A shadow crossed Cade's eyes. "Are you certain about this?"

Dr. L had long been spoken about like a legend within the medical world. The mysterious doctor had once caused the wealthiest and most powerful people across the globe to compete fiercely for a single appointment.

Then three years ago, the figure disappeared completely, leaving behind no clues.

Dina had always been physically fragile. With her current pregnancy, the risks had grown even greater.

If anyone had the ability to protect both her and the child during delivery, it would be Dr. L.

If that elusive figure had truly reappeared, it meant more than just good news for Cade. To him, it was the only hope left.

Nigel paused for a moment before continuing, "Mr. Willis, there's another matter you should know about. Dylan Morgan, the head of Morgan Group, has also begun searching for Dr. L. From what we've heard, it's for his grandfather, Toby Morgan."

Cade's brows tightened slightly. "Have they discovered anything yet?"

"So far, nothing solid," Nigel replied. "But Morgan Group has already spread the word. Anyone who provides reliable information or helps secure Dr. L's help will receive a generous reward. On top of that, they'll gain priority consideration for future business partnerships."

Cade's thoughts shifted instantly.

For years, Willis Group had been trying to establish closer ties with the Morgan family, especially in the field of medical investments. If this situation could open that door, it might become the opportunity he had been waiting for.

"Mobilize every connection we have," Cade instructed in a calm but decisive voice. "We need to find Dr. L before anyone else does."

"Understood, Mr. Willis."

...

That evening, the most exclusive private club in the downtown district, Nimbus, glowed brightly under a sea of lights.

By the time Claire and Rylie stepped into their reserved private room, the atmosphere inside was already lively.

"Claire!" A young man with silver-gray hair rushed toward her immediately, his arms spread wide as if preparing to pull her into a hug. Claire smoothly shifted to the side, leaving him embracing nothing but empty space.

"Nate," she said with a faint smile. "You're still as noisy as ever."

"I can't help it. I'm excited!" Nate said as he rubbed the back of his head, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. The well-known racer in their circle looked thrilled. "You've finally come back. The men on my team keep talking about you. They still say no one has managed to beat your lap record."

While he spoke, another man approached with a drink in hand. His thin wire-rim glasses caught the light as he examined Claire with the calm scrutiny of someone evaluating a patient. "You look perfectly fine," he said with a sharp smile. "That miserable marriage didn't seem to drain you the way it could have. Even so, I'm still giving you a full checkup later. I'll handle it myself."

This was Kenneth, a medical prodigy who could appear relaxed in a party setting yet still give people the unsettling feeling that he was holding a scalpel somewhere behind his back.

Across the room, a thin young man wearing a hoodie remained focused on the laptop in front of him. He never even lifted his head as his fingers raced across the keyboard. "Claire, I've already slipped through the Willis family's surveillance system. I can monitor their movements for the next three months. And if you want, I could create a little problem for Cade's finances."

This was Zayne, a shadow within the cyber world who could break into nearly any system he chose.

"No need for that." Claire settled onto the sofa and accepted the drink Rylie passed to her. "My ties with the Willis family are finished. I'm cutting them off completely."

"Finished?" Jemma, a renowned jewelry designer, lifted her head from the tablet she had been studying and pushed her glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. "No, that's not enough. They don't deserve a clean exit. They owe you, and they should repay that debt piece by piece."

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a folder and slid it across the table. "Take a look at this. I created it especially for you. My newest jewelry line, 'Rebirth.' Every design was inspired by you." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "The theme is transformation. Thorns, flames, wings rising after the ashes. When you step back into the spotlight, you'll wear these pieces. I want the entire world to feel your return."

Claire opened the folder and studied the pages. The sketches of the jewelry were breathtaking, so striking they almost made her pause.

Back when she married into the Willis family, she had poured all her time and energy into Cade. The friendships from her past gradually faded because she stopped reaching for that life altogether.

Yet despite the years that had passed, these people were still here, standing beside her just as they always had.

A quiet warmth spread through her chest.

Lowering her gaze, Claire took a sip of the drink. The alcohol slid down her throat with a sharp burn, a taste she hadn't allowed herself to enjoy for a long time.

