Lilah fumbled through her bag, her fingers trembling as she pulled out a bottle of pills. With effort, she shook a few into her palm and swallowed them dry.

Gradually, the ghostly hue drained from her face, leaving behind a trace of color.

On the other end of the line, Cory Higgins, her assistant, immediately caught the shift in her breathing. "Lilah, are you having another episode? Don't panic—the team is already running simulations for various emergency scenarios. The lab is pushing the new formula ahead of schedule based on the information you have provided…"

While his voice carried frantic concern, Lilah's tone stayed level, almost detached. "If luck isn't on my side and I don't make it till the surgery, tell them to keep at it. Their work will eventually save someone who needs it."

Cory hesitated, wanting to protest, but she didn't give him the chance and ordered, "Circulate a rumor that Panacea is overseas. Let Blackhawk chase ghosts. I'm the only one who can perform this operation, and as long as you don't help him alleviate the pain, he'll stay in agony. Consider it payback."

A cold light burned through her frail features. "Blackhawk wants me dead?" Her lips curved faintly as she muttered, "Then he'd better reserve his own grave first."

She ended the call, set the phone aside, and let exhaustion drag her under.

When she finally stirred, sunlight was already spilling across the room—it was well into the afternoon.

Her eyes needed a moment to focus, and when they did, a faint, self-mocking laugh escaped her lips. The great Panacea, the miracle doctor praised by the world, couldn't even cure herself.

A soft buzz cut through her thoughts. Her phone lit up with a message—a shared location and three simple words. "Waiting for you."

It was from an old friend. Her fingers lingered on the screen, hesitating, as she was unsure whether to go.

Just then, the device vibrated with a message, and the sender introduced himself as Albin Dawson.

Confusion lingered as she frowned at the message. When no memory of Albin surfaced, she ignored the message altogether.

But Albin didn't give up. The phone rang again. And again. With a weary sigh, Lilah finally swiped to answer.

"Is this Panacea?" The voice was low, tentative—almost reverent.

Lilah didn't recognize the voice. Without a word, she ended the call. Choosing to meet her friend after all, she stepped out of the room.

At the same time, in a high-end hospital office, Albin, the director, dabbed the cold sweat from his brow and risked a glance at the man lounging on the sofa. "Mr. Spencer, perhaps Panacea is just busy—or maybe the number has changed. I'll… keep trying to reach Panacea."

Cayden Spencer, legs crossed with effortless composure, inclined his head slightly. "Appreciate it."

Even that quiet reply carried a weight of authority.

Albin, still slick with nervous perspiration, went back to making frantic calls.

Panacea had always been an enigma—few had ever met her, not even the elite specialists who'd once worked with her. Her identity and location were shrouded in secrecy.

Albin had only obtained Panacea's number after begging his mentor for a favor.

"Mr. Spencer! We've got something!" a subordinate called from the hallway.

Hope flashed across Albin's weary face. "You found a lead on Panacea?"

Cayden rose in one smooth motion, his expression turning razor-sharp as he strode out of the room.

...

"Keep going—good, just two more steps forward." Lilah offered an encouraging smile. "Feeling tired? Want to take a break?"

Lilah handed a bottle of water to a delicate-looking girl whose determination burned brighter than her frail appearance suggested. Even now, the girl stubbornly shook her head and pushed through her rehabilitation routine.

Lilah didn't interfere. She had recognized that fierce will the first day they had met—by pure chance—and she respected it.

At that moment, Lilah's phone buzzed. Cory's name flashed across the screen. "Someone tried tracing your IP using your number," he reported briskly. "I caught it before they got anywhere."

Lilah raised an eyebrow. Whoever that was, they weren't an amateur. She'd built her own security system, layer by layer, and this was the first time anyone had gotten that close. She asked in an even tone, "From GhostNet?"

"No. The method is similar to Penumbra's style, but nowhere near as refined."

