Lily was puzzled.

"We don't have time for this," Edward sighed helplessly. "Please, I'm begging you both to leave. Now!"

"Did you plant bombs here?" Lily asked, considering his urgency.

Mike's eyes widened. "Bombs?" He rummaged around nervously, unsure if Edward had actually planted explosives. "He'd be crazy to do that!" he muttered. "No," he sighed, "we shouldn't stay. I..."

Before he could finish, a banging sound emanated from the bookshelf. Lily glanced over instinctively as Edward's anxiety escalated. "Mrs. Russell, please, listen to me!" he pleaded.

"You listen to me," Lily said sternly. "Bring us inside to meet him!"

After a moment's hesitation, Edward nodded. He always obeyed Lily, despite his reluctance.

Lily, noticing this, subtly loosened her grip. Edward moved his wrist; it still ached, but there were no marks—not even a red mark from her firm grasp. He knew Lily was a skilled kickboxer, but having never sparred with her, he'd never witnessed her strength firsthand. Now he had.

Edward twisted his wrist, then walked to the bookshelf, raising a hand before squatting to examine a vase on the bottom shelf. Nothing happened.

Lily and Mike were equally confused. Edward, knowing the reason for their bewilderment, offered no explanation. Instead, he moved to the other side of the shelf, reaching for a book, then repeating the action on another section.

A low boom echoed from the bookshelf. Though not loud, it startled them in the sudden silence.

Lily, though silent, was deeply shocked. This office held a significant secret: a cleverly concealed room. She wouldn't have known how to access it without witnessing it.

She eyed Edward doubtfully, but he remained silent, his hands at his sides, facing the bookshelf as it split down the middle. A wave of loneliness washed over him.

Mike's jaw dropped in astonishment. "What? There's a secret room in here!" he exclaimed. "I arranged everything in this office! How did I miss this?" He was awestruck by the room's ingenious concealment.

As the bookshelf parted, revealing the hidden space, Mike rushed inside, followed by Edward. Lily paused, glancing out the door before following, the silence unnerving.