THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS' COMEBACK

CHAPTER 8

It took Lily almost half an hour of touching every surface and admiring every detail of the car's interior before she finally settled in.

"Don't blame me for acting this way," she said, still running her fingers over the leather seats.

"I've been a fan of cars since I was little. Aside from designing clothes, I also dabble in car design here and there. But this—" she gestured around in awe "—this is my first time actually sitting inside a luxury car. Our family only ever owned one that was worth, like, a few thousand dollars at most."

I raised an eyebrow. "Lily, a car worth 'few thousands dollars' doesn’t exist. Even the cheapest ones cost tens of thousands. Owning a car is already a luxury in today's economy."

Living on my own for nearly four years has broadened my perspective.

It wasn’t easy—saving every penny just to afford a proper mattress, let alone a vehicle. If I had to live independently for the rest of my life, relying only on myself, who knew if I’d ever be able to own a car at all?

Lily hummed in thought, tapping her fingers against the armrest. "I guess you're right. I mean, I’ve been lucky enough never to worry about stuff like that. But you? You have a brother who can afford things like this, yet you've been out here fending for yourself like some lone warrior in the wilderness."

I snorted. "Lone warrior?"

She grinned. "Yeah, like a survival expert. You should write a guidebook: How to Live Independently Without Losing Your Mind."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."

Lily sighed, her expression turning more serious. "Honestly, though, if you have a reliable brother, why would you choose to endure such a life, Clara?"

I leaned my head back against the seat, staring at the car’s ceiling for a moment before answering.

"Because I wanted to live normally and independently. I wanted to know what it's like to rely on myself and make my own choices."

Lily tilted her head, considering my words. "But isn’t it exhausting? Knowing you have a safety net but refusing to use it?"

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Maybe. But at least I know that every cent I’ve earned came from my own hard work, and every decision I’ve made was mine to make. If things hadn’t gone south with Tyler and his whole circle, I might still be standing on my own two feet, never needing my brother’s help."

Lily sighed, shaking her head with an amused chuckle. "Damn, Clara. You’re stubborn as hell."

I smirked. "Tell me something I don’t know."

She stretched her arms and sank further into the plush seat. "Well, at least I get to ride in luxury now. Perks of having a best friend with a rich brother. And if Tyler and his little clique ever see you like this, I bet they'll lose their minds."

"I can’t wait to see their faces when they realize they never actually broke you," Lily added, practically buzzing with excitement. "You’re going to get your revenge, and it’s going to be glorious!"

I turned to the window, watching as the cityscape blurred past. Buildings stood tall, casting long shadows over the streets.

Me too, Lily. Me too.

I couldn't wait for the day I could finally give them back the betrayal, humiliation, and pain they'd caused me.

Just you all wait

I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar sting of old wounds. But this time, there was no sadness—only determination.

I had walked away from that life once, leaving behind everything I thought I wanted. Now, I was coming back, but not as the same person they had tossed aside.

This time, I wouldn’t be the one left broken.

—

Hours passed as we drove through winding roads and bustling streets, the rhythmic hum of the engine lulling Lily into a deep sleep. Her head rested against the window, her soft breathing the only sound in the quiet car.

The sky had darkened, city lights glowing like stars in the distance. I glanced at the GPS—ten more minutes.

As we neared our destination, I reached over, giving Lily’s shoulder a gentle shake. "Lily, wake up. We’re here."

She groaned, shifting slightly before cracking one eye open. "Mmm….five more minutes."

I smirked. "Unless you want me to leave you in the car, I suggest you get up."

That got her attention. She sat up with a groggy expression, rubbing her eyes. "Ugh, how long was I out?"

"A few hours."

Lily stretched her arms with a yawn. "Damn, that was a good sleep! Luxury cars really do bring another sense of comfort that other cars don’t!"

She blinked a few times before glancing out the window. "So, where are we again?"

The driver stepped out and walked around to open our door. "Ms. Clara, we have arrived."

Lily leaned forward, pressing her face against the glass. "Holy crap! This is the hotel?!"

I swallowed. "Apparently.”

