A brief silence fell between them.
But then, William's expression suddenly crumpled, like he was barely holding it in.
"Ah… seriously…" he let out, exhaling as he ran a hand through his hair.
He looked straight at Tiara, who was still blinking in utter confusion.
"I know she's a fox," he said, his tone laced with disbelief. "I mean… I literally told her I was a big bad wolf."
Tiara stared at him, completely confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" William gestured lightly, his expression calm. "She looks like a fox. And she acts like one…"
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as if reconsidering his own words. "in a metaphorical sense."
But Tiara didn't take that well.
She froze, staring at him like she had just heard something completely absurd. "What?"
"What? Am I wro—" William stopped mid-sentence, his expression shifting slightly as something seemed to click in his mind. "Wait… is she actually a fox?"
For a brief moment, no one spoke, and Tiara stood there frozen as the realization slowly settled in, the weight of what she had almost revealed making her chest tighten.
"No—no," she replied quickly, shaking her head a little too fast as she forced out a small, awkward laugh. "I mean metaphorically too…"
Then she continued laughing awkwardly while looking at William and her husband, Arthur.
Arthur, who had been standing at the side, was still trying to process everything he had just heard. In the end, he chuckled along with her.
"That's right… how could she be a fox?" he said lightly. Then he glanced at his wife with a grin. "If she's a fox, then you must be one too, right, honey?"
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere shifted, and silence quietly settled over the room once again.
Tiara turned to Arthur almost immediately, letting out another soft, awkward laugh as she tried to brush it off.
"I guess my… fox-like charm is just too strong," she said lightly, waving her hand dismissively as if it were nothing more than a joke. "You've been around me too long, that's why you're starting to imagine things."
Arthur chuckled, clearly taking it at face value.
"Is that so?" he replied easily, nodding as if the explanation made perfect sense.
Tiara smiled, perhaps a little too brightly, before turning back toward William as if the entire conversation had been nothing more than a casual joke.
"So, Mr. Carter… Can you help me?" she asked, her tone steady, though the urgency beneath it was impossible to hide.
William looked at her for a moment before replying, "What kind of help do you need from me? I mean… I'm just a retired mafia, not a doctor."
Tiara's eyes widened slightly as her heart skipped.
'He heard it. He actually heard it. Damn this retired mafia… How does he have such sharp hearing?'
Despite the storm of curses running through her mind, her lips curved into a polite smile.
"I believe that was just a joke between my sister and me," she said lightly. "I didn't mean any harm."
William didn't respond.
He simply arched a brow, his gaze lingering on her for a second longer before shifting past her. "Where is she?"
Tiara didn't hesitate this time.
"This way," she said quickly, already turning toward the stairs. "Her room is upstairs."
She didn't wait for his response, already turning and heading toward the stairs, her pace quick and uneven as if slowing down for even a second would only make her thoughts spiral further.
William followed behind at a steady, unhurried pace, his presence calm in contrast to her urgency, his gaze occasionally shifting around the house before settling ahead, as though he was taking in more than he let on.
"She collapsed suddenly," Tiara finally said, as she turned briefly towards William and Arthur at her back, "She said she felt dizzy, and then she just… lost consciousness."
Her grip tightening slightly against the railing as the memory replayed in her mind, before continuing up the stairs without looking back.
By the time they reached the second floor, she had already made her way down the hallway and stopped in front of a closed door, her hand hovering over the handle for a fleeting moment as hesitation crept in, though it didn't last long.
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside, revealing the quiet room where Thalia lay on the bed, her figure still, her breathing faint, and her complexion noticeably pale against the sheets.
"She's been like this since earlier…" Tiara said softly, the steadiness in her voice finally slipping.
William stepped in behind her, his gaze falling on Thalia almost immediately, taking in how pale she looked, yet not lifeless. It was more as if she were simply asleep, quietly waiting for something… or someone, to restore her energy.
He moved closer to the bed, his eyes never leaving her. "So… what exactly do you need me to do?"
Tiara took a deep breath before exhaling, clearly trying to organize her thoughts. "So… this is what happened. Please listen first before making any judgment."
She gulped, drawing in another breath. "Earlier at the office, she had the same symptoms, but she said that the moment you—well…" She hesitated, visibly struggling with her words. "When you… touched her…"
"Touched?" William repeated, turning slightly to look at her, his brows faintly drawn together.
"I mean—literally," Tiara clarified quickly, her expression growing more awkward. "Physical contact… like skinship. You know, earlier when you were holding her—"
William turned his head.
One look and Tiara's words stopped instantly.
"Are you taking advantage of me right now?" he asked, his voice calm, but edged with clear suspicion.
Tiara stiffened, caught off guard, and for a moment, the only response she managed was a silent blink.
"Mr. Carter, that was out of line."
Arthur, who had been quiet and observing the entire time, finally spoke up, his tone firm.
"My wife is genuinely worried about her sister, and given the situation, this is hardly the time to take advantage of anyone."
He took a step forward, placing himself slightly in front of Tiara.
"And if you think any of this was planned, then feel free to leave our house right now."