His assistant explained, “It appears to be just an accident. Mr. Fowler rarely visits Hualand, so it's unlikely that someone would plot against him. We're investigating the driver."

As Lilah nodded, she felt the weight of time—two hours had evaporated, and Gerard's banquet was drawing to a close. Her fingers hovered over her phone to message Gerard, but at that moment, Andrew's eyes fluttered open.

Lilah approached Andrew's bedside, her voice laced with concern. "You okay?"

He offered her a faint smile. "Thirst's killing me," he rasped.

She was back in a flash, glass of water in hand. As she held it to his lips, the assistant chimed in, “Miss Phillips, I need to investigate the driver. Would you mind staying with Mr. Fowler?"

“Sure, I've got this," Lilah responded, her attention already turning back to Andrew.

Deep down, guilt nipped at her conscience for missing Gerard's birthday celebration. She quickly typed an apology and hit send.

Over on a luxury liner, the créme de la créme of Eleywood socialized, their laughter echoing over the waves. Gerard, ever the charming host, had everyone's admiration, but Walter's date's eyes were restless, often darting toward Gerard.

“Ease up, would you? He's taken," Walter warned, noticing her distracted gaze.

Walter's date leaned in, a whisper of curiosity in her voice, “I'm just wondering why Miss Phillips hasn't shown up yet."

Walter replied, glancing at the door, "She'll be here, anytime now."

Confusion clouded Walter's features. Gerard had assured them of Lilah's arrival, yet the evening was drawing to a close without a sign of her.

Around them, the clinking of glasses and the shuffle of cards mingled with laughter. Gerard, seemingly unconcerned, was racking up wins at the card table.

Throwing his last card down, Walter groaned, “I'm tapped out, Gerard!

Can't you let us win a round?"

With a nod, Gerard acquiesced, "Sure."

True to his word, the next game saw Gerard underperforming, as his gaze kept flitting to his phone. When Lilah's message finally popped up, explaining her no-show, he simply texted back, "Okay."

Walter, grateful for the reprieve in the games, soon sensed Gerard's mood shift; something was amiss. He watched as his friend's luck changed, his own chips dwindling to nothing.

Just as Walter was about to voice his concern, his date's hand brushed against his, presenting her phone. “Look at this," she urged.

Walter squinted at the screen, his brow furrowing. "This must be fake news."

“It's not gossip. My friend snapped this in the parking lot," she insisted.

Gerard's brows knitted together as he sensed the shift in the room's atmosphere. “What's up?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Walter was torn, but his date already passed her phone into Gerard's hands. "It's a picture from the hospital's parking lot. Looks Like Miss Phillips is with someone," she explained.

The image showed Lilah wrapped in an embrace that, through the camera's eye, suggested more than friendship. Immediately, the woman chimed in, perhaps a bit too quickly, “But they're probably just friends, Mr. Harris. Nothing to worry about."