THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS' COMEBACK

CHAPTER 18

This was my first time leaving the hotel in two months. I hadn’t really planned on going out, but Vincentius had asked me for a favor, and I couldn’t say no.

Still, the fear of being recognized had haunted me ever since Tyler and his clique publicly broadcasted how he had used, betrayed, and dumped me.

For three years, I had believed our relationship meant something. I had been hopeful—too hopeful—that what we had was real.

But in the end, I was nothing more than a toy he had played with and discarded without a second thought.

That humiliation, that heartbreak, had fueled my determination to change—to become someone stronger, someone unrecognizable.

I had been so consumed with preparing for my perfect revenge that the idea of stepping outside, of facing the world again, had become unbearable.

But now that I was outside, it didn’t seem so bad after all.

Maybe I should take this opportunity to look around the mall.

With that thought, I decided to explore.

The mall was massive, but that didn’t surprise me. After all it was one of the largest in the city, housing high-end boutiques, well-known brands, and both luxury and fast-food restaurants—many of which were owned by my family.

I strolled leisurely, taking in the sights while blending into the crowd.

The mall’s bright lights and lively atmosphere felt almost foreign after months of isolating myself.

Looking back, I had only visited malls a handful of times in the past four years of living alone, so I couldn’t help but feel a little excited as I wandered around.

I stepped into a few clothing stores, running my fingers over the expensive fabrics. A sales associate greeted me warmly, offering assistance, but I politely declined.

I wasn’t here to shop but to observe.

Next, I found myself drawn to a jewelry boutique before deciding to grab a drink from a café that my family owned.

The familiar logo made me pause before stepping inside. The place was bustling with customers, so it took me several minutes before I could order an iced Americano and took a seat by the window, watching people pass by.

As I sipped my drink, I overheard a group of women at the next table chatting about the latest social gossip. My name wasn’t mentioned, but I still felt a pang of anxiety.

What if Tyler or someone from the university had saved the video and later posted it online for the public to see?

And it was a relief that it wasn’t a case

But am I truly ready to face society again?

I don't know, but right now I wanted to enjoy this moment a little longer so I pushed the thought aside, and finished my coffee before continuing my stroll.

I visited other stores, browsed through a bookstore, and even stepped into a fine dining restaurant, taking mental notes of how each business was being managed.

And by the time I checked my phone, I realized I had spent hours wandering.

Surprisingly, I didn’t feel as drained as I had expected. Maybe because it had been two months since I last went out.

When I finally returned to the penthouse, the scent of food filled the air.

Irene was in the kitchen cooking dinner, while Lily sat on the floor in the living room, papers scattered around her.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I approached.

Lily looked up and smiled. “Oh, you’re back?”

“Yeah.”

“Where did you go? I thought you weren’t ready to go out into the world yet.”

“That was the plan,” I admitted, “but Vincentius had me run an errand for him, and I couldn’t really say no.”

I walked over to the couch and sat down, glancing at the mess of papers around Lily.

“So, what are you working on?” I asked, pointing at them.

Lily sighed, rubbing her temples. “Irene and I have been going through the designs I’ve made over the past few months. I can’t decide which ones to include in the collection.”

“Then why can't you just include all of it?” I suggested.

“No, that’s not possible,” Lily said, shaking her head. “Michelle told me that at best, we can do a capsule collection—only if I manage to secure a collaboration with others. Otherwise, we’d have to settle for an exhibition, which means we can only include seven pieces in the collection.”

“And she has eleven designs,” Irene added from the kitchen.

“Alright, let me see,” I said, shifting closer to take a look at the papers.

I scanned each of the eleven designs one by one, taking my time to examine the details.

Lily really had a real talent in this aspect, each piece she designed was unique yet cohesive, showcasing her signature style.

I even found myself going back to a few designs more than once, unable to decide which ones stood out the most.

“These are all really good,” I admitted, setting one of the sketches down. “I can see why you’re having a hard time choosing.”

Lily groaned, flopping onto her back. “Tell me about it. Every time I think I’ve made a decision, I found myself rethinking it out”

Irene walked over, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. “Maybe you should think about what presence you want for this collection to have. Do you want it to be otherworldly? experimental?”

Lily propped herself up on her elbows. “I want it to be transformative,” she said thoughtfully. “Something that challenges perception, something that feels ahead of its time.”

I picked up a design that had caught my eye earlier—a sculptural ensemble with exaggerated proportions and structured metallic fabric, it felt like something pulled from a vision of the future. “Then maybe start with this one, since the first piece is futuristic we can based the other designs with it”

Lily sat up, looking at the sketch. A slow smile spread across her face. “You know what? I think you’re right.”

