Chapter 161: Chapter 161- never betray
Morrison only furrowed his brows and kept silent, while Lilian couldn’t help but think—Tina really had her ways. She actually managed to get Jackson to show up.
Of course, Lilian had no idea that the real reason Tina was able to convince Morrison had everything to do with her.
Last night’s intimate dinner that Tina had arranged for the couple had pleased Morrison more than he’d expected—and because Lilian had been genuinely happy that night, nothing else really mattered to him anymore.
So, when Tina suggested that he should also pose for the cover shoot, Morrison didn’t even hesitate before agreeing.
Even the little pep talk Tina had given Lilian today? Morrison already knew about it beforehand.
Tina wasn’t blindly trying to push Lilian into making peace with Morrison. She had seen this story play out before—Jacob and Sophia were living proof of it. Jacob used to be a heartless wanderer too, and now? He was the model husband of Burg Eltz.
Perhaps because of that, Tina firmly believed: men like Morrison, they’re either all over the place, or once they decide to settle down, they’re in it for life.
If they haven’t settled, it’s simply because they haven’t met the woman who makes them want to. And in this world, all love comes down to one thing: willingness. Once they’re willing, everything else is easy.
All those compromises Morrison made for Lilian—handing that hot project over to Jackson, agreeing to appear on the cover shoot he would normally despise—Tina saw them for what they were: signs of how deeply he loved her.
Why else would he bend so far, if not for love?
Why else would he give up a golden project he had in his grasp?
Why force himself to do something as distasteful as posing for photos, if not for her?
Not every love needs a grand, earth-shattering moment to prove its worth. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, constant care in the smallest details that reveal a man’s true heart.
So yes—Tina was looking forward to seeing them reconcile.
During the lunch break, Dave called Lilian, asking about the shoot and when she would be heading back so he could arrange a driver.
Lilian glanced at Morrison sitting right beside her, phone still in her hand, then finally replied,
"No need to send a driver for me. I’ll find my own way back."
She didn’t spell it out, but the hint was clear enough for Dave—she was going to ride back to Burg Eltz with Morrison. And the smile that broke across Morrison’s face after hearing that? There was no hiding it now.
On the other end of the line, Dave immediately caught the hidden meaning behind her words. After all, news of Morrison following her to A.T. had already spread through Burg Eltz—thanks to the driver’s report.
Hearing Lilian’s reply, Dave let out a low breath, his voice deep and steady as he finally said,
"Alright. It’s your decision."
There was no dramatic scene, no earth-shaking sacrifice, no desperate life-and-death struggle to prove his love for her.
And yet... wasn’t that the point?
Having gone through his own round of breaking up and making up with Laurent, Dave couldn’t help but feel a certain sympathy for the messy entanglement between Lilian and Morrison. His attitude toward the matter had always been neutral—unlike Bert, who saw everything in black and white.
Lilian’s choice not to have the family driver pick her up was as clear as any spoken word—she would be returning with Morrison.
If that was the choice Lilian had made, then as her brother, Dave would respect it.
As for Morrison himself, Dave had known the man for years. His character, his capabilities—those were never in question. What Dave disapproved of was how Morrison had handled things between men and women before.
But if Morrison was truly willing to settle down for Lilian, then Dave had no reason to stand in the way.
After all, nearly two years had passed since their separation. Dave believed Morrison had changed during that time. He knew the stakes now. He knew what kind of responsibility came with chasing after Lilian a second time.
So, after ending the call with Lilian, Dave dialed Morrison directly.
When Morrison saw the caller ID, he stepped out of the private dining room to answer.
"If you love her," Dave said evenly on the other end, "then cherish her."
Morrison chuckled lightly.
"Relax. I’ll treat her even better than you do."
"You’d better keep that promise."
And with that, Dave hung up—his words an indirect approval of their relationship, laced with a quiet warning.
Morrison tucked the phone back into his pocket, lips quirking into a helpless smile. After everything they’d been through—the breakup, the chaos, the distance—how could he not cherish her now? He had no other thoughts, no other plans. All he wanted was to marry her as soon as possible, to keep her by his side and love her, thoroughly and tenderly.
After lunch, Tina hooked her arm through Jackson’s and flashed them both a playful smile.
"We’re going back for a quick nap. See you in the afternoon."
And just like that, the room was left with only Lilian and Morrison.
Morrison kept staring at her, a charming smile tugging at his lips, his gaze deep and burning.
The heat of it made Lilian squirm. She broke the silence first.
"Why don’t we head back to the hotel too? You should rest. Don’t you have a shoot this afternoon?"
Morrison shook his head.
"I was born naturally handsome. One shot is enough—I don’t need any rest."
Lilian: "..."
Was he seriously praising his own face right now? The sheer narcissism! She gave him a pointed look and muttered,
"So the rest of us are just products of makeup and lighting, huh?"
This time, it was Morrison who was left speechless. How was he supposed to win against a sharp-tongued little thing like her?
He quickly tried to make amends.
"You’re beautiful with or without makeup. You’re the one who’s naturally stunning."
As he said that, Morrison stood up and walked toward her. Lilian gave a soft huff.
"Sweet talker."
Morrison reached out, pulling her gently into his arms, his voice dropping low against her ear.
"I admit, I’m good with sweet words. But from now on... I’ll only use them on you."
Lilian looked up at him with a teasing smile.
"Have you ever heard the saying? Sweet words are usually meant for people who don’t matter."
Morrison: "..."
Was she... throwing that back at him? He had just said he’d only use his sweet words on her, and here she was implying that sweet words were usually for people who didn’t matter.
Annoyed and amused all at once, he lowered his head and caught her lips in a sudden bite—firm enough to make her wince, just to punish her sharp little tongue.
Lilian frowned from the sting, but the next second, his mouth softened, his kiss turning gentle, lingering.
Her mind flashed back to what Tina had told her earlier, and at last, she closed her eyes and let herself sink into his kiss.
Yes... love was too beautiful, too sweet—like a flower blooming on the edge of a cliff. If she never dared to reach for it, she would never know its taste.
So she told herself: just one more time. Be brave, one more time. Throw yourself in, one more time.
May he never betray her again.