Chapter 144: Chapter 144- ex
Morrison threw himself back into his seat, pressing his fingers against his forehead.
At this rate, he’d probably get himself killed from anger before he even had a chance to win her back.
He knew she wasn’t the type to fall for just anyone. Still, hearing her speak like that made his blood boil.
Back when they first got together, all those things that drove him crazy were unintentional. But now... she was deliberately tormenting him, constantly finding new ways to get under his skin.
Meanwhile, Lilian carried on casually, her eyes glued to the laptop screen. She hadn’t tried any other "beefy models" at all. Ever since Morrison, she’d lost all interest in other men. No romance, no thoughts of marriage.
Over the past year, Bert had introduced her to numerous talented men, but for her, it never went beyond a simple acquaintance. She had no desire to pursue them further.
After all, what’s the point of investing in a relationship only to eventually part ways?
Bert had called it the aftereffects of emotional trauma—Morrison had hurt her so badly that she’d learned not to love again. He advised her to live in the moment, not to think about the future, and to enjoy the attention of any man she admired while still in her prime.
Lilian only smiled bitterly. She had loved someone so dazzling, someone who had given her the most intense love she’d ever known. Who else could even compare?
When the plane finally landed, Lilian ignored Morrison completely. Morrison, carrying his travel bag, strolled slowly behind her. She had her luggage, and he trailed along as she went to retrieve it.
She thought, He’s not seriously planning to follow me around, is he? Ugh, so annoying.
Then she shrugged it off—whatever. She wasn’t going to entertain him. She would shut him out without hesitation.
One of Bert’s colleagues was waiting outside to pick her up, as Bert had notified them in advance.
When Lilian emerged, the young American designer rushed over to help with her bags. They were familiar with each other, and after not seeing each other for several days, he wrapped her in a big hug.
"Lilian!"
"Hey, darling Lilian! Finally back! I’ve missed you to death."
The young guy was cheerful and outgoing, and being around Lilian, who was of the same age, they naturally clicked. Their camaraderie looked close, almost intimate.
After the hug, the guy’s eyes wandered and froze. Beside him, a handsome Burg Eltz man was staring daggers at him, his expression dark as thunder. The guy instinctively felt the tension, realizing that this man’s hostility was entirely because of the woman in his arms—Lilian.
He quickly let go and curiously asked Lilian, "Uh... who’s this?"
Lilian smiled faintly and introduced him casually, "A friend of my brother."
Just like that, she distanced Morrison completely in one sentence. Even if she had called him a mere friend, at least it would feel less complicated—but she went with "Dave’s friend."
Morrison’s chest tightened. Everything between them—from being Dave’s friend to now returning to that status—made him feel like he’d never truly existed in her world. It was a twist of emotion that churned painfully inside him.
"This introduction seems... a little inaccurate, don’t you think?"
He scowled, cutting through Lilian’s calm tone, and turned to the young guy with a cold, sharp smile. "I’m her brother’s friend. And also... her ex-boyfriend. The ex who’s currently trying to win her back."
"Oh!"
The young guy’s eyes went wide as if enlightened. "Ah! So you’re the guy who made Lilian go to therapy for a long time when she first came to the U.S.!"
Morrison felt exasperated. From Bert, to Bert’s employees, to now this young guy—everyone seemed to have a unique talent for pushing his buttons.
He had seen Bert’s cunning and ruthless side, Lilian’s razor-sharp tongue on the plane, and now this employee had shoved another jab straight into his chest. If this guy had been his subordinate, Morrison would have kicked him out immediately.
Yet, they all acted as if nothing had happened. The young man, noticing Morrison’s grim expression, didn’t continue the confrontation. He simply opened the car trunk and loaded Lilian’s luggage inside. Morrison, grumbling, tossed his own bag in as well.
The truth was, they weren’t scheming to provoke him or strike at his nerves—they were simply genuine, unfiltered, and didn’t bother hiding their emotions.
Bert loved fiercely and spoiled those he cared for—like Lilian. But if he disliked someone, he wouldn’t even bother to mask it. Every slight, every subtle clash, and every move to hurt the other—it all came naturally to him.
As for Morrison, shamelessly trying to hitch a ride with her? Lilian didn’t even glance at him. She opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, calm and composed.
She knew that since he had followed her here, he wouldn’t give up easily. There was no point in chasing him out of the car—she would deal with him later.
Let him follow. He wouldn’t be allowed inside her home anyway. Once she returned, locked the door, and went to rest against the jet lag, he would be out of luck.
And as for him? Let him stew in it. That was no longer her concern.
As soon as Lilian settled into the car, her phone rang. It was Bert.
"Lilian, did you arrive safely?" he asked, concern clear in his voice.
She answered truthfully, "Yes, I just got here."
Then came the question that made her raise an eyebrow:
"Are you alone?"
Bert didn’t ask lightly. The way he phrased it already hinted at his suspicion. Lilian didn’t bother to hide anything and replied casually,
"No... I’m not."
On the other end, Bert ground his teeth. "I knew it... that shameless man!"
He paused, then asked again, "So... what are you going to do?"
Lilian smiled softly, almost amused. "Nothing. I’ve got a mountain of work ahead of me. No time to think about anything else."
And she truly didn’t. Starting tomorrow, her schedule was packed—Bert’s company needed end-of-month financial settlements, a new fashion shoot was coming up, and dozens of other tasks demanded her attention.
Over the past year, her life had been nothing but work. She had immersed herself completely in it. Work, work, and more work.
"I’ll finish up my side as quickly as I can and come back," Bert said, his voice tinged with urgency. He had plans to set up a studio in Burg Eltz and had been checking a few properties, negotiating prices, all before returning. He was busy, but Bert’s mind was also on Morrison and Lilian.
Lilian, however, felt there was no need to worry him. She reassured him gently, "Focus on your work, Bert. I’m not that naive little girl anymore."
Once, she had believed wholeheartedly in love, thinking devotion alone would bring a happy ending. But after being hurt, she’d learned the hard way. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.
Yet, from the back seat, Morrison heard her words—and they cut sharper than she could have imagined.
She had once been so bright, so innocent—a girl everyone admired. People couldn’t speak enough praise of her; even Linda would gush endlessly. And now... she was claiming she was no longer that naive girl.
For Morrison, hearing that... it was like a punch straight to the chest.