"I haven't interrupted you from something, have I?"

Lillie muffled a yawn with her palm and shook her head. "No, no. I was just reading to kill time. Took a nap instead, though."

​​

"We should probably start now so we could finish quickly. Then you can have more time to rest."

"Hm, good idea." She stood up and stretched her arms.

Telling the servants to prepare tea and snacks, she and Elliot relocated to her office—Storm pattering closely between them.

The refreshments arrived a couple of minutes after they entered her office. Elliot already started his verbal report by then.

Lillie was reading some documents while she listens to him, with the occasional intervals to sip on her tea and chew on a small pastry.

"How's your check-up?" Elliot asked after they concluded the matters concerning the Empire. He sighed in delight when the delicious warm tea moistened his throat.

The light from the window slowly diminished as the sun sets. An hour and a half have passed by without notice.

"There's nothing to worry about, both of us are safe." She reassures him, caressing her growing belly.

"Thank goodness." He said, relieved. "I nearly threw the papers I was holding and run straight out that time you called."

It was actually Andrea who threw the papers in fright when he suddenly jolted from his chair.

Chuckling lightly behind her cup, Lillie finishes her tea.

"What's the status quo of the assignment I issued?"

While Elliot was stacking the documents back in order to put them aside, he said, "As per your orders, I've assigned the Search and Intelligence unit to do a thorough background check and track the group's movements prior to the incident. It's not much, but we found out that the leader was an insignificant member of a moderately influential criminal organization called Vengeance. We've yet to confirm if they are affiliated with any of the three Underworld Leaders or the Uncrowned."

With such a short amount of time, this "not much" information they deciphered is invaluable. It created a trail, and it won't be long before this small trail uncovers a path that leads them to the true perpetrator.

"Everyone in the group is clueless that their leader was only using them as a cover-up to execute a supposedly secret mission that we concluded to be revolving around you. The rest of the group that wasn't involved in the incident are still in their hideout, unaware that their leader is dead." Elliot added.

"I see..." Lillie muttered.

Lillie doesn't fall from the lure of a false sense of security created by whoever this Vengeance group is. She won't be fooled by a puppet pretending to be the puppet master.

There has to be a bigger threat that's been pulling the strings. White Bird exerting this amount of effort to search for them speaks volumes of their competence.

There are five Underworld Leaders and numerous unofficial ones. Obviously, White Bird, Black Tiger, and her other alter ego, Proud Wolf, are exempted from the list. Azure Tortoise is still a threat even if she's on hiatus.

She Gu would've been the most suspicious. But with his organization in peril, she doubts he would spare her his attention.

So it leads them to the Uncrowned Leaders.

***

"Welcome home." Lillie was lounging on their bed. She looked up from the book she was reading before and greeted Ethan as he entered their bedroom.

"I'm home." Ethan approached her and bend down to kiss his wife, then knelt to kiss and tenderly caress her stomach. "Daddy's home, little one, I'm sorry I'll have to leave you and mommy for a while again."

"It's fine, really. We can't prevent all mishaps from happening." Lillie leaned against his touch when he cupped her cheek to go in for another kiss.

Ethan called her earlier to give her a heads up. He'll be leaving tonight to fix some business-related issue in Shanghai. That means he won't be able to fly with her to Fenhua, but promises he'll make it in time before the event.

"Your luggage is prepared," Lillie pointed at the small luggage by the dresser.

"Thank you, but you could've asked one of the housekeepers to do it for you." Ethan sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"It's just a small task." She scooched over to give him more space, then rests her head on his chest. The book now abandoned on the side.

"I still have an hour left. Let's savor the remaining time before my flight." He said, rubbing small circles on her shoulder with his thumb while his other hand caresses her stomach. His chin nestled on the crown of her head. "So how was your day?"

"Hm, eventful." How should she approach this situation without evoking panic from him?

Now that's just asking for a miracle. The words 'attack', 'her', and 'baby' in one sentence will undoubtedly evoke Ethan to panic and blow a fuse.

But he doesn't like beating around the bush.

Straightforward it is then.

"I was attacked."

"WHAT?!"

Called it.

It took Lillie approximately 20 minutes to explain everything that happened and how Wei Fang's involved in it before she managed to calm him down, partially.

"I'll destroy them." Ethan radiated murderous intent for the bastards that dare harm his wife and baby.

"Already did that. The situation is being taken care of."

"I want in on it. Let me destroy that Vengeance nobody. I'll show them what the real personification of their name should look like."

"Okay, I promise you can have them once we're done extracting information." Lillie coaxed him. "Show them no mercy."

"Absolutely. They will rue the day they were born." Ethan resolutely vowed. "That Wei Fang too. He won't escape my wrath for endangering you and our baby's life."

"Endanger who?"

Lillie and Ethan simultaneously turned their heads in the direction of the balcony window where Death unceremoniously threw himself in.

Ethan's murderous face changed to annoyance. "The least you could do was knock. I won't pity you if you saw something you shouldn't."

Death stuck his tongue out and flip him the bird. "I gauged the area safe from belly-bumping activities. The procedure, however, is none of your business."

"I make it my business if it involves our privacy." Ethan snarled.

"Will that suppose to make me answer to you, sissy boy?" Death snarked back.

"I won't expect it, but I'll make you," Ethan was about to unlatch himself from Lillie when she yanked him back.

"Senior Brother," Lillie shot him a chastising look. Also, she didn't mean to shove Ethan's face on her chest—just above her breast. His nose touching her collarbone—but it did wonders in silencing him. "I specifically reminded you to let me know when you are to arrive beforehand."

"Oops," Death shrugged flippantly, averting his gaze elsewhere. Anywhere! This shameless couple is going to kill him from overeating too much dog food. Well, he can't call them shameless since it was him who barged into their bedroom, but still! "Must've slipped my mind."

Lillie rolled her eyes and sighed helplessly. "Ethan, it's time already. You need to go." She said.

"I change my mind. Those fools can wait for me. I'm not leaving you." Ethan's voice was muffled, his head still stuck on her chest. He petulantly refuses to let go.

Lillie expected this would happen.