Standing before Lilah, Gerard intentionally blocked Absolon's burning stare, jolting the older man back to the present.

Absolon's face split into a warm smile. "Ah, you're here. I was just about to express my gratitude as soon as I could get out of this bed."

"Don't worry about it," Lilah dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Just glad you're alright."

After all, she'd just defeated his daughter in the competition and become his savior. But trouble was something Lilah actively avoided, and distancing the Morris family from herself and Gerard was an appealing prospect.

Hoping to cut their interaction short and avoid any further complications, Lilah made a decision to visit him today and accept his gratitude.

"I should thank you," Absolon continued with a gentle chuckle. "I watched your competition. You've got real talent. Next time you launch new products, I'll buy some for my employees."

“Thank you for your support. Since you're feeling better, we'll be on our way," Lilah said, sensing that her duty was done. As she turned to leave, Gerard caught her hand, causing her to pause.

Her head swiveled with suspicion as she heard Gerard ask Absolon, "Mr.

Morris, do you have any leads on your attacker's identity?"

"No, my men haven't apprehended anyone yet," Absolon replied.

"Interestingly," Gerard continued, “the attack occurred near the competition venue. For my girlfriend's safety, or rather, my fiancée's safety, I had someone investigate, but nothing turned up. You understand what that implies, don't you?"

"The perpetrator was familiar with the competition," Absolon, a seasoned businessman, honed in on the loophole with impressive alacrity. "Perhaps even an insider?"

Gerard offered a curt nod, his voice colder. “The organizers and investors of the competition were cleared. Most likely, the threat is within your family. That's all the information I'm comfortable sharing."

"That's sufficient," Absolon acknowledged with a grateful nod. "Thank you for these valuable clues. I'll pursue them and identify the culprit at once."

Gerard's selflessness wasn't due to Absolon's importance, but rather to Lilah's act of saving him, potentially making her a target.

By rescuing Absolon, Lilah had, to a degree, become an enemy of unseen forces. The situation was far from ideal.

Offering Absolon these hints would hopefully allow him to eliminate these threats, ultimately keeping Lilah safe.

Those who dared to harm Lilah invariably met their end at Gerard's hand.

"Well then," Gerard declared, ready to leave with Lilah, “we shall take our leave."

However, Absolon interjected one last time. “There's one more thing I'd like to ask Miss Philips."

“What is it?" Lilah inquired, her brows furrowing.

“Who is your father?"

Lilah frowned deeply. This was the second time he'd inquired about a parent -her mother the last time, now her father. Was Absolon this curious about her past? Or perhaps it was her resemblance to his ex-lover unsettling him.

“My father? He's nobody important," Lilah replied curtly. "Why do you ask?"