"Is that your final word?" Miranda taunted, a sneer playing on her lips.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Karol called out desperately.

The door burst open, and a bodyguard came in, only to find Karol on the floor, her face smeared with blood, her eyes burning with rage.

“What has transpired, Miss Morris?" the bodyguard inquired.

“Seize her!" Karol jerked her head in Miranda's direction, but Miranda had already vanished through the window.

Brenda's condition had wavered for several days. The Harris family had repeatedly sought Karol's aid, only to be informed of her injuries and her unavailability.

Their patience wore thin, and they began to suspect that Karol's previous assistance was merely fortuitous.

Word of the incident spread rapidly, and unbeknownst to Karol, she became the subject of ridicule among the elite circles.

Meanwhile, Lilah remained indifferent to these developments.

Her primary concern was Brenda's worsening health.

That evening, she returned home. Gerard was downstairs, engrossed in reading to Jerrold, while she ascended the stairs to change into more comfortable attire and freshen up with a shower.

But as she entered her room, an unsettling feeling washed over her-something was amiss.

The room was cloaked in shadows, the sound of heavy breathing seeming to emanate from every corner.

Lilah immediately flicked on the Light.

In the next moment, her eyes landed on a figure seated on her couch.

She stared in astonishment at the unexpected visitor.

Miranda offered a slight smile upon their eyes meeting. "It's been a while, Miss Phillips."

Lilah, managing to contain her shock, furrowed her brow and inquired, “What happened to your face?"

“A stray dog left its mark. By the way, do you have anything to eat, Miss Phillips?" Miranda deflected, barely acknowledging Lilah's concern.

Lilah quickly arranged for a meal to be brought up, and Miranda began to eat slowly.

The silence in the room grew dense, even as Miranda ate, adding a weight to the atmosphere.

“Have you been facing any troubles?" Lilah ventured cautiously.

"I've sought you out because you need something from me," Miranda responded, setting down her cutlery. Lilah noticed Miranda's left hand was still bandaged, not yet fully healed.