Chapter 1488

Lily returned home to an empty house. She had sent Galen to Dominic's, and Alexander was absent. Daisy's release left only Lily and a few maids in the large, quiet residence. She switched on her computer to check the news.

The pandemic in Burnwken was worsening, not abating. Cases had appeared in border regions of Hyderland and other countries, suggesting the virus originated in Burnwken—a fact met with widespread international condemnation. Lily, however, suspected a deeper conspiracy, possibly involving the laboratory.

Deciding on a course of action, she caressed her belly, silently wishing her children strength.

Night fell. Lily cinched layers of fabric around her waist to support her growing belly. Though her pregnancy was still in its early stages and didn't significantly impede her movement, it was nonetheless inconvenient. She knew Alexander would disapprove, but his absence left her to manage alone. She donned black clothing, a mask, and a hat.

Evading the maids, she drove to the research institute, intending to infiltrate the building. Her prior employment there granted her familiarity with its layout. Most staff would have left for the night; while a night shift existed, it was considerably smaller than the day shift. Those conducting experiments would require lighting, allowing Lily to avoid those areas. Even if discovered, she could easily handle five or six security guards.

Parking some distance away, she approached the perimeter wall, identifying a known CCTV blind spot—a vulnerability she'd previously noted but postponed addressing. Now, it offered the perfect entry point.

As she prepared to scale the wall, someone seized her elbow. Instinctively, Lily grabbed the person's hand and threw them over her shoulder.

"Ugh!" The person grunted, clearly surprised by her swift response. Their height prevented a back-landing, but the impact still elicited a groan. Only then did Lily recognize the person. "It's you?"

Meanwhile, in the basement, Austin remained disoriented, unsure how much time had passed. He had initially marked the wall with his knife to track the days, but he could no longer distinguish between day and night, or even how long he'd slept.