"It'll take us for a while before we get the result. In the meantime, why don't you two lovebirds go, I don't know, somewhere interesting in the headquarters?" Cyra suggested.

"I would say the Blazing Purgatory. But I presume you two don't find staying there, watching our prisoners, an enjoyable past-time like Cyra and I do." Cyrus chuckled beside his twin, who also has a similar, sketchy smile on her face. ​​

"I'm sure we'll find some place else." Lillie adjusted her sleeve back to cover the cotton ball and stood up.

She picked her mask on the table and meticulously put it on again.

She and Ethan were about to leave the clinic when Cyra's voice stopped them from their tracks. "Oh, wait! You remember that woman you brought before? What's her name again? You know, She Gu's daughter?"

"I forgot her name too." Cyrus shrugged at his twin when she looked at him for answers.

"You're useless."

"Hey!"

"She Xilan, yes. What about her?" Lillie replied. An unimportant background character such as her wouldn't have had the privilege to be remembered.

She was that woman who stormed at Hong Long Corporation's building, making a scandalous scene and proclaiming that the baby she has in her womb was fathered by Ethan.

The woman would've been kicked out and slapped with legitimate proofs that her claims were wrong if she was a normal civilian, or it was only Ethan who was in the scene.

Unfortunately for her, she just had to be She Gu's daughter, who happens to cross paths with the one and only White Bird—her father's nemesis—and seek doom.

What bad luck for her.

Initially, Lillie had She Xilan brought in the headquarters to use her in the future as a hostage. To lure She Gu, or squeeze out whatever information she has about her father and his plans.

But because she was pregnant, they couldn't do the usual interrogation method that comes in various forms—torture.

She was treated nicely than anyone among the prisoners. She was fed well, checked up frequently, has a clean cell, and even given her own TV to keep her occupied.

Lillie isn't a complete monster. Even if they were an enemy, she wouldn't torment a pregnant woman, and risk an innocent baby in her womb.

She Gu, until now, has no idea that her daughter was in White Bird's grasp. Lillie wouldn't let him know yet, as She Xilan's usefulness is still being analyzed.

"She finally gave birth, err...two days ago? Whatever. The baby's a boy, by the way." Cyra uncaringly said, flicking her wrist as if she was swatting a fly. "So, what should we do with her, now that her 'shield' is gone?"

"Leave her alone for now. The baby still needs his mother."

"Wow, really?" Cyrus looked at his boss, a bit taken aback. "That's...unusually kind of you."

Pregnant prisoners like She Xilan were rare. But when they had one, they would usually do what they did to her.

Take care of them until the baby's out.

And as soon as the baby's out, depending on what the woman did, they are either killed, kept in Blazing Purgatory, or released without their memories to live a normal life with their baby.

So far, they would conclude for the first and third choices.

If it was the first and second choices, the baby would be sent directly into a foster home, hand-picked by the White Bird; and not the government.

Wouldn't want them sticking their noses where it doesn't belong.

Cyra twin looked at their boss as if she suddenly turned into an alien. "Where is this maternal sentiment coming from?"

Lillie shot the twins a half-hearted glare. She shook her head and sighed at the their antics. "What time should be back for the result?"

"An hour or less." Cyra said with her back turned against them as she prepped to examine the blood.

"Alright."

As the clinic's door closed behind the couple, the twins didn't wasted their time and began to examine their boss' blood sample.

Thoughts were swirling in their minds, but they didn't let it distract them from their task.

***

(Inside Lillie's office in the White Bird HQ)

"You don't mind staying here? You can join everyone back at the conference room, if you'd like. The Elders would give your Commanders a tour soon."

"And leave you alone?" Ethan raised his eyebrow at his wife as he joined her on the couch. "Your skin is ice cold and you're pale again. I'll be staying with you and make sure you're resting."

With a compliant nod from her, Ethan then told her to lie her head on his lap. She did, much to his delight.

Soft sighs of contentment reached his ears as he combed her hair with his fingers, lulling her into sleep. His free hand was sandwiched between hers that were resting over her stomach.

Like a hawk, Ethan lowered his eyes to look at every detail of his wife's features. From the moment her eyelids fluttered shut, to the gradual relaxation of her facial muscles.

He stopped combing her hair for a moment to run his finger on her supple and smooth cheek, watching how her red lips twitch at the ticklish sensation.

This is the kind of leisure...he'll never get tired of.

Without realizing it, his eyes drifted towards her flat stomach. His mind must be playing tricks with him as an image of a bloated stomach suddenly replaced it.

Ethan blinked, and saw a flat stomach again.

"I think I'm going crazy." He mumbled to himself.

"Who's crazy?" One, curious eye snapped open.

"Ah, nothing. Go back to sleep."