“Lately, my health hasn’t been great, and with how busy you both are, who knows when we’ll meet again?” Old Lady Edna said with a sigh. “I’m not even sure when those jade sculptures will be ready. Why don’t I give you something else instead?” Before Liza could politely decline, the elderly woman retrieved a small, dark object from beside her and pressed it into Liza’s hand. “Here, take this as a gift. I hope you’ll like it.” Liza looked down at the object in her palm, her thoughts frozen for a few long seconds. It was a sleek black pistol. “…This is a bit much, isn’t it?” she finally thought to herself, unable to form coherent words for a moment. She glanced at Gavin with incredulity, resisting the urge to grab him by the collar and demand, “Do all members of your family give guns as gifts?!” Her mind flashed back to the first gift Gavin had given her—a beautiful silver pistol. Now his grandmother was following suit with her own contribution to this oddly specific tradition. Clearly, unique tastes ran in the family. “Alright, the gift is yours now,” Old Lady Stone said cheerfully, breaking Liza’s daze. “You can both leave. I need to rest.” Gavin frowned, his expression tightening. “Grandma, I’ll stay with you a little longer,” he said in a low voice. But the old woman shook her head with a warm smile. “It’s enough that we met. I’m feeling tired and need to lie down now.” At that moment, a servant stepped forward, her tone gentle but firm. “Young Master, Old Lady Stone needs to rest. She has fewer and fewer days where she feels well enough to wake up.” Liza’s brows furrowed at the implication. Fewer and fewer days to wake up? What did that mean? Without another word, Gavin turned and led Liza out of the greenhouse. His face was stoic, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his emotions. Noticing his mood, Liza decided it was best to remain quiet for now. Once the servant had helped Old Lady Stone to bed, she walked over to Liza, her expression apologetic. “Young Madam, please don’t take it to heart. Old Madam is seriously ill and can only see visitors for short periods of time each day.” Liza shook her head. “I understand.” She had no reason to be upset—her brief meeting with the old woman had been pleasant enough. Still, she found herself glancing back at the greenhouse door, her mind clouded with curiosity. After a moment, she hesitated before asking, “How long has Grandma been like this?” The servant seemed caught off guard by the question, but after a pause, she replied, “It’s been over 30 years now.” Liza nodded slowly, piecing together the picture. Old Lady Stone clearly adored Gavin, and her status in the family likely carried significant weight. If she had been in good health, she would never have allowed Gavin to face mistreatment, especially from his biological mother. Her prolonged illness must have left her too weak to intervene in his upbringing, leaving him to fend for himself in the cutthroat environment of the Stone Family. The servant's voice was calm and reassuring as she spoke, “Young Madam, there’s no need to worry. Old Madam has been holding on for such a long time, and now that she knows Young Master is happily married to you, it has eased the burden on her heart. Her spirits will likely improve, and so might her health. I also heard that Young Master has been searching for a renowned physician. If they’re found, there’s a chance Old Madam could recover. But… I’ve also heard that the physician has been missing for years, and some even say they’ve passed away. Sigh…” Liza’s head snapped up. A renowned physician? If this was the person she thought it might be, she just might have a way to help. On the way back, Liza’s thoughts were consumed by the idea. However, her excitement was tempered by uncertainty. It had been two years since she last heard from that old man. After escorting her to Li City, he had disappeared without a trace. She glanced down at the pistol in her hands, her fingers running over its sleek surface. She didn’t consider herself a particularly compassionate person. Over the years, she had grown numb to death and suffering, her emotions dulling over time. So why was she now considering going out of her way to help an old woman she had only just met? Her thoughts wandered to Gavin’s expression as they had left the greenhouse—his reluctance and the subtle pain he tried to hide. Her chest tightened slightly. Was she doing this… for him? She quickly dismissed the notion, telling herself she was simply caught up in their act. Gavin had asked her to pretend to be his devoted wife, and any ordinary wife would naturally feel concerned seeing her husband troubled. It was just part of the role she was playing, nothing more. Still, she found herself questioning her own motivations. This was all a performance. Did it really make sense to put in so much effort to track down that eccentric old physician for the sake of maintaining appearances? She shook her head as if trying to clear her thoughts, forcing herself to rationalize her actions. But before she could delve any further into her tangled emotions, the faint sound of footsteps outside the door caught her attention. Straining to listen, she realized the voices were discussing Audrey. “I always thought Miss Audrey and Gavin were meant to be together. They’ve known each other since they were children, after all.” “Exactly. If it weren’t for Young Madam, Miss Audrey would have undoubtedly won Young Master’s heart. How could any man resist a woman who loves him so unconditionally?” For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, a strange discomfort settled in Liza’s chest as she overheard the conversation. Meanwhile, in Audrey’s room, tension hung heavily in the air. Lady Edna sat with a stormy expression, her disapproval clear. Although Audrey wasn’t her biological daughter, she had watched the girl grow up and had always held her close to her heart. Seeing Audrey humiliated by Liza today had enraged her, and she couldn’t stand idly by.