Chapter 60 The Brother Moved in
Although Alexander left in a huff, the next day he still had Kevin go to Oscar's college.
Lillian was anxious at home, thinking about how she would explain things to Oscar when he arrived.
A car pulled into the driveway; Kevin got out and ran around to the back to retrieve the luggage. Oscar, completely bewildered, stared at the villa in front of him, uncertain of what to make of it.
"Oscar, please," Kevin gestured, inviting him inside.
The villa's decor was modestly extravagant, reflecting the owner's taste. How did Lillian end up living here? Did some rich person... Oscar didn't dare to continue the thought.
Alice came over and said politely, "Oscar, please follow me. Lillian is waiting for you in her room."
"Oh, thank you," Oscar said, his demeanor becoming more reserved as he noticed a nanny in the household. He followed Alice to Lillian's room.
"Oscar!" Lillian called out cheerfully upon his entrance, "Come sit down."
As Oscar walked in, he caught the scent of medicinal patches, and with a puzzled look, he asked, "Lillian, are you hurt?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Just took a tumble down the stairs last night because I wasn't paying attention," Lillian replied as she grabbed Oscar's hand and smiled at him. "Did you have fun with your classmates?"
"Lillian, what happened? Why are you living here? Do you have a boyfriend? Or..." Oscar hesitated, not continuing his thought.
Lillian picked up on the meaning behind Oscar's words and chided him, "What are you thinking? Here's the thing, I... I got married."
"Lillian, what are you saying?" Oscar sprang up from the bedside, incredulously asking, "You got married? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Hey, now, calm down. Let me explain it to you slowly."
"Go ahead, I'm listening!" said Oscar, feeling both angry and anxious, failing to understand the situation. He'd never heard Lillian mention having a boyfriend. Whom could she possibly have married? And the injury on Lillian's arm—was it really from a fall?
After hesitating for a moment, Lillian went on to tell Oscar about her past encounters.
"So, you're saying you'll get a divorce after a year?" Oscar asked, frowning. "Lillian, why were you so naive? Adam asked you to go with him, and you just went? Didn't you think about yourself?"
"Oscar, Harry and Lisa raised us. Even though times were tough, we owe them for their care."
Oscar clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with resentment, but he had no rebuttal.
"Oscar, I know you think I don't deserve this," Lillian said softly as she reached out and gently took his hand, "I don't have big ambitions. All I wish for is your health and well-being."
With his eyes red with emotion, Oscar replied discontentedly, "You always do this, never thinking about yourself. You let people walk all over you and won't even tell me! Now tell me the truth, how did you really get that injury?"
"The injury is genuinely from falling down the stairs, I'm not lying to you," Lillian said earnestly.
Seeing her sincerity, Oscar nodded and said, "Then I believe you."
"Lillian, have you and my brother-in-law agreed that I can stay here until school starts? He won't mind, will he?" Oscar added, "What does my brother-in-law do for a living? He must be really rich!"
"It's all settled; you can stay here without worry," assured Lillian. "He's the president of Sinclair Group, our company's CEO."
"Wow!" Oscar exclaimed with his mouth agape, impressed by the revelation.
Lillian watched Oscar with delight, her face breaking into a constant smile.
As Lillian and Oscar were enjoying their conversation, Lucas pushed the door open and came in. Upon seeing Oscar, he paused for a second, then greeted him with a beaming smile, "Hey Oscar, welcome to my home."
"Do you know who I am?" Oscar asked, amused by Lucas's attractive and endearing appearance as he patted the top of his head with a laugh.
"Yeah, Alexander told me about you, that Lillian's brother was coming to stay with us," Lucas said earnestly. "I'm Lucas, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Lucas."
Lucas then said, "Alexander asked me to show you to your room, and then we can have dinner."
"You should get some rest in your room first," Lillian suggested. "If you're not hungry, just let Alexander know."
Lucas led Oscar to a guest room upstairs. Lucas was fond of Lillian, and by extension, took a liking to Oscar as well. He didn't leave Oscar's side, staying with him while he unpacked his luggage before they both headed downstairs together.
"By Alexander, you mean Lillian's husband, right?" Oscar asked.
Lucas nodded vigorously and replied, "Yes, but Alexander won't be home tonight, so it'll just be us for dinner. Alice makes amazing meals."
Oscar guessed that Alice must be the nanny he had seen earlier. With Alexander not being home, Oscar felt more at ease. He had already eaten dinner before arriving and wasn't hungry. Nonetheless, he carried his plate of dinner to Lillian's room, with Lucas following along. They all ate merrily, and Lucas was especially entertained by Oscar's stories, laughing heartily multiple times.
"Can I sleep with Oscar tonight, so he can tell me a story?" Lucas asked Lillian, after having become completely enamored with Oscar and impressed by his humor and talent, despite only having spent a few hours with him.
"Well..." Lillian hesitated, "Oscar is tired tonight, why don't you sleep with Alexander and then you can have a sleepover with Oscar another time?"
"Okay then, Oscar should get a good rest tonight," Lucas agreed obediently, without a trace of petulance.
Alexander was probably tied up with social commitments that evening, and it got late with no sign of him. Unable to wait any longer, Lucas ended up falling asleep in Lillian's room. Oscar, who was also exhausted from the day, went upstairs to sleep.
In an upscale club, Alexander and his two friends were still seated, sipping coffee and chatting, showing no intent to leave.
"Your dad birthday is coming!" Jerry looked at Alexander and asked, "Are you guys headed back to Biarritz for the celebration?"
"My dad is definitely heading back to Biarritz," Alexander said.
Theodore took a sip of coffee, saying, "This year you got married, and Rhett's wife is pregnant, a lot of great news. You guys definitely have to go back."
Alexander rubbed his forehead wearily. "Don't mention Lillian to me. It gives me a headache."
"Please, you're the one with a headache?" Jerry scoffed. "You pushed Lillian down the stairs and you're complaining?"
"What?" Theodore asked, puzzled. "Who got pushed down the stairs?"
Jerry pouted at Alexander, "Dr. Adler came by my place today, mentioned it offhand."
"Dr. Adler said Lillian was pushed?" Alexander asked with a cold stare.
"Dr. Adler didn't exactly say she was pushed, but you and I both know what happened," Jerry said sarcastically. "You really are a bad guy, not only lying to marry Lillian but also mistreating her. That's a bit much."
