A thought flashed through Lily’s mind. Seeing the look on his face, she wanted to tease him. She smiled gently and said half-jokingly, “I think the store is quite interesting. Why don’t you buy it, Mr. Russell?”Of course, she was only joking. No matter how wealthy a businessman was, he needed to plan before making any moves. It was not like buying clothes where one could buy whatever they fancied.However, she had forgotten that Alexander was not an ordinary person. To him, buying such a store was not like buying clothes. It was as simple as buying a cup of coffee or a bun.Thus, he replied, “Okay.”Lily was taken aback. “What?!”‘Hahaha.’ Alexander laughed to himself.“B-But…” Lily looked at Alexander's expression and realized that he was not joking. She quickly changed her words and said, “I was joking. Please don’t take it seriously. You should think carefully before deciding to buy a store.”“There’s no need to think further. If you’re okay with it, it’s good enough.” Alexa
Loius stared at her intently with a little smile. “You’re the manager of this project.”Lily was shocked. ‘Since when did I become a project manager? What am I in charge of? I have no idea what the project was about.’ “Nice to meet you, Ms. Christian,” Louis said as he beamed. “Your name sounds familiar to me.”“Oh, I remember now. You’re the winner of the recent perfumery competition, Lily Christian. That was you, right?” Louis asked.Lily had not expected the news to spread so quickly that even people in Marseille knew about it. Moreover, his company specialized in making Southbank soap and was not in the field of perfumery. Now that someone had recognized her, she could be considered a little famous.“Yes, I am.” She nodded in response.Louis’s eyes instantly lit up. “It truly is you! I’m honored to meet you! To be honest, Mr. Russell, I was worried when you said you wanted to combine perfume and the Southbank soap. But if the person in charge is Ms. Christian, then I can res
She did not hate Southbank soap, but it was too insincere to treat corporate gifts as gifts.“It seems that this gift isn’t valuable enough to satisfy you. It’s okay. I have other gifts.” He caught up with her in a few steps and blocked her way.Lily could not do anything but stand there and stare at him as he blocked her path. “Is it another gift under the guise of a corporate gift?” As expected, businessmen would seize every opportunity to generate profit. He did not miss any business opportunities, even when he brought her out to play.“Of course not!”Lily stared at him for a while before she reached out, “Where’s my gift?”He hurriedly handed her the gift bag he was holding, “Didn’t you say you don’t want it?”“I changed my mind!” She opened the bag and looked inside. Unlike ordinary soaps with various fragrances, they had a faint smell of vegetable oil. No matter the color or shape, their smell was the same. The only difference was the concentration of the scent.She did
Lily thought Alexander would just go back to the hotel after finishing his business meeting. She did not expect him to bring her out for a meal. Alexander turned to her and asked, “Did you manage to try the food at the restaurant I recommended?” Lily recalled that chaotic day at the restaurant. She had not seen the boy after that and wondered how he was doing now. Having food allergies was not rare, in fact, many people suffered from one. From dairy products to seafood allergies, some even had allergic reactions to things like millet and eggs.There were actually endless possibilities when it comes to food allergies. It was understandable that some were unaware of their allergies, but Helen was the boy’s mother, how could she not know…?“Is there anything you’d like to have?” Alexander passed her the menu as he knew that she could speak and understand the Westwood language. Lily touched her earlobe and shook her head, “I’m not familiar with the food here. You should orde
“What kind of Southbank fish was used in this dish?” Lily tried to recall the taste of the stew. She could not identify the fish used, but she could taste a tinge of garlic, bay leaf, fennel, and cilantro. The most robust taste of the stew was the sourness of the tomatoes, onions, and celery. There were also several vegetables she would typically not eat as she disliked them, but they were not overbearing when used in the stew, and the taste was acceptable. “There isn’t a certain type of Southbank fish used in the stew,” Alexander explained while smiling as he heard her question. Lily immediately understood that she had asked a silly question. Bouillabaisse was a kind of stew that was traditionally made with Southbank fish. The fish used in the stew did not matter as it depended on their catch of the day. Lily was glad that it was only Alexander who had witnessed her embarrassment. “Then what kind of fish was used in this specific stew? I wasn’t able to identify it,” Lily too
Lily unconsciously glanced at Alexander before answering Olivia, “Nope, why?”Olivia sighed in relief, “Looks like he doesn’t have your number.”“Yeah,” Lily agreed.“He called me yesterday asking if I have your number. I asked him what for, but he refused to tell me. However, he sounded uneasy, and I was worried he’d cause you trouble. You didn’t give him your contact details, right?” Olivia asked again, trying to ease her worry. Lily rolled her eyes and commented, “Why would I do that? I’m already kind enough not to have blocked him.” “I’m glad to hear that. I didn’t give Nate your number either, so don’t worry. Still, with today’s technology, if he genuinely wanted to obtain your number, he would be able to. I feel so relieved after informing you about this. It’s good that you’re aware that he’s looking for you. I was worried he might be up to no good.”Once Olivia got off the phone with Nathaniel, she immediately called Lily to inform her about this.Olivia tried asking Na
