THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS' COMEBACK

CHAPTER 15

It's been two months since I started my weight loss journey, and I can already see visible changes in my body.

Although I still have a long way to go to reach my ideal weight, I'm happy with this small achievement.

While I’ve been focused on my workouts, Lily has been just as busy with fashion. She’s been working closely with Michelle almost every day, searching for the perfect fabrics for the first piece of her avant-garde collection.

Yes, she decided to create a full collection—if everything turns out well—so she’s also been hard at work designing additional pieces to complement her futuristic avant-garde vision.

I initially planned to fund her first masterpiece, but Lily insisted on covering the costs herself for this one.

She didn’t want to rely entirely on me, which I respected. Instead, we stuck to our agreement: I would be the first to purchase the initial creation at twice the price, and if the full collection moved forward, I would invest as planned.

While I was doing my morning exercises, Lily walked toward me with an iPad in her hands.

She sat on the sofa beside me and spoke casually.

"Hey, my parents told me they'll be attending our graduation ceremony today on my behalf."

Right.

Graduation. I had been so preoccupied with my daily routine that I nearly forgot about it.

"Can you message Jonas for me and ask him to send someone on my behalf too?" she added.

"Yeah, sure," She replied.

Then, as if reading my expression, Lily asked curiously, "You haven’t been checking our school’s private forum, have you?"

I glanced at Lily before shrugging as I bent my knees, stretching. "Nope. Why?"

She hesitated for a second before shaking her head. "Nah, I was just checking.”

“You sure?” I asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

“Yeah,” Lily said quickly, waving it off.

“Anyway, have you checked the messages from our book club?”

“No, not really.” I shook my head. “You know I haven’t used my old phone since that day. I never even charged it after, and I’ve been using my other phone for communication. Why?”

“Well…” She hesitated. “I accidentally opened the group chat, and they’re planning a get-together after graduation. I was wondering if you’d like to go?”

That question caught me slightly off guard. While Lily had been going out frequently for her hands-on work in fashion, I, on the other hand, had been stuck in the hotel.

For the past two months, I hadn’t set foot outside.

And now, I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to go out and meet people—especially those who knew me.

If someone asked me whether I was ready to face people again, the answer would be no.

Especially not those who had witnessed the humiliation and betrayal I had experienced—something that had been broadcasted for the whole world to see online.

I knew the members of the book club wouldn’t mention what had happened. They weren’t that kind of people.

After spending four years with them, I understood them well. We all shared an unspoken understanding, bonded by the way we were treated by other students.

Still, I wasn’t ready.

I looked at Lily and shook my head. “I’m not ready to meet anyone from our university, Lily.”

She nodded, as if she had expected my answer. “I figured—that’s why I already declined.”

“Hey, you didn’t have to decline too.”

“Why not?” she asked, raising a brow.

I smiled teasingly, “Because it’ll be hard for them to see you once you get famous in the fashion industry.”

“Hey! Don’t jinx it!” she laughed, lightly nudging me.

“I’m not jinxing it. We’re manifesting,” I said, grinning. “So, you should go and send my regards to them.”

Lily sighed. “You’re really sure about not wanting to go?”

“Yeah. I’m still not ready, Lily.”

She studied me for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Just remember—I’ll be here, okay?”

“I know.”

With that settled, Lily headed out for a quick shopping trip to find something to wear for the gathering.

She had asked me to go with her, but I declined.

As I rested on the couch, my phone vibrated on the table.

Glancing over, I saw my brother Vincentius’ name flashing on the screen.

It had been a month since he last called and lately, we had only been communicating through chat, and he usually called only when I forgot to update him.

The last time he called, it was to ask why I had suddenly requested an attorney from our law firm.

I had explained everything to him, and while he didn’t comment on me helping a friend, he did remind me that if I really wanted to invest, I shouldn’t just put my money in but I should buy the whole Atelier instead.

That idea alone scared the sh*t out of me because I’ve never been interested in that side of business. If it weren’t for wanting to help Lily—seeing how talented she was but letting that talent remain just a hobby didn’t sit right with me—I wouldn’t have even considered investing at all.

