Chapter 1522

Alexander's return should have been good news, but Lily appeared gloomy instead. Something was clearly amiss.

"'He might be infected," she murmured, picking up her teacup. "I haven't seen him; I don't know his condition."

Dominic paused, teapot mid-air, his brow furrowed. "He's back? Home?"

"No," Lily shook her head. "He knows it's serious. He wouldn't return, or see me, for Galen and my sake. He's not even in Kingsland. I suspect he's recuperating somewhere remote."

Dominic sighed, relieved. He set down the teapot and sat opposite her. "What's your plan?"

"I'm going to see him."

Dominic frowned. "Are you out of your mind?!"

"I need to understand this disease," Lily said gravely.

"Every country is studying it," Dominic reasoned. "There's no need for you to get involved. This could be a major pandemic. Even with advanced medicine, no one knows its origin, and it's spreading rapidly. With your pregnancy, Alexander is right not to see you!"

"I know he's right," Lily admitted, "but I feel I must go." She added, without waiting for his response, "I'll take precautions, of course. There's a risk, I know. But old man, you were a physician for years. Haven't you faced dangers before?"

Dominic was stumped. He'd faced countless perils in his adventurous past, but he'd been alone, with nothing to lose.

"You're different now," he said disapprovingly. "You have Galen, and you're pregnant with twins. You have to think of them!"

"It's because of them that I must learn more," Lily countered, gently touching her belly. "This pandemic isn't slowing. Kingsland is still unaffected, but cases exist within the country. We don't know what the future holds. Experts worldwide are searching for a cure, and failing. If my children are to live in such a world, how can I do nothing? If Alex hadn't been infected, I'd mind my own business. But now… I have to see him. It's not just to care for him, but for my children's future. I want them to live in a world free from pandemics."

Lily had considered it carefully. She wasn't driven by lofty ideals of saving humanity, but the situation demanded a response. It wasn't just for others, but for herself, her family, and their future.

Dominic fell silent. He knew she was right. The news from his messenger pigeons was grim; the disease threatened Kingsland. He, living in seclusion, didn't know how long he had left. But the young woman before him had a long life ahead.

He thought, If we all ignore it, what kind of world will they inherit?