Rick finally understood Lily's meaning. He shook his head. "No. Before the boss returns, four of us can voice our opinions and concerns. Anyone with an opinion should speak up. Certainly…"

He paused, his eyes hardening. "If anyone is a traitor, they will not be spared!"

After the meeting, Rhea confronted Lily. "Is it you?"

"What do you think?" Lily replied, watching her calmly, neither confirming nor denying.

"You seem competent. I didn't expect you to kidnap the boss. But don't assume your plan is foolproof. You have no idea how dangerous the people behind the boss are!" Rhea exclaimed, fear briefly flickering in her eyes.

Lily chuckled. "Oh? Do you understand fear as well? I thought you were a fearless psychopath!"

"You–!" Rhea fumed at the ridicule.

"And you said my plan isn't foolproof, right? So, Rhea, you should consider the consequences for yourself!" Lily glanced at her, then walked away.

Rhea spun around, her voice rising. "Stop pretending! If it wasn't you, why don't you deny it?! It was you! I know you're skilled in kickboxing. You must have taken advantage of the boss's downtime…"

Before she finished, she felt a hand on her collar. Her eyes widened in surprise.

Lily's skill was well-known; Rhea had deliberately kept her distance. Yet, despite the space between them, Lily's movement was unseen. Rhea was completely caught off guard, terrified.

Lily, however, was inwardly lamenting her pregnancy. Her enlarged belly hampered her movements; she'd intended to grab Rhea by the neck, but could only manage her collar. Even so, it was enough to frighten Rhea.

"Rhea, since you know my skills, stop provoking me," Lily pulled Rhea closer, whispering, her voice only for their ears. A sneer played on her lips as she moved closer to the startled Rhea.

Rhea's hair stood on end. This woman…

"Besides, I don't need to deny it. You've already made up your mind; what difference does it make? It's no wonder your experiments always fail. You're too preoccupied with speculation. Focus on your work instead of gossiping. You can't succeed without me. You're nothing compared to the world's top talents!" Lily released her grip, pushing Rhea back.

Rhea stumbled, nearly falling. "You–!"

She dared not continue.

Lily returned to her room, exhausted. She collapsed onto the sofa, taking deep breaths and slowly sipping water.