He promptly exited the room.

Lilah took a determined step toward the disheveled Ruby, her face contorted with anguish. “Your downfall is your own doing, not mine.

If not for your unrelenting greed, things might've been different."

Ruby's manic laugh echoed through the room. "You think it's just me against you? I was a mere trainee five years ago. I couldn't have pulled off stealing the baby without help."

Lilah's eyes widened in realization.

"Is Adaline the one backing you?"

Ruby scoffed. "Adaline? She's too clueless to be my accomplice. She doesn't even know who you spent the night with back then."

"Then who is it?"

Frantically, Lilah sifted through her memories. Perhaps an unnoticed adversary, or even a treacherous friend like Ruby, was working against her all along.

Ruby smirked. “You'll never guess who it is. She's so above your league, you would never have a chance to come close to her."

Reveling in the idea that someone else would still come after Lilah, Ruby's confidence soared.

But before she could finish her words, a deafening gunshot rang out, and a bullet found its mark.

Ruby's face registered shock for a split second before she crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

Lilah screamed, her hands flying to her mouth.

This was her first encounter with death so up close.

Gerard bolted to the window in pursuit of the shooter, catching only a fleeting glimpse of a retreating silhouette.

He quickly dialed a number, exchanging hushed words before returning to confirm what was evident.

"She's gone," he said, voice heavy with gravity.

Lilah, shaken, managed to whisper, "Was it her?"

The weight of her situation pressing down on her, she felt trapped in an intricate web of betrayal and danger.

"The shooter was likely a hired hitman. Ruby was probably marked for death from the moment she was admitted to the hospital. The assailant took a position in the tree outside. They've since fled, but I've dispatched someone to pursue them," Gerard stated with a steely demeanor.

He then softened his gaze as he looked at Lilah, the iciness melting away. "Rest assured, I'll uncover who's orchestrating this."

"Okay." Lilah gave a small nod, reassured by his words.

Soon, the police arrived, expecting to detain Ruby. Instead, they found a crime scene awaiting them.