---
After returning to the mansion, Claire was still processing the events at Cain's father's house. Cain had gone straight to the company to handle some unfinished business, leaving Claire to her thoughts.
A sudden ring from her phone jolted her back to reality. Glancing down, she saw an unknown number on the screen. Narrowing her eyes, she answered.
"Claire, how have you been?" a familiar female voice said from the other end.
"I'm fine. Who's this?" Claire replied, frowning.
"It's me, Laila. Ah, how could you forget me?" the woman replied.
Claire's face tightened. *Why was the 'evil mistress' calling her?* Laila was her cousin, and they'd always been on bad terms. At their grandmother's funeral, Laila had gone as far as accusing Claire of murder. And now she had the audacity to call?
"What do you want, Laila?" Claire asked curtly.
"Claire, why so rude? Aren't we like sisters?" Laila said in a saccharine tone.
"I'm busy, Laila. If you've got something to say, get to the point," Claire replied bluntly.
"I just miss you, Claire. You know, I've realized I may have misjudged you. After all, Nana adored you. There's no way you could've done anything to harm her. We all misunderstood you, and I wanted to apologize," Laila said, her voice dripping with supposed guilt.
Claire's eyes widened in disbelief. *Seriously? How did they all suddenly grow a conscience?*
"Is that it? If you're done, I'll be hanging up now," Claire replied, rolling her eyes, the nauseating sweetness in Laila's tone unsettling her.
"Oh, Claire, why so cold? We want to apologize in person and make things right. So, we're hosting a welcome-back party for you tomorrow! You have to come. I can even pick you up if that makes it easier," Laila added, her voice a bit too enthusiastic.
Claire stood up, feeling conflicted. *Did they actually regret their behavior, or was this just another setup?*
"There's no need for all this. I have a busy schedule and won't be able to attend," Claire said, attempting to sidestep the invitation.
"No, no, that won't do! You have to come, or else we'll each call you personally until you agree," Laila insisted.
With no other choice, Claire reluctantly agreed. "Fine, I'll stop by." She hung up, feeling a strange mix of suspicion and irritation.
---
At Imperial Axis Inc., Cain sat reviewing files, his expression focused and intense. Hours passed, and after finally closing the last file, he leaned back, exhaustion etched across his face. His father's words echoed in his mind.
"Look into the situation with Maria. Whoever pulled those strings—I'll handle them myself."
Cain opened his eyes, gritting his teeth. *What was he supposed to do now?* If he didn't report back, his father would eventually uncover the truth: that it was Cain himself who had orchestrated Maria's downfall.
Releasing Maria from the rehabilitation center was the only option to keep his father from discovering the truth. But doing so would mean forfeiting his revenge, leaving things unfinished.
With a sigh, he rubbed his temples, trying to clear his mind. Reaching for a notepad, he started jotting down his current priorities.
- The rivals' case
- The cargo ship deal
- Dr. Hensley's ongoing situation
- Maria's unresolved issue
He paused and added one more:
- Engagement arrangements with Claire
A small smile appeared as he circled the last two items. "Let's tackle these first," he murmured, clapping his hands together. But then doubt flickered in his eyes. "Will she even agree to this?" His excitement faded, replaced by uncertainty.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He called Mark, instructing him to prepare a ride. Moments later, Cain left his office, his expression serious and resolute.
Minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of Prime Rehabilitation Center. Cain's face hardened as he glanced at the center's sign from his car window, a look of distaste flickering across his face.
In the front seat, Mark looked at him, puzzled. *Why was his boss suddenly paying Maria a visit? Just the other day, he'd ignored the mere mention of her name.* Mark frowned, silently watching as Cain stepped out of the car.
Inside, Cain approached the reception desk and asked for Maria's room. The receptionist pointed him in the right direction.
As he walked down the hallway, he noticed a man carrying flowers and a small food parcel. A thought struck him, and he halted mid-step, pulling out his phone.
"Mark, how can you be so careless? You're visiting a patient—you should have brought flowers or food," Cain said curtly.
"Boss—"
"Save it. Go buy some flowers and food. I want it here within five minutes," Cain cut him off, then ended the call abruptly.
The nurse guiding him looked at him with a bemused expression. "You can wait here until your parcel arrives, Mr. Wilson. I'll be back to escort you once it's here," she said with a hint of amusement, before returning to her station.
Cain pressed his lips together, feeling slightly embarrassed as he took a seat in the waiting area.
A few minutes later, Mark arrived, clutching a bouquet and a food parcel. Scanning the room, he spotted Cain, who was sitting with a somewhat irritated expression. As Mark approached, he couldn't help but think, *How on earth will he explain this to Claire if she finds out he came to see Maria?*
Mark shook his head, handing the items over to Cain, who nodded in thanks.