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.

Standing beneath the bright spotlight, Claire squinted slightly as if the glare was a bit too strong.

The motion was subtle, almost unnoticeable. Yet the entire room seemed to pause for a breath. She was simply too striking to ignore.

The host spoke again, though his tone carried a hint of caution. "Miss, would you like to share a few words? Perhaps give the couple your congratulations?"

Her presence carried an authority that made him abandon the playful tone he usually used with guests.

Claire slowly raised her eyes. Her gaze brushed over the couple standing on the stage before resting calmly on the host.

"Congratulations?" She repeated the word quietly, while the corner of her red lips lifted into a faint curve that held little warmth. "Oh, of course I'm here to offer my congratulations."

She stepped forward at an unhurried pace. "Mr. Willis and Miss Murphy—"

Her voice paused as her eyes settled on Cade's frozen expression.

"I wish you both a long future together."

The moment those words left her mouth, the last trace of color drained from Cade's face.

Beside him, Dina noticed the change instantly. A flicker of something unpleasant passed through her eyes. Confusion mixed with a thin thread of jealousy she could not fully conceal.

She wondered who the woman was.

Why was Cade staring at her like that?

At that moment, the ballroom doors swung open once more.

A tall figure walked inside with slow, steady steps. He looked completely at ease. The dark gray suit he wore was spotless, and the way he carried himself made his authority obvious to anyone watching.

It was Dylan.

That man almost never showed up at events like this, yet the entire ballroom turned toward the entrance the instant he appeared.

Cade's father, Richard Willis, rushed over right away, wearing a wide smile. "Mr. Morgan, it's an honor to see you here."

Dylan responded with nothing more than a brief nod, barely acknowledging the greeting. His eyes moved past everyone else before settling directly on Claire, who still stood beneath the spotlight.

Then he headed straight toward her.

People in the crowd instinctively stepped aside. Before anyone realized it, they had already created a clear path for him.

A heavy feeling sank into Cade's stomach.

Since when did Dylan know Claire?

A thought suddenly cut through Cade's mind, and the chill that followed made his fingers stiff.

Could it be that the Morgan family had also located Dr. L... and Claire was exactly the mysterious doctor they were looking for?

No. That couldn't be right. There was no way.

Claire couldn't possibly be Dr. L.

"Miss Lloyd." Dylan stopped a short distance in front of Claire. His voice remained calm and low. "The medicine you provided worked. My grandfather hopes you'll visit him. He wants to thank you himself."

The words struck Cade with the force of a sudden storm.

Medicine. Dylan's grandfather.

All the scattered clues came together at once, forming a conclusion that made Cade feel sick to his stomach. Even so, he refused to believe it.

"You're giving me too much credit," Claire responded with a restrained smile that held a polite distance. "I'm just glad I could do something for your grandfather."

Dylan didn't bother with pleasantries. "Tell me what you want in return. The Morgan family doesn't accept help without repaying it."

Their exchange remained steady and composed, almost as if the crowded ballroom around them had disappeared. The quiet confidence between them left everyone else standing there in stunned silence.

Richard watched the scene with a shifting expression. After several uneasy moments, he finally spoke, choosing his words with visible caution. "Mr. Morgan... may I ask who this lady is?"

Dylan turned slightly and looked at him. The glance carried no warmth, and he gave no reply.

Claire answered instead. Her voice rang out clearly across the room, saying, "Richard, have you already forgotten who I am? I'm Claire, your son's—"

She stopped mid-sentence on purpose, letting the tension stretch as the Willises' faces stiffened, before delivering the final blow. "Ex-wife."

The single word hit the room like a heavy strike.

The guests could no longer keep their reactions to themselves. A ripple of murmurs swept across the ballroom.

"Hold on... did she just say she's Cade's ex-wife?"

"Oh my, the Willis family must've lost their minds. They threw her away for that fragile one?"

"And didn't Mr. Morgan say her medicine had helped his grandfather's condition? Could she actually be a doctor?"

"I remember hearing Mr. Morgan was searching for Dr. L. Are you telling me she's—"

"That can't be right. Everyone said Catholicon was some old man."

"That's just what people assumed. Think about it. With Toby Morgan's position, why would he personally thank anyone ordinary?"

Amid the rising chatter, Cade finally managed to speak.

He pulled his arm away from Dina and walked down from the stage. Each step was slow and deliberate, while his eyes stayed fixed on Claire.

"You..." His voice came out rough as he struggled to steady it. "Tell me the truth. Are you Dr. L?"

Claire lifted her brow slightly as she looked at him. "Mr. Willis, were you addressing me?"

The way she spoke his name created a sharp divide between them. In that moment, the distance between the two of them became impossible to ignore.

Cade felt his chest seize, and the pressure made it hard for him to draw a steady breath.

Only three days earlier, she had stood in front of him with that stubborn hope in her eyes and quietly asked whether there was still a way to fix everything.

Now, she stood beneath the bright lights as if she had always belonged there. She didn't even spare him a proper glance.

"Claire..." His voice sounded strained. "We need to talk."

Claire let out a small laugh that carried no warmth. "Talk about what? Do you want to discuss how you've been searching everywhere for Dr. L so you can save the woman you love? Or would you rather explain how far you're willing to go for Miss Murphy?"

With each word she spoke, the color slowly drained from Cade's face.

"You..." He tried to respond, but before he could finish, a piercing voice sliced through the moment.

"Claire! How dare you show up here and stir up trouble!"

Jessie pushed her way through the crowd as if she had been waiting for the perfect chance to appear. Her heels struck the floor with sharp, angry steps as she marched forward and stopped directly in front of Claire.

She raised her hand and pointed straight at Claire's face while her voice rang out across the ballroom. "How could you be Dr. L? That's the most ridiculous lie I've ever heard!"

The entire ballroom fell quiet at once. Every pair of eyes shifted toward Jessie.

The moment the crowd's attention settled on her, Jessie only grew more emboldened.

With obvious disdain, she swept her gaze over Claire from head to toe. A mocking smile curled across her lips. "Everyone, don't let that act fool you. The Willis family knows exactly what kind of person she is."

She pivoted toward the surrounding guests as if she were unveiling some explosive secret.

"She spent time in prison. That's right. Behind bars. That's the woman standing in front of you. Now tell me, how could someone with that history possibly know anything about medicine? Think about it for a second. What kind of medical genius ends up locked in a cell? Maybe she landed there because she botched a treatment."

A harsh laugh escaped Jessie, sharp and biting. "Claire, if you're going to pretend to be someone important, at least make it believable. Dr. L? Please. Keep dreaming."