Caitlin smiled back. "Of course."

The moment Jennifer stepped out of the hotel, she saw Griffin waiting for her.

Griffin immediately approached. "Miss Jennifer."

Jennifer looked at her. "Who are you?"

Griffin bowed slightly and presented a business card with both hands. "My name is Griffin Brown. I'm a student of Director Smith. This is my card."

Dr. Smith was a renowned medical professor from Valerium, currently serving as the director of the Neon Spire Hospital branch in Eldermere. He was the one who attended to Celia whenever she felt unwell during her stays at Neon Spire.

Consequently, Jennifer was familiar with his name.

She took the card and narrowed her eyes. "But I don't believe we've met." They were complete strangers, with no connection whatsoever.

Griffin smiled. "Would you do me the honor of joining me for a coffee, Miss Jennifer? We can talk then."

"Let's go," Jennifer said after a brief glance. "I know a good cafe nearby."

Since Griffin was also from Valerium, meeting her so far from home felt like a twist of fate. A coffee was a courtesy she could afford.

"Thank you for obliging, Miss Jennifer."

Once they were settled in the cafe and had made some small talk, Griffin got straight to the point. "Miss Jennifer, let's not beat around the bush. I'm here for a prescription."

"What prescription?" Jennifer asked.

"The one that cured Miss Palmer's condition," Griffin stated.

"You're the person Miss Palmer trusts most, like a sister to her. That's why you're the only one I could turn to."

"Then you've come to the wrong person," Jennifer said, understanding immediately. She looked Griffin in the eye. "I would never do anything to betray Miss Palmer."

"Miss Jennifer, you misunderstand. This isn't about betraying her! In fact, Director Smith initially wanted me to approach Freya. But Freya, being from Eldermere, has that inherent selfishness common to her people. She was afraid that collaborating with my mentor would allow his achievements to surpass her own, so she refused."

Jennifer frowned. "Freya actually turned down Director Smith?"

"She did," Griffin confirmed.

Jennifer scoffed. "I knew it. You can't trust anyone from Eldermere."

Caitlin might act like she had a

healer's compassion, but

underneath it all, she was just a vain opportunist. If Celia weren't a

Valerium noble, just some ordinary person, Caitlin would never have lifted a finger to help her.

Otherwise, why would she refuse to collaborate with Dr. Smith?

And yet, Celia couldn't see through her, calling a person like that her dearest friend.

Griffin's eyes glinted. He could tell from Jennifer's tone that she disliked Caitlin, too.

Griffin leaned in. "Miss Jennifer, we had no other choice but to come to you. You're from Valerium, just like us. If you help Director Smith, you'll be doing a great service to our entire medical community!"

"Don't you want to see Valerium's medical field advance? Or would you rather watch us be overshadowed by some obscure, traditional practitioner from Eldermere?"

Jennifer already despised Caitlin, and that last remark ignited her anger.

Who was Caitlin to look down on Valerium?

"Does Miss Palmer know that Freya refused your request?" Jennifer asked.

"Miss Palmer is aware, but what good does that do? She sees Freya as her savior now. I dare say," Griffin paused for effect, "that even your place in Miss Palmer's heart can't compare to Caitlin's right now."

Griffin's words hit their mark, reminding Jennifer of the embrace she had witnessed in the hotel lobby. Her expression darkened. "Even though I don't like Caitlin, I can't do anything that would upset Miss Palmer."

"Don't worry, Miss Jennifer. Once this is done, we will make sure you are generously compensated." Griffin slida black credit card across the table. "Do you really want to spend the rest of your life as Miss Palmer's bodyguard?"

"Furthermore, when the new epilepsy drug is developed, we will credit you as one of the researchers and give you a one percent share of the profits. Your name could be etched into the annals of Valerium's history, bringing you both fame and fortune."

The offer was undeniably tempting. And Griffin had a point.

Did she really want to be a bodyguard forever?

Even if she dedicated her life to protecting Celia, she would never be as important

to her as Caitlin was.

Jennifer's eyes narrowed as she took a deep breath. "Alright. I'll do it."