Remembering Maxwell Thornton’s almost predatory demeanor from last night, which nearly overwhelmed her, Lily Bennett felt a shiver run down her spine. She swallowed nervously and sat quietly. Maxwell, however, showed no sign of discomfort. He smiled warmly and said, “Well, the results are in. The time it took wasn’t measured in mere seconds, right? I’m sure Mr. Bennett can confirm that.”
"..." Lily covered her face with her hands. Why was she even discussing such a delicate subject with a man whose skin seemed thicker than a fortress wall? She only brought embarrassment upon herself.
“First of all, call someone to bring me some clothes. You ripped mine last night, and my bag is in the private room downstairs. Have someone get it for me,” Lily demanded, unwilling to linger and bicker with Maxwell. She just wanted this over with so she could go home.
Maxwell glanced at her briefly and asked, “Do you want something to eat?”
“No, what I need is… for us to never see each other again.” Lily responded without thinking, turning her face away.
Maxwell’s lips twitched slightly. “That won’t work, I’m afraid. You still owe me… quite a bit… of money.”
“Then should I just pay you back with my body?” she retorted.
“I’m quite selective,” Maxwell leaned in closer, his deep voice laced with arrogance, but somehow sweet like honey. “The women who come to me don’t demand money. They consider it a privilege, a gift, to be close to the Thornton Corporation's chairman.”
Lily leaned back, defeated. “Then how am I supposed to pay off my debt? Can we just pretend none of this happened, like last night never existed?”
“The car is still in the garage for repairs, Dr. Bennett. You can’t pretend none of this happened. Just like last night—it’s a truth you can’t erase.” Maxwell’s gaze was serious as he spoke.
Lily was left speechless. Of course, paying back her debt was only fair, but after what had happened between them, things couldn’t possibly go back to the way they were. Meeting again would never feel the same.
As if reading her thoughts, Maxwell added, “Of course, since I was the one who forced myself on you last night, if you want to wipe out the 3 billion debt and sue me for assault, you might be able to negotiate the debt away.”
What was that supposed to mean? Was he deliberately using his reputation to humiliate her, trying to imply she was a woman who would sell herself for money?
Maxwell’s words were meant to provoke Lily, to see how she would react to such blatant contempt from a man who had just spent the night with her. However, instead of getting angry, Lily smiled calmly. She even nodded slightly at him, her expression serene as she said, “Fine. I won’t pay off the debt, nor will I sue you. We’re adults, let’s not act like children. You didn’t force me, and besides, I have no proof.”
Her unexpected response took Maxwell by surprise. His eyes narrowed as he studied her.
Lily continued without hesitation, “Who would sue someone for consensual sex between adults and call it an illegal transaction? That would make me a prostitute, wouldn’t it? A night for 3 billion. Chairman Thornton, you’re quite generous.”
Maxwell, "..."
Perhaps she was an exception. It wasn’t unusual for people to look alike, but for their personalities to mirror each other so closely was something else entirely. Maxwell found himself intrigued by Lily.
Picking up a shirt from the floor, Maxwell casually slipped it on, chuckling as he said, “I’ve always been generous. If you sleep with me a few more times, you might end up with a car, a house, money… and children…”
“I’m not a prostitute, and I will pay off my debt to you, without question!” Lily stared at Maxwell, her eyes filled with determination.
Maxwell moved closer, sitting beside her on the bed, his gaze serious. “Three billion is just a number. If you’re mine, you could have far more than that.”
“So you want me, but I’m not interested!”
“Isn’t that what you said last night?” Maxwell teased.
Lily had completely forgotten whatever she might have said in the heat of the moment. All she could remember were the pleas for mercy she uttered while lost in a daze.
She laughed, “I don’t remember anything I said last night. I’ve forgotten everything! Why don’t you help me recover my memory?”
Maxwell burst out laughing, then looked at her intently. “To put it simply, you have two options. First, we wipe out the 3 billion and pretend last night never happened, if you see yourself as a prostitute. Second, you become my woman, and the 3 billion will be a gift from me. Tomorrow, you come with me to meet my parents, and we sign a three-month contract. After three months, I’ll let you go, and our contract will end... no one owes anyone anything.”
Three months, Maxwell thought. Three months would be enough time for him to figure out who Lily truly was. He couldn’t believe that there were two people so identical in appearance and personality. He needed to discover the connection between her and Monica. Maybe Lily had amnesia or had gone through some tragic event that caused her to forget him over the past six years. Regardless, three months would bring many changes between them.
At least, that’s what Maxwell hoped. Since meeting Lily, their relationship had already progressed faster than he’d anticipated. Yet, neither option he presented seemed to appeal to her. Wrapping the blanket around herself, Lily’s clear, bright eyes looked at him thoughtfully.
She gently asked, “Is there a third option?”
“Yes,” Maxwell responded immediately.
A spark ignited in Lily’s eyes. “What is it?”
“By market standards, your value is much higher. Would you like to consider that option?” Maxwell smiled at her from the edge of the bed.
Sell myself to you? Dream on. Lily snorted, “Chairman Thornton, you seem to have a keen understanding of market values, even assigning prices to human beings. Truly admirable.”
She casually tossed her long hair over her shoulder, a simple movement that revealed her delicate, bare shoulder. The sight caused Maxwell’s gaze to linger, captivated by the enticing view.
Sensing his heated stare, Lily glanced at him and said, “What are you looking at?”
Suddenly, she remembered something and turned her thoughtful gaze toward Maxwell. “Earlier, are you feeling alright? Does this happen to you often? If you’re not feeling well, you should go to the hospital… Leaving it untreated might be bad for your kidneys, you know.”
They had been discussing contracts, and now she was talking about his health. Maxwell felt his mood drop. He seriously considered strangling her for ruining the moment.
Maxwell pulled Lily into his arms, his gaze darkening as he looked down at her. “Even if I were sick, it wouldn’t be flaring up right now. Are you worried about me?”