. Curious, Morgan leaned closer, listening. Perry was dreaming of Lilian — making love to her, calling her name. His body betrayed his longing, his arousal evident even in sleep.
Morgan's heart ached. This had been happening often. He had sent countless beautiful, clean women to Perry, but his son rejected them all. At first, Morgan believed Perry would forget Lilian and move on. But now he realized he had underestimated his son's feelings.
---
Morgan sat quietly as Perry's dream grew more intense. "Come, baby… fuck me hard, Lily… I love you, baby girl… Aaaah!" Perry screamed, then woke abruptly, realizing it was only a dream. He clutched his pillow tightly, sobbing like a child. "Lilian, please come back. I won't auction you. I'll do whatever you want. Please, just come back."
Morgan could no longer bear it. He sighed deeply. "Crying won't help you, son. Let's find a way to bring this girl back."
Perry stopped, sitting up, his eyes fixed on his father with desperate expectation. Morgan asked gently, "Do you have her picture?"
Without hesitation, Perry grabbed his phone. His gallery was filled entirely with Lilian's photos — intimate, nude, sensual. Morgan sighed, acknowledging silently that Lilian truly was breathtaking. She was worthy of his son's obsession.
He selected a few decent photos and sent them to his assistant's phone. Then, without another word, he handed the phone back to Perry and walked out.
---
Soon, the world knew her name. Lilian Asienwegher was declared wanted across the country, even in neighboring nations. A reward of ten million dollars was offered to the first person who could find her.
---
Back in Los Angeles, Lilian remained indoors, preparing to finally visit her company on Monday. She was unaware of the storm brewing outside until Elsie rushed into the room, her face pale, her movements anxious. She stood silently, staring at Lilian.
Surprised, Lilian asked, "Elsie, why did you walk in so quietly and just stand there staring at me? What happened?"
Instead of answering, Elsie asked, "Lilian, tell me… who exactly did you provoke? Who would offer such an amount of money just to find you?"
Lilian frowned, confused. "What are you talking about?"
Elsie pressed, "Check your phone. It's all over the news."
---
With trembling hands, Lilian opened her phone. Her eyes widened as she read the headlines. Her name blazed across the screen: Lilian Asienwegher Wanted — $10 Million Reward.
She sat frozen, immobile, shock coursing through her veins. Elsie quickly sat opposite her, demanding an explanation.
Lilian took a deep breath, her eyes pleading, her voice trembling. "What exactly do you want from me, Perry Jerome? It's not as if you lack women around you."
Elsie gasped, suspicion dawning. "Wait… Perry Jerome? Isn't he the pampered son of the president of Avaldos?"
Lilian exhaled heavily, frustration etched on her face. She nodded. "Yes. It's him."
---
Elsie's heart shook. She looked at Lilian curiously. "Perry Jerome is handsome, powerful, and rich. Why don't you like him?"
Lilian's lips curved into a bitter smile. "Like him? There's no good end in liking him. Please… let's not talk about it now."
Elsie inhaled deeply, nodding reluctantly. But her concern remained. "So what are you going to do? You're supposed to start going to the office on Monday."
Lilian stared at her friend, the weight of her situation pressing down harder than ever.