Chapter 45 Three Hundred Thousand Dollars, A Single Opportunity
In that moment, a message from Shirley found its way to Lilian.
Shirley: [Don’t come back now.]
Thirty minutes later, spurred by another message from Shirley, Lilian rushed back. She pushed open the door, her voice laced with anxiety. "What's happened?"
"Someone from the Frane Group came looking for me. Look." Shirley motioned with her chin towards the coffee table where business cards and several printed contracts lay.
The contracts were about purchasing the song for Wendy, a song that Lilian had found using Shirley's online information.
Lilian wasn't taken aback that they had sought her out. "Did they threaten you? Offer you money?"
Shirley shrugged nonchalantly, "Just a few threats and a tempting sum of money. But I don't trust them. Can they really have me expelled from school? The Frane family isn't a gang of thugs."
Lilian's expression grew serious. While the Frane family might not be thugs, they were far from harmless.
If they decided to corner them, they could easily crush insignificant individuals like them without causing any uproar.
Her only regret was not injuring Wendy's hand the previous day, rendering her unable to play the piano. She would have loved to see how Wendy would steal other people's compositions then.
"If she wants this composition, let her have it," Lilian declared, tossing the contract back onto the table.
Shirley looked at her, taken aback, her voice rising in anger. "Why should we give it to her? I won't agree. I’m not afraid of them!"
Lilian laughed lightly, "Tell them the composition isn't for sale, but we can authorize Wendy to perform it once, for thirty thousand dollars."
She was curious to see what kind of performance Wendy could deliver.
Shirley's eyes widened before she broke into a chuckle, "Hahaha, $300,000 for a single performance? That's quite a bargain for her! I'll reply right away."
She sent off an email and then extended her hand towards Lilian. "Where's the divorce certificate? Hurry up and show it to me. Let's post an update and announce your upcoming marriage!"
Lilian slumped onto the couch, "We didn't get divorced. Jackson went abroad."
Shirley held back her anger for a moment, but finally let it out, "I knew he wasn't a good man! He goes on business trips while paving the way for his mistress, and he delays the divorce. How shameless can he be?"
*
Upon hearing that the song could be licensed for a staggering $300,000, Wendy couldn't help but scoff. "Easy money!" she declared, her voice dripping with derision. "It's just songwriting, after all. But I suppose she's cunning enough." The hefty sum wasn't coming from her own coffers, so she was only concerned with the outcome. A sense of satisfaction washed over her.
Rose, catching onto Wendy's mood, chuckled. "I suppose she became avaricious at the sight of Jackson. These so-called composers put on such a grand show, but they crumble at the sight of a little cash. Paying $300,000 to use the song once, and then when it's reported, it'll be seen as Jackson's grand gesture of love, sparking envy in everyone, won't it?"
Wendy's eyes sparkled at the thought. "Then you'd better craft the news well, and let everyone know just how greedy that rising star truly is."
Rose was no stranger to the art of belittling others to elevate oneself. She nodded in agreement. "Understood. I'll also brush up on my violin skills for you. It's been a while since I last played."
Since her return to their homeland, Wendy had neglected her violin. Her focus had shifted elsewhere. As Rose handed her the instrument, Wendy reluctantly adopted the correct posture. A shrill note pierced the air, causing her to discard the violin in disgust, her face a mask of pain and irritation.
"What's the matter with you?" Rose asked, taken aback.
"It's that wretch Lilian," Wendy spat, her voice filled with venom. "She hit me so hard that my arm and hand are still aching. I've had enough of practicing!" Her face twisted in hatred as she revealed the still-swollen area where she'd been struck.
Recalling how Grace had secretly watched videos of Lilian participating in childhood dance competitions, Wendy's jealousy flared, her eyes burning with deep-seated hatred. If only Lilian's legs were crippled!
Jackson had vanished without a trace after his departure, and it wasn't until a day later that he sent Lilian a message.
Jackson: [There was a major accident in the project, and I went abroad. Not sure when I'll be back.]
Lilian, annoyed by his abrupt disappearance, promptly blocked him. A week slipped by in the blink of an eye, marked by incessant rain. The weather in New York had taken a chilly turn.
Lilian left without taking any of the designer clothes from the wardrobe. They were meant for Mrs. Frane, not her.
Shirley, seizing the opportunity of the weekend, took Lilian shopping. They entered a bustling mall, and Shirley guided Lilian directly to a familiar shoe store.
"You need to wear soft-soled flat shoes now, don't wear the ones before, buy two more pairs today," Shirley advised.
Lilian nodded in agreement. "Yes, I will do as you say." She tried on a pair of shallow leather shoes, while Shirley, spotting another unique pair, ventured to the other side of the store.
Lilian stood up and took a few tentative steps to test the fit of the shoes. The floor, freshly mopped, had a wet spot that hadn't dried yet. She stepped on it and slipped, falling backwards.
"Lilian!" Shirley cried out, her heart lurching at the sight. Lilian was pregnant - what if the fall had harmed the baby!
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