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."

Lilah flung her bag onto the floor, sank into the sofa, and crossed one leg over the other with deliberate ease before unleashing a scathing tirade. "Who gave you the guts to yap in front of me, you illegitimate brat?"

"You!" Elissa sputtered, ready to run crying to Lachlan, but Lilah's voice beat her to it, her gaze locked on Lachlan, sharp and unyielding. "You have two choices—either pay for my hospital admission or let me work at the company."

Without a second thought, Lachlan rejected the latter option and folded his arms. "Don't even think about getting near the company."

A faint smirk tugged at Lilah's lips. "What? Hiding something you don't want me to uncover?" Her tone turned icy as she pressed on. "Grandma said my mother's shares make up the majority—and those belong to me. If you won't let me step into the company, I'll start by auditing the books."

She rose smoothly, intent on leaving.

Elissa, watching her father's face darken, leaned closer and muttered bitterly, "She's faking her illness, Dad—just trying to come back and grab your fortune."

Lachlan's expression clouded over, a muscle in his jaw twitching. That fucking old hag! That old woman had sworn to hand over the shares once Lilah recovered, yet she'd told Lilah everything. If only Lilah were as gullible as before. Instead, she'd grown sharp and defiant—completely beyond his control. He would have to rethink his strategy.

The following morning, the shareholders' meeting commenced. Lachlan occupied the seat of power at the head of the table, his posture relaxed but commanding, his tone heavy with self-assurance as he steered the discussion. He exuded the image of a seasoned chairman, polished and unshakable.

"Since there are no objections," the host declared smoothly, "Mr. Lachlan Walsh will remain chairman and CEO of the company..."

Just then, a crisp, confident voice sliced through the room from the doorway. "Isn't it inappropriate to hold a board meeting without notifying me—the third-largest shareholder?"

The door swung open with deliberate force. Lilah stepped inside wearing fitted sportswear, her high ponytail swinging as she walked. Every head in the room turned toward her, startled by both her audacity and her poise.

Lachlan's expression darkened, and he shot to his feet. "What on earth are you doing here?" he barked, his composure cracking.

The interruption stirred a ripple of whispers until one of the shareholders spoke up. "Mr. Walsh, do you know this young lady?"

Realizing he'd exposed himself, Lachlan forced an awkward smile. "She's a junior member of my family... The meeting's adjourned. Thank you, everyone."

With a vice-like grip, Lachlan caught Lilah by the arm and steered her out of the room.

Lilah didn't resist, merely watching him with unreadable calm as he pulled her along.

Behind them, murmurs rose among the shareholders.

"That girl is the spitting image of the late chairwoman. I heard the previous chairwoman died while giving birth years ago. Could that girl be her daughter?"

"Now that you mention it, the girl really does resemble the former chairwoman! But what about Elissa Walsh? Wasn't she supposed to be the former chairwoman's child?"

"That's what they claimed, yet none of the late chairwoman's shares ever went to Elissa."

The gossip drifted through the hallway just as Elissa was passing. The words struck like needles, and her face twisted with fury. Goddamn Lilah! Couldn't Lilah just stay the hell out of her life?

Meanwhile, inside the office, Lachlan's composed mask cracked now that they had no audience. "What the hell are you after?" he demanded, voice low and sharp.

Lilah tilted her head, a faint, mocking smile curving her lips. "I offered you a choice last night," she said lightly. "Since you refused to pick one, I went ahead and made the decision for you."

His jaw tightened, rage flaring. "Fine. Ten million for your treatment. But after that, you're never setting foot in the company again."

"Too late for that." She picked up a glass of water, sniffed it with faint disgust, and then set it back down. "Given your rotten ethics, I'm raising the price to fifty million."

The air between them crackled. Lachlan's fury darkened his face, but Lilah didn't so much as blink. "Don't tell me that in just over a decade, my mother's fortune has shrunk so much that you can't scrape together fifty million."

She stepped in close enough for him to feel her breath. "If that's really the case, Lachlan Walsh, I'll be conducting a full audit myself."

There was no trace of humor left in her expression. Under that unyielding stare, Lachlan was uneasy. Grinding his teeth, he snapped, "As long as you stay out of the company's affairs, I'll give you the fifty million."

"Then I'll wait for the transfer," she replied aloofly.

Several steps toward the door, Lilah stopped short and swung around to face Lachlan. "Lies remained lies. You'd better reveal the true origin of that illegitimate daughter of yours. If she so much as smears my mother's name, your entire family would answer for it."

The moment Lilah shut the door, a crash from the office sounded like glass and wood colliding. A smirk eased across her face.

"You feeling pleased with yourself?" A menacing voice drifted up from behind Lilah.

When Lilah turned, she was met with a hard, icy glare—Elissa's narrowed eyes burning with malice.

A derisive scoff left Elissa's lips. "You really think you can stir up trouble at the company? Your mother's shares don't transfer to you until you're married—where did you get this 'third-largest shareholder' nonsense? That's complete bullshit!"

A single brow lifted on Lilah's face. "Go ahead and tell the board then," she said flatly. "It would be the perfect time to let everyone know you're born out of wedlock. Do you actually have the guts to do that?"