At that name, a flicker of emotion crossed her face. Penumbra was the legend of the hacking world, the one whose retirement had left a void no one could fill. Penumbra had once offered her guidance in hacking. Even now, she couldn't help but feel a trace of regret over his retirement.

"I've tightened your defenses. No one's tracing you now." Cory's easy confidence carried through the line, followed by a thoughtful pause. "By the way, you've heard of the Spencer family, right? Big players in Rulpus. They just put up a billion-dollar bounty to have you perform a surgery."

Realizing his slip, he rushed to soften it. "Not that a billion even comes close to what you're worth."

Lilah offered no response. The call ended with a quiet click. Melancholy clouded her gaze—she knew she was in no condition ever to set foot in an operating room again.

Bitterness tightened her chest, but then her attention shifted to the girl before her, who had slipped in the mud and was struggling upright, stubborn and fierce.

Sunlight broke through the clouds, brushing the girl's profile in gold—a glimpse of raw defiance, fierce and unyielding.

That same spirit mirrored the man in the oncoming car.

"Mr. Spencer, we're less than a kilometer from Panacea!" exclaimed Saul Tucker, the subordinate seated beside Cayden. He gripped the edge of his seat as the distance shrank, his pulse quickening with every turn of the car.

"Eight hundred… Five hundred—damn it! We've been cut off!" Saul slammed a fist against the console as the signal vanished. Jaw tight, he frantically retried the tracker, even dialing the number Albin had managed to get—only to hear the cold tone of a disconnected line.

Running a hand through his hair in defeat, Saul muttered, "Sorry, Mr. Spencer. But if Panacea is anywhere in Rulpus, I'll find her—even if I have to turn the whole city upside down."

Cayden's expression didn't flicker. His deep voice came steady and low. "Turn the car around. We're heading back."

The wheel had barely shifted before the driver blurted out in alarm, "Mr. Spencer, look—could that be Miss Spencer?"

Cayden, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them to see a disheveled figure sprawled on the ground, and for a heartbeat, he froze.

"Who is that woman? Is she bullying Miss Spencer? I'll go down and grab her right now!"

Cayden's expression fell as he bellowed, "Stop the car!"

The car screeched to a halt.

Just as Cayden reached for the car door, about to hop out, he noticed Ava Spencer—his younger sister—already on her feet, smiling at the woman beside her with an innocence and brightness he hadn't seen since the crash. He couldn't bring himself to interrupt the moment.

After a long while, Cayden ordered curtly, "See who that woman with Ava is."

Ten minutes later, Saul returned with an update. "Mr. Spencer, I've dug something up. Three months ago, that woman collapsed on the street and was rescued by Miss Spencer. Since then, the two have stayed in close contact."

He hesitated before adding, "A while back, when Miss Spencer vanished for three days and left a message asking us not to search for her, it was tied to that woman. I'm still working on her background."

Over the years, countless women had tried every possible trick to get close to Cayden. But this one had gone further—dragging Ava into it. To be noted, she was the only person Ava willingly interacted with.

Cayden's gaze sharpened. That woman was dangerous.

"The woman's name is Lilah Walsh, daughter of Lachlan Walsh and his first wife. She grew up in the countryside," Saul continued, his tone tightening. "Lately, the Walsh family has been desperate to win the development project for the land in the West District. Previously, they sent Elissa Walsh to seduce you, hoping to seal the deal, but she failed. This might be their new approach."

Before Cayden could respond, the driver suddenly exclaimed, "Mr. Spencer, look—Miss Spencer is in danger!"

Cayden's head snapped up just in time to catch a soccer ball cutting through the air toward Ava's temple. His expression hardened, instincts taking over before thought could catch up. He rushed out of the car and sprang forward, every muscle coiled with urgency. Ava's frail condition made her too fragile to take even a glancing hit.

Right before the ball could crash into Ava, a figure darted out ahead of Cayden, leaping into the air and twisting mid-motion. Her foot connected with the ball in a clean, explosive strike, sending it hurtling back with deadly precision.

The way the ball tore through the air made the strength behind that kick undeniable.

The next second, a piercing scream ripped through the air.

