Chapter 23
Sometimes, things aren't always what they seem.
"Are you saying that Alexander once loved someone?" Lilly asked.
Richard nodded. "Yes, and she gave him another reason to avoid relationships. First, it was his mother, and then it was her."
"Her?" Lilly repeated, curious.
"The woman he loved when he was just 21, while he was building his company from scratch. They met in college, and Alexander decided to take a chance on love. He cared for her deeply and was willing to do anything for her, but she betrayed him. And then karma struck swiftly."
"What do you mean by karma striking swiftly?" Lilly asked, intrigued.
"She fled, and the private jet she escaped on crashed. This is the main reason Alexander harbors hostility towards women and vowed never to marry until his grandfather's will was read."
---
On her way back home, Lilly was lost in thought, reflecting on everything Richard had told her. Their conversation had been interrupted when Dr. Elena returned to conduct a series of tests. Lilly was confirmed to be three weeks pregnant. Alexander wasted no time informing her that she would not be working until after the baby was born. He had one of his cars take her home while he headed to the office.
Later that day, Lilly called Sarah to explain that she wouldn't be able to work for the time being. She also contacted Jacob and Michael to check on their ongoing investigation. They informed her that they had made significant progress and expected to uncover something substantial soon.
Lilly took a nap in the afternoon and was awakened by a knock on her door. She got up to answer it and found Clara standing there with a guard carrying two large boxes.
"What is this?" Lilly asked, stepping aside to let them in.
"The boss sent these for you, ma'am," Clara replied.
"And what are they?"
"These are the packages he instructed us to bring to you," the guard explained.
"Packages?" Lilly looked at the closed boxes. They appeared to be from luxury brands, likely containing clothes, shoes, or bags, but she wasn't sure.
"What's inside?" she asked.
"I don't know, ma'am. He just asked us to deliver them," the guard replied before they both left.
Lilly closed the door and proceeded to check the contents of the boxes. Inside the first box was a pair of heels, not too high. The next box contained a beautiful, limited-edition purse, and the third box held a stunning dress that fell just below the knee, all exuding luxury.
Why would he send these to her? Lilly wondered as she examined the items.
Her phone rang, and she saw it was Alexander calling.
"I assume you've seen the dress and other items. Be ready by 7 PM; my chauffeur will pick you up," he said when she answered.
"May I know where we're going?" she asked.
"You'll see," he replied before hanging up.
---
Lilly sighed, puzzled by the sudden gesture. By 6:30 PM, she was dressed in the elegant silver gown with light makeup and her hair falling down her back. She went downstairs, and Clara informed her that the chauffeur had arrived. Lilly headed outside, and one of the guards opened the door of a luxury Bentley Mulsanne for her. She got in, and the chauffeur drove away from the mansion.
"Where are we going, Frank?" Lilly asked.
"To Kane's 10-star hotel, ma'am," Frank replied, keeping his eyes on the road.
Lilly wanted to ask more questions but felt it wasn't the chauffeur's place to answer. After about an hour, they arrived at the most exquisite 10-star hotel, owned by Alexander. She had researched the hotel, which was a notable tourist attraction in the city. The hotel reportedly generated billions of dollars annually. Alexander's rapid success in just eight years always amazed people.
The car parked in the underground garage, and two of Alexander's bodyguards escorted Lilly into the hotel. The interior was even more stunning than the exterior, showcasing luxury, class, wealth, and extravagance. Every floor had its own unique design and elegance. Only the extremely wealthy could afford a room here. They led Lilly to the most exclusive restaurant within the hotel. At a table in the far corner, Alexander sat, his face expressionless as he looked at his cell phone.
As Lilly walked towards him, she felt eyes turning to watch her. She was usually confident, but this time, she felt nervous. The restaurant was filled with people from the highest elite class of society.
---
Country B was divided by different classes: the elite, the middle class, and the poor. Each class had its own subdivisions. Among the elite, there were the rich, the wealthy, and the top elite class, which consisted of the country's most powerful and wealthy individuals. These people were not easily recognized. While others might flaunt luxury goods, the top elite wore items that were unique and not available to anyone else. Being from this elite society herself, Lilly knew her dress, bag, and shoes were one-of-a-kind. However, her nervousness stemmed from the fear of being recognized, just as Kate had recognized her at the mall.
Alexander noticed her arrival and stood up, behaving like a gentleman by pulling out a chair for her. "It suits you," he said after she sat down.
"Why are we here?" Lilly asked.
"Look around you," he instructed.
Lilly glanced around and saw people whispering and looking in their direction. "I can see people talking and looking at us, but that's not the reason we're here, right?" A waiter approached and bowed.
"Place your order," Alexander said.
After they ordered, the waiter left. "Don’t you think it's right for me to take you out for dinner now that you're pregnant?"
Lilly pretended to consider this before replying, "Yes, it’s right."
She tried not to dwell on why he had bought her such an expensive dress just for dinner.
Alexander watched her eat slowly. Noticing he had barely touched his food, Lilly looked up and saw him watching her intently.
"Mr. Kane, is there something on my face?" she asked, touching her face. She thought she heard him chuckle.
She quickly looked up in surprise but saw only a blank expression. Was she mistaken? She had clearly heard him chuckle. She had never seen him smile or laugh and always hoped to witness it someday. She couldn't help but recall what Richard had told her about Alexander being betrayed by the woman he once loved.
"Focus on finishing your food," Alexander's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Lilly picked up her cutlery to start eating again but suddenly felt anxious. She looked around and saw everyone else was busy with their meals, but she couldn’t shake the feeling.
"What is it?" Alexander asked.
Lilly was surprised he noticed her change in mood. "Can we... leave?" she pleaded.
"Why do you want to leave?" Alexander asked, searching her eyes for an answer.
"I just..." Lilly began, but was interrupted by someone calling her name.
"Lilly."
Lilly's eyes widened at the familiar voice. She slowly turned to confirm her suspicion.
"Albert?"
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