On the third day of Fenna''s hospital stay, Lillian arrived at Hoffis Manor. With Nathan away on official duties, Zach took on the role of host.


    M had gathered fresh flowers from the greenhouse and was heading back. Approaching the garden, she spotted an unfamiliar man deep in conversation with Elio, while a nanny watching them. Intrigued, M moved closer. As she neared, she recognized Yale''s profile. Her heart raced, her body tensing.


    Setting the bouquet aside, she swiftly reached Elio, pulling him close while keeping a wary eye on Yale.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Yale paused, meeting M''s gaze with a sly smile before standing up. Sensing the tension, the nanny inquired, "Ms. Hoffis, is everything alright?"


    Handing Elio to the nanny, M directed firmly, "Take Elio inside. No conversations with strangers, especially not him."


    The nanny hurriedlyplied, taking Elio with her.


    Oliver chuckled, "Isn''t this a bit too much, Ms. Hoffis? We''re practically friends. Why treat me like a stranger?"


    M shot back, "How did you get in? Who let you in?"


    Approaching casually, Yale said, "Remember when you kicked me? I chose not to bring it up, yet here you are, acting more stringent than I''d expect. I drove here. Any issues with that?" As he drew nearer, M retreated, her unease palpable. Despite being certain of his involvement in past incidents, shecked concrete evidence. Yale was a threat surpassing any terrorist. With Nathan and Cole away, even with guards around, M felt vulnerable. "Robert!" she called out.


    Robert quickly appeared. "Ms. Hoffis, I''m here."


    "Escort him out," M ordered.


    Just then, Lillian emerged from the house, her voice carried a sharp edge of anger. "Is this how the Hoffis family treats their guests?"


    M turned to find Lillian, apanied by Zach, standing at the doorway. With a look of confusion, Zach asked gently, "Chubs, what''s going on?"


    Though the family was cautious due


    to theck of solid evidence


    connecting Yale to Oliver, they à couldn''t turn away Lillian. After aft she was the daughter of Donal and Yale was a candidate in the uing elections.


    With Lillian there, M felt safer since Yale wouldn''t dare cause a scene in front of his wife.


    With her anger in check, M greeted, "Ms. Kimmel, what a surprise."


    Lillian''s expression darkened. "It''s Mrs. Xander now."


    Had Lillian abandoned her family name upon marriage?


    Yielding, M asked, "Mrs. Xander, what brings you here today?"


    Taking a step closer, Lillian barely contained her anger. "I''m here for Fenna. Why was she hospitalized? Who gave you the authority?"


    "Mrs. Xander, perhaps you should


    get your facts straight before


    confronting us. Fenna''s


    hospitalization was her decision, endorsed by Cameron, her legal guardian."


    "Do you think I''m unaware of your tactics?"


    Uninterested in a verbal sparring match, M asked, "So, you''vee to voice your grievances?"


    Closing the distance, Lillian''s eyes shed as she warned, "Have Nathan sort this out. Release Fenna.


    "Otherwise, once Yale bes


    president, his first act will be to


    dismiss you from the


    the


    institute and work with other deaders


    to remove Nathan from his position."