When Mike left the office, he glanced back to see Rhea remained. He couldn't comment; the masked man remained silent. A bloody taste assaulted his throat as he quietly departed.

After he was gone, Rhea stepped forward. "Sir, are you truly letting him go? You know Mike is disloyal, and he's not working for the organization…"

"If he isn't, what about you?" His gaze was cold, mistrust evident in his eyes.

Rhea pursed her lips. "At least I share your goals, sir. My focus is entirely on the research. It's a groundbreaking project, and I'll be responsible for its success. Like you, I eagerly anticipate its completion."

"Oh, yeah?" He chuckled. "Then have you found that thing in your pen holder?"

Stunned, Rhea hadn't expected him to know; it was personal. Yet, considering her scene at the Rollins' house and Anastasia's subsequent hospitalization, she shouldn't have been surprised. He knew almost everything.

"I found it," she murmured, lowering her head.

"Found it?" he questioned skeptically. "Did you truly find it, or are you just placating me?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Her usual arrogance subdued, she explained softly, "The item wasn't lost. Tye kept it safely. Anastasia recently visited, and I seized the opportunity to search her house. I just didn't expect…"

She hadn't expected Anastasia's fall, nor Cameron's timely return. She rarely saw Anastasia; a direct search would arouse suspicion. Feigning a lost item seemed less conspicuous. She was surprised by Anastasia's unusual resistance. Cameron's arrival forced her to stop. Further visits were now complicated.

"Oh…" The man's disbelief was clear. "Your family is close to the Rollins. Did you really need such elaborate measures?"

"I'm estranged from Anastasia, and I suspect she believes I'm involved with the toxins in her body. I had to act preemptively, using the lost item as a pretext."

"Estranged, yet your parents' relationship with her seems strong. Your mother's visited often, hasn't she?" He mocked, pacing before her. His short stature, and her standing position, made him seem childlike. His husky voice, laced with mockery, sent a chill down her spine.

"They… they have nothing to do with me!" she said coldly, looking away.

"Is that because you don't want to implicate your mother? Hmm?" He stopped, hands behind his back, looking up at her, his lips curled slightly. "Worried about her? Hmm?"

"I'm not!" Rhea insisted stubbornly. "All they care about is Anastasia; she's their favorite. I don't care about them."