Chapter 9 The password clue

​Cillian Thorne glared at her with cold eyes. Everyone else was eager to become Mrs. Thorne, yet she seemed so indifferent. Her attitude was not a coy game; it was clear at a glance that she genuinely did not care.

​The thought irritated him even more, but there was also a sense of surprise. On closer inspection, the woman's twisted logic seemed to hold some truth. She seemed different from other women. Cillian, surprisingly, did not explode in anger this time. Instead, he looked at her and asked, "Since you know the power imbalance between us, and you dare to say such things, it seems you're confident I'll let you go?"

​He was curious. Where did this woman get her confidence?

​Elena Vance glanced at Cillian, also somewhat surprised. She did not play coy and immediately said, "Cillian, I want to see my grandmother."

​Cillian gave her a faint look. "What? Do you think you're in a position to negotiate with me now?"

​Elena's face paled, and she bit her lip. "I think my grandmother might have some clues about the chip's password!" Seeing his silence, she continued, "That chip password might be related to my mother. Maybe my grandmother knows something."

​Cillian looked at her with surprise. This woman was indeed quite clever. It would be easy for him to kill her, but it was this struggle and fight that he found somewhat interesting. He watched her for a moment, then said, "Do not disappoint me."

​Elena was overjoyed. Cillian had agreed? She had guessed right. If she had apologized, he might have truly exploded. Assistant Woods, standing nearby, also breathed a sigh of relief. He secretly admired Elena even more. Mr. Thorne was known for his unpredictable temper, but he had spared Elena.

​Elena boldly sat opposite Cillian, tentatively serving herself a bowl of soup. Cillian remained expressionless, not stopping her. He occasionally glanced at her. This woman had been hungry for two days and nights; she must be starving. But she ate with such elegance, quick yet not at all crude. If not for her disheveled appearance, she would have been quite pleasing to the eye.

​After eating her fill, Elena went upstairs to shower, wash her hair, and change clothes before heading to the hospital.

​Following the hospital and room number her uncle had given her, Elena arrived at her destination. She could not help but click her tongue inwardly. This hospital was the most expensive in the city, and the room was the most expensive private suite. She was slightly surprised. Cillian... was he being so kind?

​In the hospital room, her uncle and cousins were not present; only her aunt was there to care for her grandmother.

​"Elena, you're finally here? My darling, come closer so Grandma can get a good look at you." Grandma waved her over, interrupting Elena's thoughts.

​Elena nodded, composed herself, and with a slightly tearful voice, asked, "Grandma, how are you feeling?"

​"I'm doing well, very well." Grandma was also excited to see Elena and said, "Mr. Thorne has arranged the best doctors and the best room for me. I can have the surgery in a couple of days!"

​Elena held her grandmother's hand tightly, her face full of tears and happiness. "Elena, your father has found you a good man. Grandma was worried you wouldn't be happy, but seeing how much Mr. Thorne dotes on you, I can die in peace. Mr. Thorne is good to me because he values you."

​Elena looked around. The room was indeed large and clean, a private room. To stay in the most luxurious private room in this hospital, it was not just about money; you needed connections. Moreover, Cillian Thorne had arranged for a specialist to perform surgery? She was a bit surprised. Her grandmother's surgery had been delayed for a long time due to lack of funds. Was Cillian doing this to better control her, to monitor her grandmother in case she tried to run away?

​Elena quickly held her grandmother's hand. "Grandma, do not talk nonsense. You will live a long and healthy life. I'm still waiting for you to get better so I can take care of you."

​Elena sat down next to her grandmother, and her aunt excused herself to fetch water. Grandma held Elena's hand and said, "Elena, why didn't Mr. Thorne come with you? Grandma hasn't met him yet. He must be a good man. You don't know, the doctors and nurses, he instructed them all. He even sent people to guard outside the hallway, saying he was afraid something might happen to me. He really thinks of everything."

​Elena lowered her head, not speaking. She knew that Cillian had sent people to confine her grandmother. As long as her grandmother was here, she could not escape. But her grandmother was indeed receiving treatment.

​"Grandma, he's quite busy with work, managing a large company. When he has time, I'll bring him to see you."

​Grandma nodded. "Okay, okay. Whenever you have time, it doesn't matter."

​Elena did not forget the main reason she came today, which was to find clues about the password. She asked seriously, "Grandma, there's something very important I want to ask you. Is my mother's birthday really June 3rd?"

​Cillian Thorne had obtained the chip but not the password. Given his capabilities, the fact that he could not crack it meant it must have been specially protected. Since he had not opened it, the birthdays of other members of the Vance Family must be incorrect. What kind of password would Jason Vance set? It had to be hidden and unforgettable. Although Jason had argued countless times with her mother, Elena knew he truly loved her in his heart. She believed the password was closely related to her mother.

​Her mother was adopted by her grandmother, who claimed she was a relative's child. She was already a teenager when she was brought to the house. She was somewhat mentally unstable, and it took years for her condition to improve. Since she was adopted, the date on her ID card might not be accurate. This was a hidden password that outsiders would never guess.

​Sure enough, her grandmother gave Elena a slightly surprised look. "Elena, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

​"Grandma, this is very important to me!" Elena did not say much, not wanting to involve her grandmother in the danger.

​Her grandmother did not ask further, nodding and saying, "Your mother's birthday is not June 3rd. June 3rd is the day I brought her home. I am not really sure when her actual birthday is. To be honest, Elena, your mother wasn't really a relative's child. I found her among a group of beggars. I felt sorry for her back then. She couldn't say how old she was, nor did she remember her name. However, after her condition improved a bit, she always muttered a date."

​"What date?" Elena asked quickly. If her grandmother knew, then Jason Vance might also know.

​"She always muttered... 'Mid Autumn Festival, people reunite, it is a double blessing.' I do not know what that means."

​Elena pondered for a moment. "Mid Autumn Festival? August 15th?" Her mother also said it was a double blessing? Then could it be that the Mid Autumn Festival was her mother's birthday?

​Seizing the glimmer of hope, she quickly asked, "Grandma, also, when did Mom and Jason Vance officially start dating?"

​"Elena, that is something Jackson Reed might know!" Grandma said earnestly. "If you really want to know, you should ask him!"