Chapter 1781

Alexander heard Lily's voice as he approached. Though he couldn't discern the content of her outburst, the urgency in her tone was unmistakable. He quickly went to her side, finding her standing with a phone in hand, her sullen expression lingering.

"What?" he asked.

He glanced at the concoction table; the process was ongoing, and the absence of alarms reassured him. Approaching Lily, he touched her forehead. Her temperature was normal, but her chest heaved violently. Just as he reached for the phone, she tightened her grip.

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"Who called?" He knew it was a call, but hadn't heard the caller's identity.

"Mike Corden," she replied. Lily glanced at him, slowly supporting herself upright. She casually adjusted the pillow at her waist for comfort. "It's not actually Mike, but the person behind him."

"The mysterious man appeared?" Alexander was surprised. "That person has been hiding for so long. It's hard to guess what he wants now that he's taken the initiative."

"What did you say?" he asked after a moment's reflection.

Lily's lips pursed, her face darkening. "He threatened me."

"Threatened you?" Alexander raised an eyebrow. "How? Didn't you agree to join him?"

"I asked for two more days, but he refused, saying they're running out of time," Lily explained. "He said Mike will pick me up tomorrow morning, and I must go."

"So, it's about the timing?" Alexander paused, gently touching her shoulders. He spoke softly, "Don't get so worked up. Consider another perspective. Why are they so anxious? Is time truly critical for them? Would they fail without you?"

Lily sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, exhaustion evident. She confessed that while she'd often pulled all-nighters for experiments in the past, even then it was less taxing than this. Now, the physical strain of pregnancy added to the mental burden. Previously, she had managed danger effectively, planning accordingly; this situation, however, was different. The man's power and the organization behind him were immense, exceeding her imagination. Their meticulousness was unsettling; she still hadn't identified the mastermind, whether person or force, behind their malevolence.

Alexander wrapped his arms around Lily's shoulders, pulling her close and patting her comfortingly. "No matter how they threaten," he murmured, "you don't have to go if you don't want to. No one can force you. Remember that! I'll spend everything I have to protect you and the children."