Not long afterward, Rylie's phone began to ring, and she stepped outside to answer it.

Claire stood up a moment later and made her way toward the restroom.

She had barely stepped out when a man staggered into the hallway and blocked her path, the heavy smell of alcohol clinging to him.

"Well now. A beautiful woman walking around alone? Come join me for a drink." The man looked to be in his early thirties and wore a gaudy shirt that made him stand out even more. His gaze wandered over her with drunken confidence.

Claire's face remained calm. She gave him a brief, uninterested glance and attempted to move past him.

"Hey, hold on." The man reached out as she tried to leave. "What, you think you're too good for me? Anyone who comes to a place like this is here for a good time. And I have plenty of money. You—"

Before his hand could touch her, another hand suddenly appeared and caught his wrist in midair. The long, firm fingers tightened with crushing strength.

"Ow—hey! That hurts!" the man shouted, instantly sobering as the pain cut through the alcohol haze.

Claire lifted her eyes.

At some point, a man dressed in a dark gray suit had stepped between them without her noticing.

He stood tall with broad shoulders, his frame sharp beneath a perfectly tailored suit that looked as though it had been made specifically for him.

Even from behind, the man carried an unmistakable presence, the kind that spoke of power and authority that few people would dare challenge.

The stranger tilted his head slightly. The moment his cold gaze landed on the drunken man, the atmosphere in the hallway seemed to freeze.

"M-Mr. Morgan?" the man stammered as recognition struck him. The color drained from his face instantly, and his voice trembled. "I—I'm sorry. I didn't realize she was with you. I'll leave right away."

The drunk man staggered away in a panic, almost tripping over his own feet as he hurried down the corridor.

Claire stared at the man in front of her, a flicker of surprise catching in her chest.

Dylan Morgan—the man who currently controlled the powerful Morgan family in Draesdale. His name alone carried enough influence to make even the financial world uneasy. People described him as cold and ruthless, the type of figure most only encountered across a negotiation table, and even that was rare.

He almost never appeared at public gatherings. No one had ever heard of him stepping forward to help someone like this.

Why would he intervene for her?

For a moment, Dylan remained facing away from her.

He slowly took out a dark gray handkerchief and carefully wiped the fingers that had grabbed the drunk man's wrist, as though even that brief contact had been unpleasant.

Only after finishing did he turn around. His eyes settled on Claire's face.

His expression showed nothing. No warmth, no curiosity, no emotion at all. His gaze remained calm and unreadable.

Then something changed.

The moment he saw her clearly, his movement halted.

The hesitation lasted less than a heartbeat. It was so brief that Claire almost convinced herself she had imagined it.

A faint, unreadable glimmer crossed Dylan's dark eyes before his expression returned to its usual calm stillness.

Claire spoke first. "Thank you." Her voice carried a clean, steady tone.

"It wasn't anything," he replied, his deep voice distant and indifferent.

Her mind drifted back to something Rylie had mentioned in the car earlier.

"Besides Cade searching for Dr. L, Dylan Morgan has been looking for Dr. L, too. Apparently, it's for his grandfather's heart problem."

Claire raised her eyes and met Dylan's gaze directly. "I don't like leaving debts unpaid. Maybe I can repay you with a small favor."

A subtle spark of interest appeared in Dylan's eyes.

"No." His answer came immediately, firm and decisive.

Claire continued speaking as if she hadn't heard the refusal at all. "Mr. Morgan, you're searching for Dr. L, aren't you?"

Dylan's expression sharpened, and his eyes locked onto her with sudden intensity. "What exactly do you know?"

"I can treat your grandfather." Claire didn't hesitate. Her tone stayed steady and unflinching.

The darkness in Dylan's gaze deepened as suspicion quietly filled the space between them. "Who are you?"

"My name is Claire Lloyd," she answered without the slightest pause. "Your grandfather's heart condition has been worsening, and the medication he's taking now is losing its effect. Isn't that correct?"

For a brief moment, Dylan went completely still.

His grandfather's illness was one of the Morgan family's most tightly guarded secrets. Even the doctors responsible for the treatment had been forced to sign strict confidentiality agreements.

Yet this woman had described the situation with unsettling accuracy.

