"What's going on?" Edward sensed something was amiss and rushed over. He grabbed Mike by the collar, demanding, "Speak!" Mike, perhaps still dazed, repeated the same phrase.

"Mike Corden, what are you saying?!" Edward's patience snapped, and he punched Mike on the chin.

The blow jolted Mike into awareness. He sat up, clutching his jaw, then scrambled to his feet, seemingly noticing Alexander. Grabbing Alexander's arm, he urgently pleaded, "You can't wait any longer. They want to use Lily as a test subject for R10. Her body is the vessel!"

"They're waiting for her to give birth and recover before starting the experiments. You must act quickly, or it'll be too late!"

Alexander, shocked, struggled to compose himself. Frowning, he asked, "What are you saying?"

Edward echoed his confusion. "What test subject? What vessel? Didn't they already develop R10? Didn't they succeed? Isn't Lily there to ensure everything goes perfectly?" The trio had always assumed Lily's presence was to guarantee the experiment's success. They hadn't considered a hidden purpose. Mike's explanation remained unclear, leaving Edward and Alexander grappling with the terms "vessel" and "test subject."

"I—it's what Rhea told me," Mike stammered. "The basic idea is to use Lily's body as a test subject for R10—to filter it through her, maximize the virus's effect. That's what they're trying to do."

He admitted his uncertainty, attributing it to Rhea's tendency for half-truths and deliberate vagueness. This, he believed, was her meaning.

Alexander, though outwardly calm, gripped the sofa armrest so tightly his knuckles whitened. He couldn't believe this new layer of deception.

"Yes! That's what Rhea said," Mike continued. "They want to wait until after Lily gives birth and recovers. That's the best time for them to move. I thought we could rescue her before then, but I never expected her to already have given birth." The situation felt drastically different from his expectations.

Alexander's face hardened. Edward, sensing his distress, quickly interjected, "Mr. Russell..."

"I'm fine," Alexander replied, waving a hand while his other hand remained clenched around the armrest.

After a moment, Edward said, "Mike said they'll continue the experiment after she's recovered from childbirth. Mrs. Russell has just given birth and hasn't fully recovered yet, so we still have time." Alexander nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yes, we still have time."

Lily's C-section meant a longer recovery. They might wait for complete healing before injecting the virus for optimal effect.