Towering before us was a grand structure bathed in warm golden lights. The entrance alone looked like something out of a movie—polished marble steps, towering pillars, and a valet service with men dressed in suits opening doors for guests who stepped out of high-end cars.

Lily turned to me with wide eyes. "Clara. This isn’t just a hotel! This is the kind of place where rich people stay. Wow! your brother is rich rich, huh?"

I shook my head slightly. "I mean….he’s hardworking."

Lily scoffed. "Hardworking?! Clara, this is beyond just hard work! Are you and your brother some kind of second-generation heirs or something?"

I didn’t answer. Instead, I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out of the car, feeling the cool night air brush against my skin.

“Come on, let’s go,” I said, straightening my jacket.

Lily scrambled out after me. “Hey! Answer me! I need to know!” she demanded, catching up to me with a dramatic stomp of her foot.

I ignored her, keeping my gaze forward as we walked toward the entrance.

Lily groaned, throwing her hands in the air. “Clara, come on! Just tell me you’re some kind of second-generation heiress so I can prepare my heart! I need to know what I’m dealing with here! I can’t keep getting shocked left and right!”

I sighed, glancing at her as we reached the grand entrance. “I’ll explain it to you later. Let’s just go inside and settle into the place where we’ll be staying for now.”

Lily narrowed her eyes. “You promise?”

“Yes, yes,” I said, waving a hand dismissively.

There was no point in hiding anything from her anyway, especially when she was doing so much for me without asking for anything in return.

The least I could do was give her an explanation so she wouldn’t be left in the dark while she stayed by my side.

Just as we stepped into the lobby, the driver cleared his throat behind us. “Ms. Clara, if I may have a moment?”

I turned to face him. “Yes?”

He offered a polite nod. “Mr. Vincentius has sent an assistant to meet you but told me that he would be running a bit late so I was instructed to tell you that you check in first.”

Lily, standing beside me, mumbled under her breath, "Wow, there's even an assistant."

I shot her a look, but she just grinned.

"Then let's go ahead," I said, turning toward the front desk.

Lily and I walked across the marble floor, the soft glow of the chandeliers casting a warm light over the luxurious space.

The driver followed a few steps behind, maintaining a respectful distance.

As we approached the reception desk, we found a small line of guests already checking in.

A well-dressed couple stood at the counter, speaking with the receptionist, while another man in a tailored suit waited behind them.

Lily rocked on her heels, taking in the grand interior. “I swear, this place is on another level. I feel like I should be wearing designer clothes just to stand here.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’ll be fine.”

She huffed. “Says the girl whose brother owns—”

I quickly nudged her before she could finish, making her yelp.

"Ow! I was just saying!" she whispered, rubbing her side.

I gave her a pointed look, and she sighed dramatically but dropped the subject—at least for now.

"The miss should just go ahead to the front desk," the driver stated from behind.

I glanced at him, then at the people still checking in. “We can’t do that. There are others ahead of us.”

“The miss shouldn’t worry about that,” he replied smoothly. “This is the Montreal Grand Hotel.”

Oh. Right.

Lily, standing beside me, looked between the driver and me with confusion but she didn’t say anything and I could tell how much she was holding back a million questions.

Following the driver’s advice, I stepped past the line, walking ahead of those still waiting to check in.

I felt a few curious glances on me, but I didn't react.

“Hey, they’re looking at us with furrowed brows,” Lily whispered as we walked past them.

I sighed, keeping my gaze forward. “Just ignore it.”

“But we just cut the line like VIPs or something.”

I glanced at her. “That’s because, apparently, we are.”

Lily opened her mouth, probably to bombard me with more questions, but we had already reached the front desk.

The receptionist greeted me with a professional smile.

“Good evening, ma’am. How can I assist you?”

“I’m here to check in under Vicentius Montemayor,” I said calmly.

The moment my brother’s name left my lips, the receptionist’s expression shifted. She immediately straightened in her seat, her polite smile widened, turning almost nervous as she quickly typed on her computer while the other staff members exchanged subtle glances.

“Ah, yes, ma’am. Just to confirm, is the booking under Mr. Montemayor?” she asked, her tone laced with urgency.

But before I could even answer, an angry voice rang out from behind me.