Standing beneath the bright spotlight, Claire squinted slightly as if the glare was a bit too strong.
The motion was subtle, almost unnoticeable. Yet the entire room seemed to pause for a breath. She was simply too striking to ignore.
The host spoke again, though his tone carried a hint of caution. "Miss, would you like to share a few words? Perhaps give the couple your congratulations?"
Her presence carried an authority that made him abandon the playful tone he usually used with guests.
Claire slowly raised her eyes. Her gaze brushed over the couple standing on the stage before resting calmly on the host.
"Congratulations?" She repeated the word quietly, while the corner of her red lips lifted into a faint curve that held little warmth. "Oh, of course I'm here to offer my congratulations."
She stepped forward at an unhurried pace. "Mr. Willis and Miss Murphy—"
Her voice paused as her eyes settled on Cade's frozen expression.
"I wish you both a long future together."
The moment those words left her mouth, the last trace of color drained from Cade's face.
Beside him, Dina noticed the change instantly. A flicker of something unpleasant passed through her eyes. Confusion mixed with a thin thread of jealousy she could not fully conceal.
She wondered who the woman was.
Why was Cade staring at her like that?
At that moment, the ballroom doors swung open once more.
A tall figure walked inside with slow, steady steps. He looked completely at ease. The dark gray suit he wore was spotless, and the way he carried himself made his authority obvious to anyone watching.
It was Dylan.
That man almost never showed up at events like this, yet the entire ballroom turned toward the entrance the instant he appeared.
Cade's father, Richard Willis, rushed over right away, wearing a wide smile. "Mr. Morgan, it's an honor to see you here."
Dylan responded with nothing more than a brief nod, barely acknowledging the greeting. His eyes moved past everyone else before settling directly on Claire, who still stood beneath the spotlight.
Then he headed straight toward her.
People in the crowd instinctively stepped aside. Before anyone realized it, they had already created a clear path for him.
A heavy feeling sank into Cade's stomach.
Since when did Dylan know Claire?
A thought suddenly cut through Cade's mind, and the chill that followed made his fingers stiff.
Could it be that the Morgan family had also located Dr. L... and Claire was exactly the mysterious doctor they were looking for?
No. That couldn't be right. There was no way.
Claire couldn't possibly be Dr. L.
"Miss Lloyd." Dylan stopped a short distance in front of Claire. His voice remained calm and low. "The medicine you provided worked. My grandfather hopes you'll visit him. He wants to thank you himself."
The words struck Cade with the force of a sudden storm.
Medicine. Dylan's grandfather.
All the scattered clues came together at once, forming a conclusion that made Cade feel sick to his stomach. Even so, he refused to believe it.
"You're giving me too much credit," Claire responded with a restrained smile that held a polite distance. "I'm just glad I could do something for your grandfather."
Dylan didn't bother with pleasantries. "Tell me what you want in return. The Morgan family doesn't accept help without repaying it."
Their exchange remained steady and composed, almost as if the crowded ballroom around them had disappeared. The quiet confidence between them left everyone else standing there in stunned silence.
Richard watched the scene with a shifting expression. After several uneasy moments, he finally spoke, choosing his words with visible caution. "Mr. Morgan... may I ask who this lady is?"
Dylan turned slightly and looked at him. The glance carried no warmth, and he gave no reply.
Claire answered instead. Her voice rang out clearly across the room, saying, "Richard, have you already forgotten who I am? I'm Claire, your son's—"
She stopped mid-sentence on purpose, letting the tension stretch as the Willises' faces stiffened, before delivering the final blow. "Ex-wife."
The single word hit the room like a heavy strike.
The guests could no longer keep their reactions to themselves. A ripple of murmurs swept across the ballroom.
"Hold on... did she just say she's Cade's ex-wife?"
"Oh my, the Willis family must've lost their minds. They threw her away for that fragile one?"
"And didn't Mr. Morgan say her medicine had helped his grandfather's condition? Could she actually be a doctor?"
"I remember hearing Mr. Morgan was searching for Dr. L. Are you telling me she's—"
"That can't be right. Everyone said Catholicon was some old man."
"That's just what people assumed. Think about it. With Toby Morgan's position, why would he personally thank anyone ordinary?"
Amid the rising chatter, Cade finally managed to speak.
He pulled his arm away from Dina and walked down from the stage. Each step was slow and deliberate, while his eyes stayed fixed on Claire.
"You..." His voice came out rough as he struggled to steady it. "Tell me the truth. Are you Dr. L?"
Claire lifted her brow slightly as she looked at him. "Mr. Willis, were you addressing me?"
The way she spoke his name created a sharp divide between them. In that moment, the distance between the two of them became impossible to ignore.
Cade felt his chest seize, and the pressure made it hard for him to draw a steady breath.
Only three days earlier, she had stood in front of him with that stubborn hope in her eyes and quietly asked whether there was still a way to fix everything.
Now, she stood beneath the bright lights as if she had always belonged there. She didn't even spare him a proper glance.
"Claire..." His voice sounded strained. "We need to talk."
Claire let out a small laugh that carried no warmth. "Talk about what? Do you want to discuss how you've been searching everywhere for Dr. L so you can save the woman you love? Or would you rather explain how far you're willing to go for Miss Murphy?"
With each word she spoke, the color slowly drained from Cade's face.
"You..." He tried to respond, but before he could finish, a piercing voice sliced through the moment.
"Claire! How dare you show up here and stir up trouble!"
Jessie pushed her way through the crowd as if she had been waiting for the perfect chance to appear. Her heels struck the floor with sharp, angry steps as she marched forward and stopped directly in front of Claire.
She raised her hand and pointed straight at Claire's face while her voice rang out across the ballroom. "How could you be Dr. L? That's the most ridiculous lie I've ever heard!"
The entire ballroom fell quiet at once. Every pair of eyes shifted toward Jessie.
The moment the crowd's attention settled on her, Jessie only grew more emboldened.
With obvious disdain, she swept her gaze over Claire from head to toe. A mocking smile curled across her lips. "Everyone, don't let that act fool you. The Willis family knows exactly what kind of person she is."
She pivoted toward the surrounding guests as if she were unveiling some explosive secret.
"She spent time in prison. That's right. Behind bars. That's the woman standing in front of you. Now tell me, how could someone with that history possibly know anything about medicine? Think about it for a second. What kind of medical genius ends up locked in a cell? Maybe she landed there because she botched a treatment."
A harsh laugh escaped Jessie, sharp and biting. "Claire, if you're going to pretend to be someone important, at least make it believable. Dr. L? Please. Keep dreaming."
