Chapter 1396

For years, Austin had maintained the title of Dominic's secret apprentice, a label bestowed upon him by others. He was respected, even sought after to treat the sick. He'd grown accustomed to the attention, though he privately insisted he'd never confirmed nor denied the truth—it was all public conjecture. Yet, guilt gnawed at him, coupled with the fear of exposure. He worried not only about Lily's competition, but also the possibility of her revealing his fabricated apprenticeship. To counter this, Austin strived to prove his capabilities independent of the title, yet he consistently lagged behind Lily. This time, however, he successfully retrieved data she had deleted, a feat accomplished solely through his own skill, filling him with genuine pride and satisfaction.

Stretching his arms, Austin declared proudly, "Professor Thompson, I've retrieved the data. We can proceed with the experiment."

Thompson, overwhelmed with relief, stammered, "Yes, yes! That's great, Austin! You're amazing!" He placed a hand on Austin's shoulder, exclaiming, "This lab would be nothing without you. Now that Lily is gone, you will take her place. You're responsible for this project!"

"Okay," Austin replied simply. Possessing the experimental data and results from previous successes, he felt confident in his imminent triumph.

Maria was resting at home, a rare respite from her busy schedule—she hadn't even had time for cards or beauty treatments. After two days, she visited the Rollins' household. Austin had previously instructed her to keep Anastasia home, administering his prescribed medicine, and to generally supervise her.

Upon entering, however, the house seemed utterly transformed; it felt unfamiliar. Stepping back to check the gate, she confirmed her location, yet the yard was completely bare. "I'm at the right house, but where are all the plants?" she wondered.

Inside, the living room was equally desolate. Besides the furniture and appliances, every plant—even the cactus on the windowsill—was gone. "Did someone break in?" she suspected. Anastasia, however, seemed preoccupied, conversing with the housekeepers, seemingly confirming Maria's initial thought. Yet, what thief would steal every single plant? Maria's eyes widened in disbelief. Rubbing them, she saw the empty room remained unchanged.

Turning to Anastasia, she asked, "Tasia, was there a burglary? Where are all the plants?"

After speaking with the housekeeper, Anastasia replied, "No, Aunt Maria. I had some people move them."

"Why?" Maria questioned, confused. "Plants purify the air and are refreshing. And why all of them? There's not a single pot left!"