Solenn scratched her head, thinking hard for a few seconds before answering, her voice hesitant.
"But… my mom only has me. I'm her only child."
Lilith raised an eyebrow, studying her closely.
"Are you sure she's your real mom?" she asked casually. "Have you ever done a DNA test or something?"
The words DNA test stunned Solenn into silence.
The way Luci treated her flashed through her mind, the shouting, the impatience, the cold looks. A tiny seed of doubt crept in, heavy and confusing. Could it be possible… that Mommy isn't really my mom?
The thought frightened her. Almost instinctively, Solenn clung to the one certainty she believed in.
"I did a DNA test with my dad," she said quickly, as if reassuring herself. "I'm definitely his daughter. My daddy loves me a lot. He really does."
Lilith's eyebrow lifted again, this time higher.
"He doesn't seem that great to me," she said bluntly. "If he really loved you, he wouldn't leave you alone here, crying."
Solenn lowered her head, her throat tightening. She didn't say anything after that.
Seeing her reaction, Lilith softened but didn't let the moment go to waste.
"Look at us," she said quietly. "We look exactly the same. What if you're my long-lost sister? What if we did a DNA test too?"
Solenn froze, clearly torn. The idea lingered in her mind, unsettling yet strangely hopeful.
Lilith was about to ask more when Luci's sharp voice suddenly rang out from outside the bathroom.
"Solenn! What are you doing in there? Did you fall into the toilet or what? Come out now!" Her voice rose angrily. "If you don't come out this instant, you might as well stay in there forever!"
At the sound of Luci's voice, Solenn instinctively shrank back. Fear flickered across her face. She looked at Lilith one last time, her eyes filled with confusion and something like trust, before turning toward the exit.
Just then, Lilith's eyes lit up. "I've got an idea," she whispered.
She gently pushed Solenn toward the far side of the bathroom. "Go hide over there."
Before Solenn could react or ask what was happening, Lilith had already marched straight toward the door.
Outside, Luci was still staring at her phone when Lilith popped out.
Despite being so young, Lilith had a fiery temper. If she didn't like someone, she never held back. People who knew her well jokingly called her "Miss Confrontation."
And true to that nickname, she didn't disappoint.
"Hey," Lilith said seriously, looking straight at Luci. "Have you ever fallen into a toilet before? Or… did you used to live in one?"
Luci's expression darkened instantly.
She looked at Lilith in disbelief. Since when did Solenn become like this? This wasn't the quiet, trembling child who never dared to talk back.
Her face twisted with anger.
"Solenn! How dare you talk to me like that?!"
Lilith puffed out her cheeks and shot back without hesitation.
"You talked to me like that first. Why can't I talk to you the same way?"
"You—!"
Luci was furious. She was never the type to swallow her pride.
After quickly checking that no one was nearby, she reached out sharply. Her fingers nails painted bright and sharp-looking dug hard into Lilith's arm.
The sudden pain made Lilith flinch. Her expression twisted, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
But that still wasn't enough for Luci Pearl.
"You little brat," she snapped coldly. "This time, I'm just teaching you a lesson. If you ever dare talk back to me again, I'll strangle you."
Lilith clenched her teeth, forcing herself not to react. She swallowed the anger burning in her chest and stayed silent.
She had already made up her mind.
Earlier, she had heard Solenn say that her father loved her deeply. Very well. Lilith would use Solenn's father to deal with this horrible woman, this woman who dared lay hands on her.
Seeing that Lilith no longer talked back, Luci Pearl felt a surge of smug satisfaction.
What a troublesome little thing, she thought disdainfully. Definitely that wretched woman's child. Just like her mother, no manners, no discipline. Without punishment, she'll never learn.
With a firm grip, Luci Pearl dragged Lilith back toward the waiting area outside the operating room.
Time ticked by slowly. Inside, the long and complicated surgery was finally nearing its end.
At last, Althea stepped away from the operating table, exhaustion evident in her movements.
Wade stayed close beside her, like a devoted assistant, his tone apologetic.
"I'm sorry, Althea. Because of my limitations, you had to operate right after getting off the plane."
Althea pulled off her gloves and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"It's fine," she said calmly. "Saving lives comes first."
"I'll have Theron's father transfer the surgery fees to your account tomorrow," Wade added quickly. "I've also arranged a hotel for you. I'll send you the address shortly."
Althea nodded in acknowledgment.
Just then, Wade's assistant hurried over, looking hesitant.
"Dr. Falcon, I need to report something. Griffin Monreal from Monreal Industries contacted me. He wants to meet Dr. Morgan."
Wade's brows knitted together at the name.
"What does he want with her?"
The assistant explained, "His daughter isn't well. He wants Dr. Morgan to examine her."
Wade fell silent for a moment, his expression darkening.
"If he needs medical help, he should follow proper procedures," he said coolly. "What's the meaning of waiting outside the operating room like this? Trying to ambush her?"
He waved a hand dismissively.
"Tell them to leave. Dr. Morgan just finished a complex surgery and needs rest."
"That's all."
His refusal was firm and final.
The assistant stood there awkwardly. If the Monreal family had been able to reach Althea directly, they wouldn't have been waiting outside the operating room for half a day.
Worried that her children had been left alone for too long, Althea quickly changed out of her scrubs and headed toward the lounge.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Ivy Howard—her friend and assistant.
"Althea, I'm downstairs," Ivy said hurriedly. "They won't let me park here. Bring the kids down as soon as you can."
"Got it," Althea replied and quickened her pace.
When she entered the lounge, she only saw Silas sitting on the couch, focused on his computer.
Her heart skipped slightly.
"Silas," she asked, scanning the room, "where's Lilith?"