Moments later, a pack of young men swaggered over, circling Lilah with sneers and demands. Their leers turned predatory once they got a good look at her, and crude jokes spilled from their mouths.

Lilah's eyes hardened. These thugs had deliberately kicked the ball toward Ava—just to torment a girl in a wheelchair. They had no idea whose wrath they'd just unleashed!

Lilah acted swiftly. In a blink, the thugs were already on the ground, groaning and clutching their ribs in sheer agony.

"Fuck off!" Lilah snarled.

Terror wiped the smirks from the thugs' faces. They scrambled to their feet and bolted.

The entire scuffle ended before Ava even managed to pull up Cayden's number. Her eyes widened in awe. "Lily, you... You are absolutely incredible," she stammered, barely managing to form a coherent sentence.

Before Lilah could respond, a piercing pain shot through her skull. The world tilted, her vision dimmed, and she collapsed—right into Cayden's steady arms as he rushed forward.

Cayden's expression hardened, eyes narrowing with a trace of cold suspicion. The Walsh family truly had an agenda.

By the time Lilah stirred again, the car was already rolling toward the Walsh family residence. Her lashes fluttered weakly, catching glimpses of Cayden beside her.

The car rolled to a halt in front of the Walsh family residence, and Lilah got out of the vehicle wordlessly.

Watching Lilah disappear beyond the gates, one of Cayden's subordinates remarked in a low voice, "This Walsh daughter handles herself far better than the last one."

Cayden stayed silent, but the stillness in his gaze spoke volumes. He glanced at Ava, fast asleep beside him, her breathing soft and even. Gently retrieving her phone, he scrolled through the chat history with Lilah—only to find every message gone, wiped clean without a trace. What could they have been hiding that required such secrecy?

His thoughts drifted to the display of skill Lilah had shown earlier. If the Walsh family dared to use Ava for their own gain, he wouldn't hesitate to crush them.

"Don't make things difficult for Lily," Ava murmured sleepily, her voice tinged with quiet stubbornness. Even half-awake, she recognized that dangerous glint in her brother's eyes—the one that meant someone was about to regret crossing him.

"I won't. Get some rest." Cayden's tone softened despite himself; when it came to Ava, he would never push back.

The accident two years ago still haunted Cayden. He should've been the one crushed under the wreckage, but Ava had thrown herself in front of him. He'd escaped with a mild concussion and fragments of lost memory, while she was left unable to walk. Since then, he had scoured every lead, every whisper of hope—searching endlessly for the elusive Panacea who might heal Ava. But Panacea remained out of reach.

The breakfast table in the Walsh family residence carried a strained silence that morning, tension hanging as thick as the steam rising from the coffee pot.

Walking out of her room, Elissa froze mid-step when she spotted Lilah sitting casually at the table, eating as if she belonged there. Her expression twisted in disbelief. "Who said you could sit there and eat? You seriously forgot your damn place?"

Lilah didn't even glance at Elissa, calmly slicing through her toast as though Elissa's words were nothing more than background noise.

"Who knows what kind of germ this woman is bringing into this house?" Elissa's voice climbed, sharp with disgust. "Someone, get her the hell out of here!"

Her shouting echoed through the hall, drawing Lachlan out of his room, his brows furrowed. "What's all this noise about?"

"Dad!" Elissa pivoted to face him. "You have to make her leave and replace everything she has touched! What if she infects us with something?" She stomped her foot in frustration.

Lachlan didn't look mad at her request. If anything, he looked faintly relieved, hoping Lilah would leave on her own.

A sharp crack cut through the room as Lilah's hand met the tabletop. "One more word out of you, and every last one of you is gone," she warned, tone clipped and merciless.

Lilah's cold gaze locked on Elissa. "You want to talk about my place? Let me make it clear—I own this mansion. You're nothing more than a temporary resident under my roof. So if you don't want to be shown the door, I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut."

Color drained from Elissa's face before fury replaced it. "What kind of bullshit are you spewing?" she snapped.