Lily’s eyebrows went up in surprise. Firstly, she realized that it was a girl’s name. That was not the critical part. The main issue was that she saw Alexander furrow his eyebrows.With a tap on the screen, he rejected the call.Before he could put his hand back onto the steering wheel, another call came in. Just the ringtone alone was enough to make one nervous.Sighing, he put one hand by the window and reached out with his other to reject the call. Lily blocked his hand. “Answer. It might be urgent.”“I can leave if that’s more convenient for you.” as she said, she undid her safety belt.“It’s not necessary.” Alexander tugged on her. He picked up the phone and answered, “What is it?”“Sob sob sob sob…”Sobbing came from the other end of the line, scaring Lily. She blinked, wondering if she was hallucinating. Alexander was speechless. He looked a little impatient too. “Call me again after you’ve finished crying.”After that, he hung up the call.Lily did not know what to s
After Alexander completed his task and started the car, he saw his wife give him a meaningful gaze. He instantly felt subconscious. “Brittany’s family and mine are family friends. She’s like a sister to me.”When Lily saw how uncomfortable he looked as he tried to explain to her, she could not help but laugh as she asked, “Sister?”He thought the word “sister” sounded weird. Coughing lightly, he said, “Sister, of course. I don’t have that kind of relationship with her.”“What kind of relationship?” she asked quickly.Alexander was stunned.Lily did not want to tease him, but it was the first time she had seen him act this way. She found it fascinating. The more uncomfortable he was, the more she felt like teasing him.He did not have to explain himself. Given his status, even if he did not make any moves, all kinds of ladies would throw themselves at him. He was good-looking, after all. It was quite something. “Lily,” Alexander said helplessly.He sighed and was about to say m
Lily tilted her head up to fight back her tears, saying, “There’s something I find strange.”“What is it?” Mike asked after comforting his son.“Instead of detaining Prince Ross, Her Majesty has sent him back to Yudonia. If so, why couldn’t we reach him?”After some thought, Mike answered, “There are two possibilities. It’s probably due to poor signals, or he doesn’t want us to contact him.”The two shared a look, knowing what each other was wondering.‘Why can’t we contact Ross? Is he planning something?’…Three days later, Lily inserted the last needle into the queen’s leg and looked up at her, saying, “You should start feeling your legs tomorrow. Still, it’ll take some time before you can stand.”Suddenly, Lily chuckled.“Why are you laughing?” Yasmin touched her legs. She had begun to regain sensation in her legs over the last two days. She then began to believe that she could get up. However, the queen was hesitant when the queen heard Lily chuckle.Lily shook her head
Lily straightened up and said without resentment, “Of course, you wouldn’t.”“That’s… quite a pity,” the queen murmured thoughtfully.“Well, there’s a price to pay for everything. That’s how the world balances itself,” Lily continued, “I can’t stop you if you must carry on with R10. Still, I won’t witness whether or not it succeeds. I just wish the outcome isn’t something you’ll regret.”Lily smiled and turned to head out the door.Rick heard their conversation as he stood guard outside. After exchanging looks with Lily as she brushed past him, he entered the room and saw the needles in Yasmin’s legs. “Your Majesty, those needles—”The queen waved dismissively. “It’s okay. Lily will remove them later.”Even so, Rick was wary. “You’re being too careless, Your Majesty. What if that woman—”“She wouldn’t,” Yasmin interjected, shaking her head."Why do you trust her so much?" Rick asked despite himself. The queen fell silent. If Rick had not asked her that, she would not have rea
Lily took out a cloth and unfolded it, revealing a row of silver needles inside. Yasmin was surprised she carried the needles with her.“Tell me. What do you want?” The queen took a deep breath to calm herself. She then reminded herself that she could always say no to Lily’s request. Still, Yasmin was cautious about Lily trying to trick her.Lily casually said, "I left because Prince Ross wanted to help me. I hope you don’t punish him.""That's it?" Yasmin thought she had misheard Lily. 'Is she trying to talk terms with me just so that I won't punish my son?' she wondered in disbelief."Ross is my son. I won't harm him. Don't you think you've wasted an opportunity by making such a request?" The queen shook her head. "I wasn’t sure if you’d blame him, but he did rescue me once. If I don't do anything, it would be ungrateful of me," Lily said gently, "Also, didn’t you already lock him up?"Yasmin was puzzled. "No, I only sent him back to Yudonia. He kept trying to get me to sto