"Then prove it," Dylan muttered quietly, though the pressure in his voice was unmistakable.

Claire opened her clutch and removed a small glass vial containing several dark brown pills.

"This will help with the pain he feels at night," she explained calmly. "When the symptoms start, let him place one beneath his tongue. It will take effect in about five minutes, and the relief will last for roughly six hours. There are no side effects."

Claire extended the small vial toward him. "Have a doctor you trust examine it first. After that, let him try a single dose. If it works, then we can talk about the rest of the treatment."

From the far end of the hallway, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed, followed by Rylie's voice calling out, "Claire? Where did you go?"

Without hesitation, Claire placed the vial into Dylan's hand.

"Whether you trust it or not is up to you," she remarked calmly. "If you decide you want the treatment, call this number."

She quietly recited the digits, gave him a slight nod, and turned away to walk toward Rylie.

Dylan remained standing in the same spot. His eyes stayed on the small vial resting in his palm, his expression unreadable.

...

About thirty minutes later, inside the underground parking garage beneath Nimbus, Rylie slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. Her irritation was obvious. "That jerk Cade. You only just signed the divorce papers, and he's already preparing an engagement party for Dina."

Claire's hand paused on the seat belt. "An engagement party?"

"Yeah," Rylie replied with frustration. "This Saturday. Three days from now. It's happening at the Halcyon Hotel. Invitations have already been sent out. He can't wait to announce it publicly, like he's desperate for everyone to know how deeply in love they are."

Rylie's anger kept building as she gripped the steering wheel. "I'm calling him right now and telling him to stop searching for Dr. L. Dr. L would never—"

"Don't," Claire answered, cutting her off before she could finish.

Rylie stared at her in confusion.

Claire turned her face toward the window. Neon lights slid across the glass, casting a pale glow over her steady, unreadable eyes.

"Tell Cade I'll take the case."

"What are you talking about?"

"He's been searching everywhere for Dr. L, hasn't he?" Claire spoke calmly. "Let him know I'll treat the woman he cares about so much. And set the time and place for the meeting."

Her words paused briefly as a faint smile touched her lips. "Saturday night. The Halcyon Hotel. At their engagement party."

For a moment, Rylie could only stare at Claire. Then a grin slowly spread across her face, caught somewhere between disbelief and excitement.

"Claire, you can't actually be planning to—"

"They want that night to be flawless," Claire responded quietly while watching the city lights rush past the window. Her tone carried a chill beneath its softness. "Then, as his former wife, I should bring them a gift they'll never forget."

Inside the Morgan Group's private hospital, Dylan stood beside the bed while holding the small glass vial between his fingers.

Behind him, an elderly man with streaks of gray in his hair stared at the laboratory report in disbelief.

"Mr. Morgan, the formula used in these pills... it's remarkable," the doctor said, his voice shaking with excitement. "The chemical balance is unbelievably precise. Whoever created this has a deep understanding of pain pathways, far beyond what we normally see. And there's no sign of addiction risk, and nothing indicates damage to the liver or kidneys."

Still stunned, the doctor slowly shook his head. "This isn't something any conventional pharmaceutical company could produce. Whoever developed it is working on an entirely different level."

Turning to the next page of the report, he tried to calm his excitement. "Based on the data, it appears perfectly suited for your grandfather's condition. Even so, I would still recommend beginning with a very small dose and observing carefully before—"

"We already administered it," Dylan interjected calmly.

"What?" The doctor straightened in shock.

"About an hour ago, my grandfather had another severe episode during the night," Dylan explained evenly. "The pain was so intense that he could barely stay conscious. I gave him half of one pill."

Without pausing, he continued, "Within three minutes, the pain started fading. By the fifth minute, he had already fallen asleep. His breathing stabilized, and the monitors returned to normal readings."

The doctor parted his lips, yet no words came out for several long seconds.

Dylan stepped over to the desk and picked up the small slip of paper with the phone number written on it. "Track this number."

"Yes, sir." His assistant nodded.

Dylan added another instruction without looking back, saying, "There's something else." His gaze grew both distant and razor sharp. "Find out exactly who that woman is. And locate where she is now."