Lilah turned to Lachlan, a sardonic smile curling her lips. "Why don't you tell her?"

Lilah's mother had once been a formidable businesswoman who built her empire from nothing. The first thing she'd bought was this estate. Lachlan had merely ridden her success, living off her wealth. And after her mother's death, he'd claimed everything as his own. Eighteen years of taking what never belonged to him. Without anyone to remind him of the truth, would he really believe it all rightfully belonged to him?

Under Lilah's unflinching stare, Lachlan's confidence faltered. "Enough. Just dig in," he muttered, eager to divert the tension.

To avoid another outburst from Elissa, Lachlan said to Lilah, "I'm busy today. The driver will take you for a check-up. If your report suggests you're fine, I'll have a room on the third floor arranged for you."

Lilah's voice cut through the air. "And if it turns out I'm not fine?" she demanded.

"We'll send you to a psychiatric hospital!" Elissa sneered disdainfully, the fury in her tone curdling into glee.

Lilah pushed to her feet, leaning over the table until Lachlan's composure cracked. "You'd better be certain you can actually do that, or I will kick you all out."

She strode out of the house and headed for the waiting car, her departure leaving Elissa shrieking in indignation.

Lilah smirked derisively. Honestly, Elissa was almost entertaining—so easy to provoke with the barest push. But she hadn't returned to toy with someone so trivial. Those who had betrayed her mother, plotted her death, and stolen everything she had—she would make sure they paid for all of it, slowly, before her final breath.

Soon, the car pulled up in front of the hospital. To ensure Lilah underwent the check-up, the driver personally escorted her to the doctor.

To Lilah, whether she went through with the check-up hardly made a difference; as the legendary physician Panacea, she knew her body's condition better than anyone. But she wanted to disrupt Lachlan's peace, and that was reason enough to visit the hospital.

"Tell Lachlan I'm not only mentally unstable, but highly contagious," Lilah told Albin coolly, leaving him wondering if he'd misheard.

After endless failed attempts to reach Panacea, Albin had finally gotten through to Cory, Panacea's assistant. Cory had promised that if Albin cooperated with Lilah today, he'd get to meet Panacea himself. The prospect left Albin practically giddy.

With an even tone, Lilah added, "Tell Lachlan I'll need to be admitted for treatment. The first round will cost ten million. I'll decide later how many more sessions I'll need."

Albin froze, uneasy with how that trampled every rule of medical ethics. But hell, fibbing a bit meant he'd get to meet Panacea. After a brief inner struggle, he finally agreed. "Alright."

After Albin placed the call to Lachlan and relayed Lilah's terms, Lachlan's reply came in a sharp, incredulous roar. "Ten million? Are you out of your damn mind? You might as well rob a bank!"

Lilah's lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. Slinging her backpack over one shoulder, she turned to leave.

Rushing after her, Albin hastily asked, "Wait—what about arranging me to meet Panacea?"

"You already met her," she said over her shoulder, leaving him frozen in stunned disbelief.

Albin struggled to accept the seemingly absurd notion.

...

The moment Lilah returned home, Elissa walked ahead and blocked Lilah's path, her face clouded with rage. "So you and that doctor conspired to extort money now? Quite the act you've got going, Lilah."

Without so much as a glance at Elissa, Lilah brushed past her toward the living room.

Still seething, Elissa stormed toward Lachlan. "Dad, I swear she is faking the sickness! She just wanted an excuse for you to bring her home!" Her tone sharpened as she whipped back toward Lilah. "If you're after money, just say it! Plotting with outsiders to fool Dad? That's utterly disgusting!"

Lachlan's expression darkened. He said nothing, merely studying Lilah in silence, clearly waiting for an explanation. No matter how she spun it, there was no way he'd hand her ten million for treatment.

Amusement flickered in Lilah's eyes as her lips lifted into a chill, taunting smile. "My mother built that company from nothing," she muttered indifferently. "If I decided to spend ten million—or a hundred million—it would still be my right to use the money as I please."