Chapter 245: The Night Was Ink-black

The night was ink-black, with only the faint hum of laboratory equipment breaking the silence.

Elias Mercer paused his work, his peripheral vision catching the girl beside him.

Clara Whitmore was meticulously recording data, her lashes casting delicate shadows under the light.

It struck him—this was the first time someone had stayed up all night with him in the lab.

The feeling was... unfamiliar.

By 3 AM, they finally finished.

Inside the elevator, Clara stifled a yawn, her eyes glistening with fatigue.

"Goodnight," she murmured.

Elias watched her enter the apartment across the hall, but his mind replayed the afternoon's scene—

Raindrops pelting the pavement as she held that silk parasol, her cheongsam tracing every graceful curve.

He slammed his door shut, Adam's apple bobbing.

Clara fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Paige Lawson tossed restlessly in bed.

Grant Holloway was out again.

Catherine Holloway's mocking words looped in her ears.

She flung off the covers and stormed barefoot into the living room.

"Where the hell is everyone?!"

Her shrill voice echoed through the empty mansion.

Two maids scurried out in alarm.

"Miss Lawson, what's wrong?"

Paige's icy gaze swept over them. "I want bird's nest soup. Now."

The maids exchanged glances. "At this hour—"

"What? You suddenly don't take orders from me?"

The older maid forced a smile. "I'll prepare it right away."

Paige jabbed a finger at the younger one. "You—come massage me."

The girl hesitated.

"Deaf?" Paige's voice sharpened. "My back's killing me thanks to your incompetence!"

The maid bit her lip and approached. The instant her fingers grazed Paige's shoulders, they were slapped away.

"Gently! Trying to murder me?"