"Understood."

The assistant slipped away silently, vanishing from the room.

Left alone, Dylan lowered his eyes to the vial still resting in his hand. The image of the woman from the hallway surfaced again in his mind. Calm eyes. Unshaken composure. Complete control.

Claire Lloyd.

He repeated the name quietly to himself, and a hard glint appeared in his gaze.

If she truly had the ability to save his grandfather, he would meet whatever price she demanded.

But if this turned out to be some calculated trap aimed at the Morgan family...

The warmth disappeared from his expression.

No matter which possibility turned out to be true, Dylan intended to uncover exactly who that woman really was.

...

Saturday arrived sooner than expected.

The engagement celebration had already begun, and Cade stood on stage beside Dina while they accepted congratulations from the guests.

Although he kept a polite smile on his face, a faint worry still lingered in his eyes.

Dina's condition could not wait much longer.

In order to secure Dr. L's help, Cade had publicly offered an enormous reward. At the same time, he had quietly spread another message. If Dr. L could ensure Dina survived the pregnancy safely, he would agree to any price.

The mysterious doctor had not appeared yet. Even so, Cade remained convinced the message had reached the right person.

Tonight's engagement party was meant to draw Dr. L out.

After all, only that legendary figure could guarantee Dina's survival.

Just then, the host stepped forward to energize the room and announced a game. "Let's see where the lucky spotlight lands tonight. Which guest will offer the next toast?"

The bright beam of light slowly moved across the crowd.

Then the moving beam halted, steady and unmistakable, right at the entrance. A slender figure had just stepped through the doorway, silent as a shadow.

The light fell over her all at once, draping her in a bright glow.

She slowly lifted her head. Cade's breath stalled in his chest. The face before him was familiar, yet somehow completely unfamiliar at the same time.

The heavy bangs that once covered her forehead were gone, revealing smooth, striking features. The thick, awkward glasses had disappeared as well.

The eyes he had once dismissed as dull now shone brightly, sharp enough to make the entire room feel tense.

A black velvet gown rested against her shoulders, its off-the-shoulder design framing her figure perfectly. The fabric followed every graceful line of her body with effortless elegance.

A collective breath moved through the hall.

Several young men across the room stopped talking mid-sentence, their attention drawn to her without warning. They stared so intently that they failed to notice champagne spilling down their sleeves.

Cade felt his chest tighten as his breathing stalled. For a moment, a strange pressure gripped him so suddenly that it almost hurt.

Claire? Why was she here?

For years he had lived beside a woman who hid herself beneath plain clothing and thick glasses, someone who always kept her head lowered. Never once had he imagined she could look like this.

The shock, along with that brief, unwelcome surge in his pulse, lasted only an instant.

The next moment, a wave of irritation surged through him, sharp and immediate.

Why had she come here dressed like that?

Did she hear about Dina's condition and decide to show up just to cause trouble?

Or was this another desperate attempt to drag his attention back to her?

Cade's gaze hardened with cold displeasure. Almost instinctively, his fingers tightened around Dina's hand while his other hand began to lift, ready to signal the security staff to remove the unwelcome guest.

Just then, his phone screen suddenly lit up. A message from his assistant appeared.

"Mr. Willis, Dr. L has arrived at the venue. She is wearing a black off-the-shoulder evening gown."

Black.

Off-the-shoulder.

Evening gown.

Cade stopped moving.

Each word struck his mind with the force of a blow.

Slowly, almost stiffly, his eyes shifted back toward Claire.

His gaze moved from her face to the black dress she was wearing, exactly matching the description of Dr. L in the message.

For a moment, the entire room seemed to tilt.

Time itself felt like it had frozen.

A chill ran through his body.

Dr. L—the name that appeared in groundbreaking medical papers and was spoken of with reverence among the world's most powerful figures.

Countless wealthy tycoons waited months, sometimes years, just to meet Dr. L.

Cade himself had worked hard to secure Dr. L's help to ensure that Dina would survive this pregnancy.

Yet now, it seemed the mysterious doctor he had been searching for was none other than the woman standing before him—his ex-wife, the very one he had pushed away with a divorce agreement and a stack of money just days ago.