Carefully assessing her injuries, he scooped her up and swiftly carried her to his car, driving straight to the hospital.

The doctor's words after the examination were like music to Gerard's ears. "She's mostly sustained surface injuries. The fall seems to have caused a concussion, which probably resulted in her temporary unconsciousness. She should come around by this afternoon."

“Thank you," Gerard whispered, the weight of the situation evident in his voice.

Once the doctor departed, Gerard took a seat beside Lilah's bed. He tenderly held her hand, seemingly trying to offer warmth and comfort to both Lilah and himself.

Jimmy entered the room, pausing to take in the sight before him.

Gerard, a man who negotiated billion-dollar deals without batting an eye, now sat consumed with concern. The intensity in his gaze as he watched over Lilah, combined with the uncharacteristic trembling of his hand, revealed depths of emotions few had ever seen from him.

Gerard was visibly shaken, the aftershock of the recent events still fresh.

Observing this, Jimmy couldn't help but marvel at the profound influence Lilah seemed to have on the usually unflappable Gerard.

Taking a deep breath, Jimmy reported, "Sir, we've gathered initial findings. The fire in Miss Phillips’ room was no accident; it was ignited using gasoline. We have identified a suspect, a member of the hotel staff. Unfortunately, she left the hotel shortly after the incident. The authorities have been notified, and they're on the Lookout."

Gerard's face darkened with fury. "Prioritize finding her, and more importantly, those behind the curtains. I want them to bear the full weight of their actions."

His wrath was palpable. The audacity someone had to harm Lilah was unfathomable to him.

Recognizing the gravity of his boss's mood, Jimmy quickly handed over Lilah's phone, which he'd recovered from the event organizers, before quietly excusing himself.

As time wore on, Lilah showed no signs of regaining consciousness.

Her phone, however, buzzed incessantly.

With the news of the fire spreading rapidly, many from the design world reached out, including close friends like Phoebe.

Responding with a heavy heart, Gerard updated them about Lilah's condition.

The designer community was ablaze with emotion, especially on the global forum.

Many from Hualand were livid, directing their ire at the Fauwille Design Association.

“To think you'd stoop so low to keep Lilah from clinching the title!”

“If any harm befalls Lilah, you'll rue the day!"

A designer from Fauwille shot back, "This is absurd! It was a tragic accident and had nothing to do with us. Are you so scared of losing that you'd pin this on us? Maybe it's a ploy from your side to garner sympathy."

Phoebe, incensed by these allegations, wasted no time in launching a spirited counterattack.

The president of the Fauwille Design Association, who also moderated the forum, took swift action. In an official statement, he wrote, “We deeply regret the unfortunate incident involving Miss Lilah Phillips and extend our sincerest sympathy. We urge members to refrain from making unwarranted accusations. Anyone found propagating baseless allegations will be banned from the forum."

This action left Phoebe and many others feeling stifled and powerless.