"Shut up!" Lily spat coldly. "I know how cold-blooded you are, but even if you don't care about hell, show some respect for your parents." Rhea felt even more shaken. She clutched her face, staring bitterly at Lily, clenching her teeth but silent. She knew she couldn't win a fight. She sneered. "I don't know how good a person you are, but since you're doing this experiment, aren't you just like me? Let's see who gets their revenge faster!"

Lily suddenly remembered something. "Do you know what happened to Austin?"

Rhea was momentarily shocked, then laughed. Her smug smile remained. "What's it to you? Is it happening already?"

Lily was even more convinced Rhea knew. She might have even created the symbiote.

"It's just symbiotes, so what?" Lily muttered dismissively, feigning indifference. "Do you think my master and I are any less skilled than you?"

Rhea brushed her hair back, smiling faintly. "Just symbiotes? It's no ordinary symbiote! Honestly, I'm surprised you even know it's a symbiote."

After a pause, she continued, "Since you asked, you should know those around you are infected. Normal symtoxin isn't contagious. This isn't an ordinary symbiote!"

She almost leaned in to mock Lily, but remembering a past slap, she hesitated.

Rhea regarded Lily warily, refusing to yield. "Lily, you think you're so superior. Do you think you can change anything? You can't! You can't even protect your children. What kind of mother are you? You don't deserve to be a mother!"

"It's not your place to judge my motherhood. Symtoxin can be contagious; it's nothing new. Old medical texts mention it. Information on removing symbiotes is in West Virho's Journal of the Bizarre. Is this news to you?"

Lily noted Rhea's hesitation and pressed on. "Do you think everything is under your control? Why was Austin left at my master's manor? Why wasn't he sent home or to the hospital? Do you think we know nothing?"

"You..." Rhea was astounded. Her composure crumbled.

Lily shook her head, sighing. "Rhea, you're just a child, a pawn in someone else's game. Even if you choose to be a pawn, you think you're the queen. You're a low-value piece, easily sacrificed."

"Impossible! You can't remove that symbiote. It doesn't even belong to West Virho. It originated from Ark—" Rhea stopped abruptly.

Realization dawned. Her eyes widened as she met Lily's smirk. "Are you lying to me?!"

Lily waved dismissively. "Why would I? You're overthinking. No matter the origin, they're all from the same source. Those old medical texts are more useful than you think. Don't overestimate yourself. We're simply building on the wisdom of our predecessors."

Rhea snorted coldly. "Enough philosophy. I still don't believe you! If you know how to cure it, show me!"

Lily countered immediately. "How do you know we haven't already cured it? Why else would I be here, calmly talking to you?"

Rhea was speechless.