Once Alexia stepped out of the Tranquil Health Center, Lucy's curiosity finally got the better of her.
"Miss White, why does Mr. Murphy treat you with so much respect?"
With a faint, indifferent smile, Alexia answered, "I only helped him solve a minor problem before."
Memories from her previous life surfaced quietly in her mind. Back then, a devastating medical incident had shaken the entire Tranquil Health Center. During what was supposed to be a routine minimally invasive procedure, a high-profile VIP patient had suddenly died of acute liver failure under Philip's care.
Soon after, the Health Regulatory Authority had launched a full-scale investigation, uncovering a critical oversight—the patient had carried a rare hepatic enzyme deficiency that standard preoperative screenings had failed to detect.
Because of that single oversight, Philip's medical license had been revoked, and the staggering compensation he was ordered to pay had nearly driven him into financial ruin.
Years later, the truth had finally surfaced. Three years after the incident, the laboratory director had been arrested in an unrelated case of data falsification. Under pressure, he had confessed that he'd been bribed by a rival facility to tamper with the patient's test results.
Unfortunately, by the time the truth came to light, everything had already fallen apart. Philip's reputation had long been destroyed, and under the crushing weight of it all, he had spiraled into depression, never managing to recover.
The moment she was reborn, Alexia wasted no time arranging for someone outside the prison to contact Philip, quietly steering him away from the looming disaster.
Through that timely intervention, Philip became an indispensable link in Alexia's growing network.
Just then, her phone vibrated in her hand.
Ethan's name lit up the screen.
After answering, she heard his deep, measured voice spill through the line. "How did the test results turn out?"
Casting a sideways glance, Alexia caught Lucy stiffening beside her, who quickly looked away as she pretended to admire the passing view outside the window.
"Nothing serious—just a few minor issues we can handle."
By now, she had already figured out that Lucy had been placed beside her by Ethan, quietly watching her every move.
Yet she hadn't imagined Ethan would lay it out so bluntly, calmly admitting Lucy had been reporting to him all along.
Such unguarded honesty wasn't carelessness—it spoke of deliberate trust.
Within a single night, he had dug into her past with unsettling precision, and instead of pulling back from their fragile alliance, he stepped forward, offering his hand first. That alone felt like a rare, promising sign.
"That's a relief." After a brief pause, Ethan's steady voice followed, measured but firm. "Get ready. You're coming with me to a banquet tonight."
One of Alexia's brows lifted slightly, a flicker of curiosity surfacing. "A banquet?"
Fresh out of prison, she had barely regained her footing, and the incident at the Tranquil Health Center had already rippled through high society, exposing her complete break with the James family.
By extending that invitation, Ethan wasn't merely being courteous—he was making a calculated, public statement, placing himself squarely at her side.
A trace of concern colored Ethan's voice as he asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing at all." Warmth lingered in her tone as Alexia added, "I appreciate this, Mr. Campbell."
After witnessing the effort he'd put in, a quiet resolve settled in her chest—she refused to disappoint him now.
Night gradually draped itself over the city, and a century-old garden mansion glowed beneath mellow amber streetlights.
Within the mansion, muted lighting softened every corner, as frosted glass diffused the glow of wall lamps into shifting patterns across antique sofas and intricately gilded tables.
Between clusters of finely dressed guests, servers glided soundlessly, balancing trays of crystal flutes that caught the light with every subtle movement. All around them, a gentle piano melody drifted through the air, lending the gathering an unmistakable air of privilege and restrained elegance.
Dressed in a sharply tailored deep-gray suit, Ethan stood upright amid a circle of influential businessmen, exchanging measured words with quiet authority.
While he was maintaining the conversation, his eyes drifted toward the grand entrance in a seemingly offhand glance.
Half an hour had already passed since the banquet began, yet there was still no sign of Alexia anywhere in the hall.
Given what he knew of her sharp instincts, she would never willingly pass up a chance like this to expand her connections.
A flicker of unease surfaced—had something gone wrong along the way?
Approaching with an ingratiating smile, the host said with thinly veiled curiosity, "Mr. Campbell, I heard you were arriving with a lady tonight. Care to share which family this lucky young lady is from?"
Ethan pulled his attention back, his expression settling into calm composure as he answered evenly, "She comes from the James family."
The host gave a knowing nod, a smile already forming. "That makes sense. Rachael really is..."
Before he could finish, Ethan cut in flatly, his tone leaving no room for interpretation. "No. It's Alexia."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the noise around them died away into a heavy silence.
The Campbell Group's only heir… showing up with Alexia?
Even without mentioning her humble upbringing, the mere fact of her criminal record alone was enough to place her far beneath someone of Ethan's elevated standing.
A strained stillness crept in, thick and uncomfortable—until the villa doors were suddenly pushed open with a sharp, echoing swing.
A ripple of stunned whispers broke across the room, voices layering over one another in disbelief.
"Wow… she's breathtaking."
"Why haven't we seen her before? Who is she, exactly?"
"That gown—look closely, it's the newest Luxe Kingdom couture. Only three exist worldwide. She can't be ordinary."
Drawn by the commotion, Ethan turned—and the moment his eyes found Alexia, he went completely still.
Soft silk draped along Alexia's slender frame, the understated gown tracing every graceful curve as though it had been made solely for her. Warm golden light skimmed over her flawless skin, lending her an almost unreal glow.
Subtle makeup framed her features, leaving her natural beauty untouched, while the cool distance in her expression gave her an air that felt untouchable, almost otherworldly.
With unhurried ease, Alexia let her gaze drift across the room, brushing past the curious stares before finally settling on Ethan.
Caught in that fleeting moment of eye contact, Ethan felt his breath hitch, his chest tightening without warning.
Only a day ago, she had appeared understated and barefaced.
Now, she stood utterly transformed—confidence settling into her posture, grace softening every movement, her presence luminous and quietly irresistible.
Drawing in a steady breath, Ethan forced his expression back into its usual calm authority, smoothing away the flicker of surprise.
"Alexia, come over—let me introduce you to a few of the senior figures in the industry," he said with easy familiarity, his tone warm and composed, as though they had known each other for years.