Now that he was calling again, I couldn’t help but wonder—had I forgotten to update him again? Or had I done something without realizing it?

Pushing the thoughts aside, I swiped to answer the call.

“Hi. What’s up?” I greeted as I answered the call.

“Are you busy right now?” Vincentius’ voice came through, calm but direct, as always.

“Not really. Why?” I asked, stretching my legs out on the couch.

“Good,” he said, not wasting time. “Then can you make a quick visit to the mall near your hotel?”

I frowned, sitting up slightly. “Huh? Why?”

“There’s a situation at the department store. Some kind of commotion that the manager can’t handle.” His tone remained level, but there was an underlying urgency to it.

“The mall’s CEO and I are tied up with our company's monthly report, so we can’t go there ourselves.”

I sighed, rubbing my temple. “And you want me to go instead?”

“You’re the closest one, and I trust you to handle it,” he said simply. “Besides, it’s our family’s business. You should get used to these things.”

I exhaled sharply, leaning back against the couch. “I’m not exactly dressed for a corporate visit, you know.”

“You don’t need to be,” Vincentius replied, unfazed. “Just get there and assess the situation, the assistant manager will be waiting for you outside the mall, and let me know what’s going on. If it’s something serious, I’ll handle it from here.”

I glanced toward the door, debating whether I really wanted to step outside today.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But you owe me one.”

“You’re already benefiting from the business, so technically, you owe me,” he countered, his tone teasing as he chuckled

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’m heading out now.”

“Good. Call me when you get there.”

With that, he ended the call, leaving me with no choice but to get up and see what kind of trouble awaited me at the mall.

I’m not really cut out for business like Vincentius and our other siblings. It was never my cup of tea, which is why I decided to live independently in the first place.

But now that I’m back, I suppose situations like this are inevitable. I’ll probably have to help out here and there, whether I like it or not.

That said, I’m not entirely sure if I’ll be of any help or if I’ll just end up making things worse.

But right now, I don’t have a choice. As much as I want to stay out of it, I can’t just ignore the issue now that I know about it.

And, as Vincentius said, this is our family’s business. I can’t keep turning a blind eye like I did in the past—not anymore.

Sighing, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts, dialing Jonas’ number as I started looking for something appropriate to wear. I couldn’t exactly show up at the mall in sportswear.

After a few rings, Jonas answered.

“Yes, Ms. Clara?”

“Can you have a car ready for me downstairs?” I asked, rummaging through my closet for anything remotely businesslike.

There was a brief pause before Jonas responded, his tone laced with surprise. “Excuse me? Are you going out, Ms.?”

I nearly laughed. Honestly, I was just as shocked as he was.

After two months of staying indoors, I was suddenly being thrown back into the outside world—without any mental preparation.

And unlike Lily, who I could easily turn down, saying no to Vincentius wasn’t an option.

“Yeah,” I muttered, finally pulling out a black suit and slacks—the only formal attire I had.

“Vincentius asked me to visit the family’s mall, so I’m heading there now.”

“Would you like me to accompany you?” Jonas asked, still sounding uncertain.

“That won’t be necessary,” I said, slipping into my blazer. “The hotel needs you here. Just prepare the car and instruct the driver on my destination.”

“Understood, Lady Clara. I’ll have it ready right away.”

“Thanks, Jonas.”

I ended the call, exhaling slowly. As much as I would have liked to bring Jonas along, I couldn’t pull him away from the hotel.

There were always guests checking in—some problematic, others VIPs who needed special attention.

His presence here was far more crucial than accompanying me on this errand.

Once I was dressed, I headed straight to the elevator and made my way to the first floor.

When I stepped outside, I found Jonas already waiting by the car with the driver, who I immediately recognized. It was the same driver-s***h-bodyguard Vincentius had sent to pick me up from my old apartment two months ago.

He gave me a small nod in greeting, and I smiled in return.

Jonas stepped forward and opened the car door for me. “Please call me if you need anything, Ms.”

“I will,” I assured him before slipping into the backseat.

As the door closed behind me, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever awaited me at the mall.