She quickly shuffled through the other designs, setting a few aside. “Okay, I think I have an idea of which ones to pick. I just need to refine them a little.”

Irene smiled. “Glad that’s settled. Now, dinner’s ready, so both of you get to the table.”

Lily and I exchanged amused glances before gathering the papers. As we headed to the dining table, she nudged me playfully.

“So, what kind of errand did your cold and overpowered brother make you do?” she asked, a teasing glint in her eyes.

I raised an eyebrow. “Cold and overpowered?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?” She feigned shock. “Wow, are you really the great Vincentius Montemayor’s little sister?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I’m not.”

Irene chuckled as she placed the last dish on the table. “She’s not wrong, though. Your brother has that whole untouchable, intimidating aura. Half the city practically bows when he walks into a room.”

I sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Trust me, I know. I grew up with him, remember?”

Lily leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “So? What was the errand?”

I exhaled sharply, setting my utensils down for a moment before summarizing everything—from the moment Vincentius called me to when I arrived at the department store and witnessed the chaos firsthand.

I explained how the couple was causing trouble over a refund for an item that wasn’t even from our store.

Of course, when I recounted the event, I made sure to dramatize a few details—just enough to keep Lily entertained.

“Oh my god, that really happened?” she gasped, her eyes wide with intrigue.

“Uh-huh,” I nodded, taking another bite of my dinner.

“Well, you handled it well, Clara,” Irene commented.

I sighed. “Yeah, but I am never doing that again. That was more than enough experience for me.”

Lily smirked. “But I think you looked cool in that corporate outfit. And the way you handled it? Maybe the overpowered brother really does have an overpowered little sister.”

I rolled my eyes, which only made Lily and Irene laugh.

For the rest of dinner, we kept the conversation light, mostly gossiping about celebrities and random things here and there.

And once I finished my dinner, I pushed my chair back and stood up. “I think I’m calling it a night. I’m too tired to function.”

Irene nodded. “Get some rest.”

“Night, Clara!” Lily said, still grinning.

With that, I went to my room and after taking a long bath, I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

It had been two months, yet all I had really done was change myself. I had no concrete plan yet for executing my revenge.

And as I thought about it, watching Lily making her own path, working hard to secure her future, I couldn’t help but wonder—what about me?

What would be left of me after I got my revenge?

Would I still have a future worth pursuing?

Ans before I could dwell on the thought any longer, my phone vibrated on the lamp stand beside me. I reached for it, glancing at the screen.

Vincentius.

I sighed before answering. “Hello?”

“Are you back at the penthouse?” His voice was calm and composed as always.

“Yes. Why?”

“Did you have dinner?”

I frowned. “I did, so stop stalling. What do you need?”

Vincentius chuckled. “Can’t I call my little sister just because?”

I rolled my eyes, already seeing through him. “Please. I’ve known you my whole life. Even though we barely spoke for the past years, you’re still the mother I grew up with.”

I said the last part with sarcasm, but there was truth beneath my words. Our parents were always busy, struggling to find time for us because the companies faced many problems when we were little. It was Vincentius who took on the role of our guardian—attending our school activities on our parents' behalf and being the one to discipline us. That’s why we feared him more than we did our own parents.

We only grew closer to our parents when we were older. Though they tried to make up for the time they had missed, Vincentius' role in our lives remained unchanged.

“Fine. Do you have time tomorrow?”

I narrowed my eyes at the sudden shift in conversation. “For what?” My suspicion grew. “I’m telling you now—I’m not doing that again.”

Vincentius laughed, the deep, rare sound catching me off guard. “Relax. I’m not asking you for another favor, you silly kid. I just realized we haven’t really seen each other properly since you came back. It’s been four years, Clara. I think I’m allowed to miss my younger sister.”

I hesitated, my grip on the phone tightening.

Four years. It sounded so long when he said it like that.

I had spent those years trying to make it look like I am doing it to live independently but really I was just running away from myself and from my family.

Maybe… maybe I owed him this much.

I sighed. “Fine. What time?”

“Ten in the morning. Meet me at the office.”

“Alright,” I muttered.

“Good. Now, go get some rest, Clara.”

I hummed in response before the line went dead.

I stared at my phone for a moment before setting it back on the table.

Vincentius missed me, huh?

I wasn’t sure what to make of that, but there was no harm in meeting him.

After all, I missed him too.