Chapter 1367
On the surface, Austin’s words sounded like praise for Lily. However, he sensed the woman before him was impervious to mere compliments; her attitude was a clear indication. Others, recognizing him as Dominic’s apprentice, approached respectfully. Rhea, despite knowing her mother was pleading for his help, ignored his presence entirely, displaying a distinct lack of respect, even a touch of arrogance. Austin, having met many people, found Rhea strikingly similar—conceited. He reasoned that those working at the institute and close to Thompson were undoubtedly capable, and capable people, particularly young ones, tended toward arrogance. He suspected Rhea would be green with envy if she knew Lily was more respected. A cold smile confirmed his assessment.
"Very capable?" she asked.
"Yes. It’s a pity you’re not on the same project. Otherwise, you might learn from Mrs. Russell," Austin said smoothly, goading her.
Rhea shot him a look. "Aren't you on the same team? You must have learned a lot, then."
His smile froze. Rhea’s insipid remark quickly extinguished his carefully constructed provocation. He offered a stoic laugh. "We’ve learned from each other!" He would never admit to wanting to learn from Lily; she didn't deserve it.
Rhea straightened, seemingly ending the conversation. After a few steps, she turned. "By the way, many have tried to help my cousin, but failed. If you want to maintain your reputation, best leave her alone!" With a scornful smile, she departed.
"Hey!" Austin called, but Rhea was already gone. He felt a sudden constriction in his chest, a tightening of the air. He realized she was provoking him, goading him into action on Anastasia’s behalf. Anything less would imply a lack of confidence.
Lily had been absent from the lab for two days, feeling unsettled at home. Only playing with her son brought her peace; otherwise, she felt restless, like a raging sea—a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. Alexander had arrived safely, but after his landing message, she’d heard nothing—not even a text. She'd texted him about the situation, but he hadn’t replied, fueling her worry. She’d been paying close attention to the news from Burnwken; it was a chaotic country, and she feared something terrible might have happened.
This thought made her shake her head vigorously. "Bah! Enough negative thoughts! Of course, nothing will happen. He’s such a smart and capable man. It’s not like he hasn’t experienced big cities before. He’ll come home safe and sound," she reassured herself.
"Lily? Lily!" Olivia called, snapping her back to reality.
"What?"
"You..." Olivia’s gaze dropped to Lily’s hand.
Lily followed her gaze, lowering her head to discover the liquid from the dropper she held had leaked. Hurriedly, she set it down, wiping her hand. Then, setting the test tube aside, she watched it fall to the floor with a sharp crack.