Chapter 225

"Miss Roland?"

Silas Eisner set down his water glass, brows slightly furrowed. The woman before him had remained frozen in the same stance for three full minutes.

Evelyn Roland's pupils constricted abruptly.

Memories flooded back—Olivia Valdemar's terrified, distorted face, the glinting surface of the pool, the cacophony of screams... and that silver brooch being handed to her.

Her head snapped up.

The handsome face before her perfectly overlapped with the figure who'd extended a helping hand in her moment of crisis.

"So it was you."

Her fingers trembled slightly as she retrieved the brooch from her pocket. The silver surface gleamed coldly under the light, resting quietly in her palm.

Silas's gaze dropped to the brooch, his lips curving into a meaningful smile.

"Surprising. You actually remember me."

He didn't take it immediately. Evelyn followed his line of sight and noticed the tiny inscription on the brooch's underside.

"See this engraving?" Silas tapped the text with a slender finger. "Should be familiar to you, Senior Roland?"

"St. John's Medical College?" Evelyn's eyes widened. "You're—"

"Class of 2015, Clinical Medicine." His boyish grin revealed sharp canines. "Getting into our alma mater was my proudest achievement."

The tension dissolved instantly.

"So you're my junior." A soft laugh escaped her as she pressed the brooch into his hand. "Something this valuable should return to its owner."

She paused, expression turning earnest. "And about that day—thank you."

"Just doing my duty." He pocketed the brooch, gaze intent. "Regarding the assistant position..."

"You're hired." Evelyn stood, extending her hand formally. "Welcome to Aether Medical Lab."

Silas blinked, then scrambled to shake her hand. "I won't let you down."

Mid-conversation, his eyes caught the bloodstain on her collar.

"You're injured?"

"Minor scratch." She retreated half a step smoothly. "There's a first aid kit in the lab. I'll handle it."

Glancing at the darkening sky outside, she added, "Let's end here today. Report tomorrow for orientation—I'll introduce you to another colleague."

Silas took the hint and bid farewell.

Meanwhile, at the Roland Estate.

Night draped the grounds like ink, tree shadows swaying. A black Maybach crunched through fallen leaves, coming to a silent stop in the courtyard's center.

The door opened. Polished oxfords met flagstone. The man's tall silhouette stretched long under the streetlamp, his tailored suit radiating an impenetrable chill.