Before Lilith could even process what was happening, Luci Pearl's wailing filled the air, loud and theatrical, dripping with what seemed like heartfelt remorse.
"Solenn… I'm so sorry," Luci Pearl sobbed, her voice trembling dramatically. "I just… wasn't thinking. It was an accident, I swear!"
She pressed on, her tone increasingly theatrical. "You're my precious daughter. I carried you for nine months. I even went through a C-section to bring you into this world. How could I ever—ever—intentionally hurt you? Please, just this once… forgive me. I promise it won't happen again. I love you so much."
For the first time since the confrontation began, Griffin's expression softened just slightly. The icy pressure radiating from him eased, though only enough to be noticeable to someone as perceptive as Lilith.
Lilith didn't understand all the complexities of the adult world, but she knew enough to recognize danger. She pressed her lips together, quiet and watchful, careful not to make the situation worse.
Yvo, noticing the subtle shift, stepped forward carefully, placing himself a few steps away from Griffin, close enough to speak, but without appearing presumptuous. He lowered his voice, offering a calm mediation.
"Mr. Monreal… Ms. Greene is Solenn's biological mother, after all. Even the fiercest parent wouldn't intentionally harm their own child. I'm certain this wasn't deliberate."
He paused, glancing at the red mark on Lilith's arm. His brow furrowed.
"Children's skin is delicate. Adults sometimes don't realize their own strength. You've already made your point for Solenn. Perhaps we should focus on the more urgent matter—finding Dr. Morgan."
Griffin took a slow, deliberate breath, his anger visibly restrained as he looked down at Lilith nestled quietly in his arms. Then, with a controlled, icy voice, he turned back to Luci Pearl.
"Remember," he said, the weight of authority and warning cutting through the room, "this is the last time."
Luci Pearl flinched, the words sinking deep. She could feel the danger behind that tone, the unspoken consequence if she failed.
Seizing the moment, she forced her face into a meek, obliging smile, nodding rapidly.
"I understand, Griffin. I give you my word… it absolutely won't happen again!"
Eager to display her "maternal devotion," Luci Pearl extended her arms toward Lilith, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
"Come on, let's go find Dr. Morgan. Solenn, sweetie… let Mommy hold you."
But Lilith didn't hesitate. Like a rabbit sensing danger, she recoiled, her small body stiffening. The memory of that suffocating embrace, of the cloying perfume and the cold calculation behind Luci Pearl's smile, still lingered. This woman who called herself "Mommy" unsettled her down to her bones.
Without a second thought, Lilith pressed herself against Griffin's broad, solid chest. Her tiny hands clutched his shirt as if it were a lifeline, seeking safety in the only person she trusted.
The gesture was a complete, silent rejection.
Griffin stiffened briefly, caught off guard by the child's absolute trust. Deep inside, something soft stirred in him, a long-buried corner of his heart that only a child could reach.
Luci Pearl's hands hung awkwardly in midair, her triumphant smile faltering. Humiliation and jealousy warred across her face as she realized the depth of the rejection.
Griffin didn't even glance at her. He adjusted his hold on Lilith, one hand steady beneath her bottom, the other resting protectively across her back. His movements were gentle but firm, silently reassuring her.
"Let's go," he said, his voice low, decisive, leaving no room for argument.
The moment they stepped into the operating room, the sharp antiseptic smell cut through the air. Bright lights reflected off stainless steel instruments, nurses moving efficiently around the room as if nothing else existed.
Griffin's brief hope, the flicker of optimism that Lilith might somehow accept Luci Pearl, might let her claim even a shred of trust died almost instantly. The sight of Luci Pearl's forced sweetness, her hollow performance of maternal concern, had erased it completely.
In its place rose a controlled, simmering fury, coiled and dangerous, the kind of anger that didn't roar but could crush quietly, invisibly, and with absolute precision.
His jaw tightened. His grip on Lilith shifted slightly, more instinctively protective than ever, as if her very life depended on his composure.
Without hesitation, he pivoted on his heel and strode toward the elevator, each step measured, purposeful, radiating authority. There was no question in anyone's mind that he was a man who would not tolerate failure, deceit, or weakness in matters involving his daughter.
"Yvo," he called, voice taut and cutting, every word carrying the weight of command, "keep searching. I don't care what it takes—even if you have to turn this entire city upside down, find Dr. Johnson!"
"Yes, Mr. Monreal!" Yvo replied instantly, his voice sharp with urgency. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he shot off without a second glance, the seriousness of the order propelling him into motion.
The rest of Griffin's group fell into step behind him, moving with the same intensity and focus. There was a rhythm to their strides, a weight to their presence that made the hallways feel tighter, smaller. Each footfall was a reminder that this was not a simple search.
Behind him, Luci Pearl followed with painstaking care, her steps measured, her breathing shallow. Every movement was calculated to appear calm, though her composure was little more than a fragile mask stretched tight over a growing panic. She knew Griffin's patience was running thin and that one misstep could undo everything she had tried to control.