nca'

len

g and closing as if I had forgotten how

tears from my eyes. "You

musement. There was something darker in it. A shadow of g

as shaking with anger or disbelief. "What the hell do you mean I don't have cancer? Are

but she didn't retreat. She remain

n softly, "Please,

the sheer scale of the betrayal. "Explain? You just told me my entire life wa

asked me to make you believe you had cancer. He said it was to protect you-to shield you from people who would take advantage of you, who would wan

, everything I had endured-every tear, every moment of fear-had bee

I was dying?" My chest tighte

wly, regret etched de

omment about how he wondered how I was stron

es, not for the years of sickness, but for the girl I once wa

racing in a blur of anger and disbelief. "Why didn't

us. And your father... he thought it was for the best. After he died, I knew you needed to know the truth, but when I went to your house to spea

enched my fists, barely able to contain my rage. "How

st following your father's wishes, Bianca. I didn't know what else to do. I thought

ver so slightly. "It's not your fault. You did what you thought was best. Father.

rden of everything crashing down on me. My fath

t that's not why I came here today. There's

, worry crossing her fac

ing me since my rebirth. "I've been poisoned, Dr. Emily. Nathan a

in horror. "Poison

ne to me. "It started with the pills-the ones I thought were for cancer.

an help you," she said at last. "But I need the drugs

getting me a refill today. I'll

figure this out. We'll g

**

toward Nathan and his family for their deceit, and something else. A fire was building inside me, a burning determination to

d toward Sinclair Industries. The tall glass and ste

again. He had already taken everything-my family, my l

ustries, stepping inside. The tiled floors glowed under the lighti

nother step, two secur

scanned me with a mixture of suspicion a

inside, a storm raged. "I'

ah, right. You?" He smirked, clearly unimpressed by my simple appear

but it wasn't much. Nathan had always told me I loo

They didn't know who I was or what I was capable of. I wasn't

o see me," I said confidently, even though I knew Damien likely

them raised an eyebrow. "You walked here?

l," I snapped, turning away

me. It was the kind of mocking laughter that I knew all too well,

eled the fi

e snapped. I spun on my heel, my heart pounding. I coul

necting with his groin. The shock on his face was fleeting, and before

ged, his hand just brushing my

elled in a panicked voice as the al