"Three days," Lily replied.“That’s it?!” Yasmin was in disbelief. She thought Lily would try to buy some more time and suspected she would say the process would take several months or even years.‘I haven’t felt my legs for over a decade. I wouldn’t mind waiting for three more days.’“Are you sure I can get up and walk in just three days?” Yasmin pressed her legs hard but felt nothing. She would have treated her legs long ago if it were that easy.The queen had visited many famous doctors from various countries, but they could only stop her legs from getting weaker. However, Lily confidently told Yasmin that she could fix her legs so quickly.Yasmin wanted to believe it.After some consideration, Lily said, “I can’t guarantee that you’ll walk as fast as you once could. After all, you haven’t used your legs for a long time, and your muscles have atrophied. Still, you’ll recover slowly.”Yasmin nodded repeatedly, thinking it was good enough. She never dreamed of walking as well a
“Because only our opinions matter." Lily thought of something and said, "Unless you choose to believe Rhea.""I… don't trust anyone." Yasmin’s expression stiffened as she turned her wheelchair away."Your Majesty, I know you're dedicated to the experiment, but there are other things in life. Have you ever considered letting go of your burden to sightsee? You’ve done enough as a queen over the last few decades. Aren’t you tired of living a lonely life?”Lily gently spoke as she gazed at Yasmin’s back.The older woman caressed her knees with both hands and stared down at her legs, murmuring, “Sightsee, huh? I’ve forgotten what that’s like.”Yasmin had not used her legs for many years. Initially, she could still stand up and sometimes took a few steps. However, she could no longer get to her feet.She had grown accustomed to sitting in a wheelchair, but she felt a pang of sorrow after hearing Lily’s suggestion.Lily asked, “What if I can help you stand again? What if you can walk a
"Yes, I returned not just for him but also for you," Lily said, "I'm sure you were anxious for my return, weren't you?"Yasmin scoffed dismissively. "Why would I be? I have my bargaining chip. Besides, did you honestly think I couldn’t bring you back?""Bargaining chip? Do you mean Nick?" Lily shook her head with a smile. "Don't forget that he's not my son. Do you think he'll be much of a bargaining chip to you if I choose to ignore him for my three children?"She did not wait for Yasmin to reply and continued, "Besides, Nick still has a father who’s willing to die for him. If Mike decides to take drastic action against you— Yes, you're a queen, and you don't care much about an insignificant businessman.“However, don't forget that his business spans worldwide. There's no guarantee what he might do. Who knows, he might spread information that can affect Your Majesty and Yudonia's reputation?""You…" The queen was exasperated but could not retort.Lily noticed it and casually said
Rick could only remain silent at that moment.Yasmin then turned her wheelchair around and blandly said, “Bring Lily over. I’d like to see what excuses that sly woman can come up with.”"Your Majesty?" Rick was puzzled. "You know she'll just lie to you. Why must you—"Yasmin interjected, "I'd like to hear what she has to say."Rick had no choice but to leave and do as she said.As Lily was about to doze off, she heard noises from outside and opened her eyes. Immediately after, the door opened, and Rick appeared. He glared at her and spoke coldly, “Her Majesty wants to see you.”Lily glanced at Rick calmly and stood up as if she had expected his appearance. On the other hand, Mike rose before her and headed out.However, Rick stopped him as he reached the door. “You stay.”"But we came together!" Mike glanced over his shoulder at Lily, signaling her to persuade the man. Rick added, "The queen doesn’t wish to see you. Just stay here!"Lily patted Mike's shoulder and said gentl
Everyone was shocked when Lily returned to the embassy with Mike. One of the staff members quickly left to report the news to Queen Yasmin.Meanwhile, Lily saw people peering at her and Mike from the corner. Afterward, several guarded-looking men appeared. Lilt recognized them as the queen’s attendants. They brought Mike and Lily inside and then gave the duo a thorough search.The men only relaxed after finding nothing suspicious about the duo. Even so, Lily could not see the queen as the men told her to wait in an innermost room instead.After returning to the embassy, Lily felt a sense of strange familiarity. Although she knew the place well, her mindset had changed.She previously hated the embassy and simply wanted to escape. However, she had returned with a critical mission. Not only did she have to complete it, but she also needed to leave the place in one piece.While she was calm, Mike was somewhat anxious. He clasped his hands on his knees and glanced around as he sat dow
"I promise I'll do anything you want, okay?" Mike begged. He was desperate to see his son, so he decided to follow Lily when she insisted on returning to the embassy.Mike continued, “If any of you go with her, they might stop or suspect you. They won’t do that to me. It’s natural for me to want to see and rescue my son. I’m the best candidate because it makes sense for me to sacrifice myself for him.”After a short silence, Lily said, “You’re right.” She then looked at Alexander, who pondered before slowly raising his head and saying, “Me too.”Dominic tapped the table. "So do I."Cameron thought for a moment before saying, "I've no objections."Seeing this, Austin spread his arms and said, "Since you all agree, what else can I say? Let's do it!"It did not matter whether or not he agreed, but he just wanted to support Mike. The latter nodded and became emotional, saying, “Thanks, you guys!”"Why are you thanking us? Just be careful, and don’t be rash like you promised," Aust