"Uncle Wen, please, let me go in and see my mother. I beg you, Uncle Wen," Williams clutched the sleeve of Uncle Wen, the family butler, and pleaded.

Uncle Wen coldly pulled his sleeve back, his usual respect gone for this girl who had been cast out of the Philip family estate. Raising his chin high, he spat out his response. "Isabella has made it clear that the gates of the Philip family are no longer open to you. Leave. Jasmine is ill, and we will call a doctor to care for her."

With that, Uncle Wen turned and walked away, commanding the security guards, "Close the door!"

"Uncle Wen! Uncle Wen..." Williams tried to rush forward but was pushed back by the guards.

"Bang!" With a loud slam, the Philip family's gates shut in her face.

Williams clung to the door, shaking it desperately. "Please, let me in! Just let me see my mother. Please."

But no one responded.

Williams became hoarse as she continued pleading. After a while, exhausted, she turned away and stumbled into a man's arms. Startled, William stepped back and almost fell, but the man caught her around the waist, stopping her from hitting the ground.

Looking up, William found herself staring into a pair of dark eyes.

Stunned for a moment, Williams quickly regained her composure, pulling away from his support. William took a couple of steps back, looking down to collect herself. When she looked up, she politely thanked him. "Thank you, Alexander, for what you did."

It was Robert Alexander, the Philip family's old neighbor and the fourth young master of the Robert family. Alexander and Williams had known each other since childhood. They grew up together and could be considered childhood friends, though Alexander often teased her.

Alexander pursed his lips, silent, his gaze fixed on her as he looked at the firmly closed gate, his handsome face tinged with uncertainty.

"What happened?" Alexander asked.

Williams followed his gaze to the gate of the Philip family, pain clouding her eyes. William whispered, "jasmine is sick. I just wanted to see her, but they wouldn’t let me in."

Alexander frowned, his lips pressed tight. Shifting his gaze back to Williams, he asked coolly, "How did you hear about Jasmine illness?"

"Josephine Philip told me." Josephine was her cousin, one year younger.

Robert Alexander snorted. "When you were kicked out, the family was instructed not to speak to you. Yet, Josephine, of all people, came to tell you about your mother."

Josephine had deliberately told William that Jasmine was gravely ill, stirring up her worry, knowing she’d be turned away.

Hearing the implication, Williams felt her chest tighten. She’d already been cast out—how could she pose any threat to her cousin’s position?

"Come on," Alexander suddenly said, grabbing her hand.

Williams flinched like a startled bird, quickly shaking off his hand and stepping back, earning a cold glare from him.

"Where…where are we going?" she asked, looking at him uneasily.

Alexander’s gaze hardened. He pressed his thin lips together, not inclined to answer her.

A few minutes later, as he brushed past her, he muttered, "Your mother isn’t at the Philip family estate. Her illness was serious, and she’s been in the Central Hospital for quite some time."

Hope flashed across Lisa face. If her mother wasn’t at the family estate, perhaps she could see her?

Alexander, however, seemed determined to deflate her hopes. "Your grandmother has people watching over her. Without permission, you won’t get close. I was going to help you, but if you’re going to be so difficult, I won’t bother. After all, our families are sworn enemies. There’s no reason for me to get involved."