Chapter 14 You're Lying
They took a cab together to Oscar's university.
Along the way, Leo was still worried that it might not be appropriate for Oscar to go back to the dormitory right after getting out of the hospital. In fact, Lillian was worried too, but since she was currently staying at Sinclair Villa, she couldn't let Oscar know that, so she said nothing.
Oscar never liked staying at Harry's house. He'd rather stay in the dormitory than go back, "It's okay, my roommates will take care of me. You two don't need to worry."
"If you need anything or feel unwell, call me right away. Don't just bear it," Lillian, feeling guilty and somewhat sad, told Oscar.
"I have Felix’s contact and if I’m feeling unwell, I’ll ask him," Oscar reassured Lillian. "I'm an adult now, don't worry about me."
They hadn't gathered for a meal and chat in a long time, so tonight they ate and talked, just like a family. Lillian was happy, so she even had a couple of beers, causing her cheeks to flush with color. Leo watched her, his hand under the table involuntarily clenched into a fist.
After the meal, Lillian and Leo accompanied Oscar back to his dorm. Oscar's roommates were thrilled to see him return and eagerly came up to help him. After Lillian asked them to take good care of Oscar, she left.
"Should we go for a walk? Christmas is coming, and from tonight until New Year's Day, there are going to be events and shows in Ilington," Leo suggested.
Lillian glanced at her watch. It was already past nine in the evening. She declined, "Not tonight, I need to head home."
"That works, we can go next time," Leo said, planning to hail a cab. "Let's head home then."
The taxi pulled up in front of them, and Lillian instinctively stepped back, "Leo, I... I'm not staying at Lisa's place anymore. I'm sharing an apartment with a colleague now, so we can't go back together."
"What? You moved out? When? Why didn't you tell me?" Leo asked, surprised.
Lillian forced a smile and said, "It was when you were away on your business trip. My colleague didn't want to live alone, and you know what it's like with Lisa at home, I was really fed up, so I just moved out."
"Where's your new place? Is it safe?" Leo asked, concerned. "You can still get in the cab, I'll go with you to your place first."
"No, no, no!" Lillian quickly objected. She opened the taxi door for him, "Then you'll get home really late. You better go, your mom is waiting for you. Don't worry about me, I'll call you when I get home."
After saying that, she turned to the driver and said, "Drive him to Prosperity Avenue, please."
Leo rolled down the window, worried, "Be careful when you take a cab, remember to check the license plate number, and call me right away when you get home, okay?"
"I know, I will!" Lillian shouted back, "Goodbye!"
Lillian looked around, unable to determine which direction to go. After consulting her map for a while, she figured out the direction to the subway station and headed straight for it.
After getting off the subway, she walked toward Sinclair Villa. The ground was slippery with salt scattered over the melting snow, and Lillian struggled to walk on the muddy path.
It took her over half an hour to cover what should have been a twenty-minute walk. When she arrived at the door, she rang the doorbell, and Kelly quickly let her in.
"Kelly, I'm back," Lillian said as she changed her shoes in the entryway. She poked her head through and quietly called out toward the kitchen door.
Entering the living room, Lillian saw Alexander sitting solemnly, his gaze coldly fixed on her, which startled her into a scream.
"Mr. Sinclair, why are you still up so late?" Lillian chuckled nervously, reporting to him, "I went to pick up Oscar from the hospital tonight, so I got back late."
"Did you go with your boyfriend?" Alexander asked in a chilly voice, squinting at her.
"He's not my boyfriend. He's my neighbor," Lillian clarified, then asked, puzzled, "Mr. Sinclair, why do you ask? Did you see him?"
Alexander stood up, hands in his trouser pockets, and slowly walked over to her, looking down at her intimidatingly, and asked in a cold voice, "Do you realize you're married?"
"Ah?" Lillian looked up, her expression puzzled, and nodded in acknowledgment, "I know that."
"Really?" Alexander asked with a smirk, "Have you always been so flirty?"
