Chapter 1

The afternoon they delivered my grim prognosis, Dr. Julian Thorne popped champagne in his lab.

On SnapChat, his and Valerie Shaw's backs were bathed in the sunset, their lab coats gilded gold.

The caption was just one line:

"Ten years, finally a success."

Everyone raved about Dr. Thorne's unwavering devotion, his decade-long research, all to save me.

The nurse, her eyes red-rimmed, passed me her phone as I stared at the fluctuating curves on the monitor.

They didn't know the drug had been ready a year ago.

And I was the only candidate denied access to it.

Deep in the night, Julian finally came to the hospital.

He reeked of alcohol, and his lab coat carried the unmistakable scent of women's perfume.

"Serena, how are you feeling?"

I looked at him, my voice soft. "Julian, when can I start the medication?"

He frowned. "Valerie says your survival rate would only be thirty percent right now. It's too risky."

"What was Ms. Harrison's survival rate when she took it last month?"

Julian paused. "She was only stage three. You're terminal. It's not the same."

"She donated thirty million to the research."

I stared at him. "Is that the 'not the same' part?"

His face darkened. "Serena, how could you think that of me?"

"Wasn't all my research for you?"

I watched his furious expression and suddenly laughed. "Julian, do you remember how I got this illness?"

Ten years ago, his lab exploded.

I was the one who rushed into the fire to drag him out, inhaling chemical gases.

My diagnosis read: Acute chemical lung injury, with irreversible fibrosis.

He knelt by my bed, swearing, "Serena, I will cure you."

He opened his mouth to speak, but his phone rang.

It was Valerie.

"Julian, the lab light's broken, and I'm a little scared. Could you come over?"

Her voice was sugary sweet, with a hint of a whimper.

Julian immediately stood up. "Don't worry, I'll be right there."

I clutched at his lab coat. "Julian, I wasn't finished—"

"Another time. I can't leave Valerie alone."

He pulled his coat away and walked out without a backward glance.

After Julian left, I asked Nurse Evelyn to check on Ms. Harrison's condition.

Sure enough, she was indeed on Julian's new medication.

Three months, her condition stable, living a normal life.

Meanwhile, my critical condition notice had been issued for the third time.

The next day, I dragged my barely-functioning body, sneaking off to Julian's lab.

Standing outside the door, I heard Valerie's voice.

"Julian, why don't we give this new batch of medication to Ms. Albright's daughter? They're willing to pump in another fifty million, you know."

Silence hung in the air for a moment before Julian's gentle voice, a tone I hadn't heard in ages, replied, "Valerie, I know you mean well for the lab, but…"

"But what?"

Valerie cut him off, her voice laced with a hint of grievance.

"Julian, I know I shouldn't say this, but… is Serena's condition really that serious?"

"Every time she's on the verge, it conveniently happens when you're swamped. Last time, it was your big international conference; this time, our breakthrough celebration? Isn't that just a little too convenient?"

She sighed softly. "Julian, you've sacrificed so much for her already.

Ms. Albright's investment is crucial for the entire project's future.

You can't let her keep dragging you down."

Julian remained silent for a long time.

I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

"You're right," he finally said. "Maybe… I've indulged her too much. Alright, as you say, this batch of medicine goes to Ms. Albright."

His voice turned cold. "Anyway, Serena's condition probably isn't as urgent as she makes it out to be."

So, all those times I'd fought for my life, in his eyes, they were just "calculated acts."

I burst through the door, shattering their cozy little scene.

Valerie flinched, instinctively pressing closer to Julian.

He, in turn, subtly shifted, his body a shield between us.

Julian's expression was strained. "Serena? What are you doing here? Your body can't handle running around like this!"