Luci Pearl couldn't fully mask the flicker of disdain in her eyes as she looked at Solenn, a child who had stubbornly resisted her charm despite years of carefully calculated effort.
For four long years, Luci had performed the part of a doting caretaker, attending to Solenn's daily needs and escorting her to countless medical appointments. If Solenn weren't the key to Luci's plan to become Mrs. Monreal, she would never have wasted a single second trying to win the girl's affection.
Even so, Luci plastered a smile on her face and extended her arms toward the little girl.
"Solenn, come to mommy for a hug," she cooed, her tone syrupy and practiced.
Solenn recoiled immediately, pressing herself against Griffin's chest. "But I want Daddy to hold me," she murmured in her small, urgent voice. "Daddy, hold me."
Griffin's strong hands rose to gently stroke her back, soothing her trembling form. "It's okay, sweetheart. Don't be afraid. Daddy's here. Daddy's holding you," he whispered, his voice steady and comforting.
Then he turned his sharp gaze on Luci, ice creeping into every line of his face. "She's still very young. If she doesn't want you in her arms, don't force her," he said, firm and unyielding. "Right now, your priority is finding Dr. Harriet Morgan. That's your most important contribution."
Before Luci could respond, Yvo, Griffin's assistant, approached, phone in hand.
"Mr. Monreal," he said carefully, "our contact at the hospital just called. Dr. Morgan has already arrived at Silverstone Medical Center."
Luci's expression froze, a flash of panic crossing her carefully maintained composure. "What? We've been standing here with the welcome signs forever… and she went straight to the hospital?"
Yvo gave her a small, awkward glance, waiting silently for Griffin's reaction.
Griffin's eyes narrowed. After a beat, his voice cut through the tension like steel. "Let's go to the hospital."
Indeed, Althea had spent years abroad honing her surgical skills. Her expertise was not only unparalleled in the country but also highly respected across international medical circles. Yet she preferred anonymity, practicing under the name Harriet Morgan, a shadowy figure whispered about with reverence among her peers.
If it weren't for her past connection with Wade, her former classmate, she might never have dared take on Theron's father's case.
With all preoperative preparations complete, Althea knelt beside her twins before stepping into the operating room.
"Silas, Lilith, I need you both to stay quietly in the waiting area. This surgery could take a while, so please behave," she said softly, her voice calm but firm. "Once it's over, your godmother will come to pick us up. And if you need anything, the hospital staff will help you."
The two children nodded obediently. Silas clutched a laptop, and Lilith held a high-performance smartphone, both absorbed in their devices.
"Don't worry about us, Mom," Silas said, waving her off. "I'll take good care of Lilith."
Althea's chest swelled with pride. Despite her demanding work schedule and years of financial strain, her children had grown remarkably independent, a blessing she never took for granted.
Once she had settled them, she walked into the operating room, her focus absolute.
Meanwhile, Griffin and Luci Pearl arrived at Silverstone Medical Center with their entourage. News from their hospital contact that Harriet Morgan had already begun surgery sent a flicker of tension across Griffin's sharp features.
His daughter Solenn had been born with a minor heart condition. For years, Griffin had sought doctors both domestically and internationally, but none had dared attempt the delicate operation. Hearing of Harriet's extraordinary skill had rekindled hope, but now they had once again narrowly missed her.
Sensing Griffin's unease, Luci asked nervously, "Griffin, what should we do now?"
He gave her a sharp, impatient look. "There's nothing to do but wait."
"But what if she's in surgery for hours? Are we really just going to wait here?" Luci pressed. "She's only a doctor… isn't she being a little arrogant?"
Griffin's gaze turned icy. "Luci, watch your words. She is not 'just a doctor.' She is one of the top surgeons internationally. Solenn's life depends on her decisions," he said firmly. "This is our daughter's health we're talking about. Don't you care about that at all?"
Luci's confident mask faltered under his intensity. She forced a smile and softened her voice, feigning humility.
"Griffin… I didn't mean it that way. I just… I'm worried about Solenn," she stammered. "She's my daughter, how could I not care? I'd give my own heart to her if I could."
Her words rang hollow in Griffin's ears; the notion that Luci would willingly sacrifice her own heart for Solenn was laughable.
He shook his head, stepping away from the argument. Finding a chair, he sank into it, cradling Solenn gently in his arms.
Throughout their wait, Griffin's focus never wavered. He fed her small pieces of fruit with painstaking care, ensuring she wouldn't choke, his every motion precise yet tender.
Watching him, Luci felt a pang of jealousy twist in her chest. The child had been born fortunate, blessed with a father's devotion, what had she ever done to earn even a fraction of Griffin's attention?
Griffin had planned to remain outside the operating room for Harriet Morgan, but midway through the wait, an urgent call from the company pulled him away. A critical matter demanded his immediate attention.
Sensing the sudden opening, Luci seized the opportunity to step forward, a calculated smile on her face.