"I knew you weren't being controlled," Lily stated, her gaze fixed intently on Edward. Only his eyes were visible; he appeared exhausted, yet his expression lacked malice. His clear eyes, in contrast to a blank stare, confirmed he was not under duress.

"If Edward isn't controlled, why did he say such terrible things to Liv? Why the falling out with Alex? And most importantly, when did he arrive? Was he here long ago, or did he recently infiltrate? Could this be Alex's doing, or did Edward come of his own volition?" she mused.

Edward sighed heavily, appearing helpless. "Yeah."

"Wait a minute," Mike interjected, feeling excluded. "What are you two talking about? I don't understand anything." He suspected they were using some kind of code. He felt like an outsider, a stark contrast to the many secrets he once held close. Now, he seemed to be the one in the dark.

Edward finally turned to Mike. "Mr. Corden, they won't release your son even if you die here."

Mike was astonished, though he recognized the cruelty as a statement of fact. The mysterious man's cunning and cruelty were evident in his continued control over Mike through his son's captivity. Mike would not give up his search, even if it meant remaining there forever. His son's release seemed nearly impossible.

"Did Alex ask you to come here?" Mike asked, echoing Lily's doubt. "If Alex instructed Edward, why didn't he tell Lily? He wouldn't hide anything from her."

Edward's gaze darkened; he ignored the question. "Don't ask so many questions. This isn't a good place to linger. You two should leave immediately. They'll discover your plans if you wait."

"Do you think no one will notice if we leave now? Will we get trapped if we try?" Lily challenged. "You know why we're staying." Edward remained silent, his lips pursed.

Lily was correct; their presence wasn't due to coercion. While staff needed to scan their cards, middle and upper management did not. They possessed freedom of movement. However, they understood the organization's scale and their own precarious position. Leaving before completing their research was too risky. Death held little fear; the potential harm to their friends and families was their true concern.

"This experiment cannot succeed, and you must leave," Edward emphasized, his gaze shifting from Lily to the wall clock, then to a bookcase. "Time is running out! Stop wasting time!"

"He's in a hurry," Lily thought, "What's he waiting for?"

"What do you mean?" Mike asked, bewildered. "And where's the boss? Did you hide him?"

"Do you think you can escape after we leave?" Edward countered. Their web of connections was vast and largely unknown to them.

Edward's gaze grew darker. "I've never considered escaping," he said lightly.

Mike and Lily were stunned. "Are you planning to die here with them?" Lily asked.