"We still have to thank those twodies from the restaurant. Thanks to them standing up for you, I saved on PR expenses," Ruth said with a chuckle as she walked toward the parking lot.


    She unlocked her car and got in. As she started the engine, she casually updated Serena on thetest online discussions.


    Serena was already in the car, looking at her reflection in the mirror—her face glowing, her smile warm.


    "A win-win for everyone. I have an early meeting at Amber Groupter. Do you have ns tonight? Want to grab dinner?"


    "I remember what time you get off work. I''ll pick you up after my rehearsal." Ruth agreed cheerfully.


    She figured Serena just wanted to thank her for helping her get the judge position and return to the ssical music scene.


    They set a time, and Ruth pressed the elerator. In the rearview mirror, a figure vanished in an instant.


    A momentter, a ck sedan quietly merged into traffic, tailing Ruth''s car all the way to Luna Orchestra''s studio.


    Unaware of any of this, Ruth scrolled through her assistant''s schedule updates as she walked upstairs.


    Meanwhile, in the ck sedan, a man in a baseball cap pulled his brim lower and silently approached her car.


    ...


    In the evening, meetings at Amber Group had concluded for the day.


    Serena walked out of the conference room and nced at the time. "Half an hourte. Hmm? Ruth hasn''t messaged to rush me?"


    She stared at their empty chat window, feeling a bit surprised.


    She quickly typed out an apology and was about to exin her dy when her phone rang. What was the rush?


    Serena''s heart skipped a beat as she hurried to pick up. "Sorry, the meeting ran over-"


    "Are you a friend of Ms. Ruth Wright? She was in a car ident and was just brought to our hospital. It''s at..."


    In that instant, Serena felt her blood turn to ice. A car ident?


    She was just fine this morning, making dinner ns with her. How could she suddenly be in an ident?


    The moment she heard the address, she bolted for the elevator.


    Serena sped all the way to the hospital, pushing her car to the very edge of the speed limit.


    She immediately rushed inside once she reached the hospital. Seeing the crowded elevators, she took a nce before running straight for the stairwell to head to the fourth floor.


    As she turned a corner, she mmed full-force into someone.


    "Sorry! I''m in a hurry!"


    Barely ncing at the person in the hoodie, she darted past, too anxious to stop.


    The pestead, they nervously


    Soft hat brim lower


    The person she bumped into said


    hurried down the stairs.


    Serena''s pace slowed. "That person... looks familiar."


    Her gaze fixed on the hand resting on the stair railing. It looked


    dra''s hand. Why was she d so androgynously e


    skittish, and avoiding eye contact?


    so


    Serena was about to turn back and call out, but a nurse stopped her.


    "Excuse me, are you Ms. Wright''s friend? She just finished her tests and can''t go


    get her meds. Can you help her?"


    "Yes, I''ll go now!"