Lilah assisted Miranda to her feet and gently positioned her against the sofa. She quickly applied a gauze pad to stem the bleeding, and then meticulously disinfected the wound before picking up the suture needle, poised to begin the delicate task of stitching.

This was the first time Lilah had ever undertaken such a medical task.

Yet, there was no one else to aid Miranda but Lilah.

With a deep inhalation, Lilah steadied her breath and her hands, striving for as much control as possible.

Her focus was intense, and she dared not let her gaze stray for even a moment. Any slight misstep could cause tremendous pain to the injured woman.

As the needle and thread pierced through the tender flesh, a slight tremor occurred, accompanied by the faint rustle of moving thread.

Lilah was so focused that she didn't even blink, her eyes locked on her task, her movements slow and meticulous.

More than ten minutes later, she finally finished the last stitch.

The grotesque wound had transformed into a twisted scar, now marking Miranda's otherwise beautiful leg-a sight that could make one's scalp prickle at a mere glance.

Exhausted from the pain and the effects of the anesthetic, Miranda had drifted into a fitful sleep.

Her forehead was damp with sweat, and the air around her carried the poignant blend of disinfectant and blood, adding a tragic aura to her figure.

Since Lilah couldn't safely move Miranda to the bed alone, she sought help from Gerard. Together, they carefully transferred Miranda to lie flat on the bed.

“Gerard, please help me investigate what happened to her. How could such a dreadful event occur?" Lilah implored.

Gerard wrapped his arm around her shoulder, a hint of worry crossing his features. "Don't worry, I've already dispatched someone to look into it."

“Tomorrow morning, if she's still in pain and unable to walk, shall we go pick up your mother?" Lilah proposed, her voice tinged with concern.

After a contemplative pause, Gerard agreed.

Brenda's health was precarious, prone to unpredictable episodes, yet she often fared better in the morning hours.

That night, Lilah stayed vigilantly by the bedside.

In the serene silence of the night, she gazed tenderly at the girl's pallid face. A fleeting impulse to secretly obtain a strand of hair for a DNA test to confirm their suspected relation seized her.

However, she quickly dismissed the thought, choosing to let the mystery unravel naturally, despite her growing suspicions.

Considering Miranda's sharp intellect and competence, how could she be oblivious to the best way for them to coexist harmoniously?

"Mom, Mom..." At that moment, Miranda suddenly let out a faint murmur.

Lilah was taken aback and stood up swiftly. She noticed that Miranda's expression was deeply furrowed, signaling intense anxiety, as if grasping at vanishing hopes.

“My sister..." Miranda murmured softly again, unexpectedly.