Chapter 12
“Aria, didn’t you just get discharged? Is Tessa bothering you
again?” Juliet’s worry crackled through the phone.
“No, no. I just have something to handle tomorrow. Can’t explain
now. I’ll tell you later.” The fewer who knew about her illness,
the better. She wouldn’t burden Juliet.
“Okay. Whenever you’re ready. I’ll talk to the professor,” Juliet
said.
Aria’s eyes stung as she hung up. Against cruelty, she was
armor. But kindness? That shattered her defenses. She couldn’t
bear imagining Juliet’s grief if she died.
A knock interrupted her thoughts. “Ms. Whitmore? It’s me.”
Zoe stood at the door, holding a steaming plate of pasta–just like
before.
“Don’t take tonight to heart,” Zoe said gently, eyeing Aria’s frail
frame. “Tessa’s ill. Try to be patient with her. Mrs. Whitmore
does care. She knew you skipped dinner and asked me to bring
this up.”
Aria accepted the plate. “Thanks, Zoe. I’m fine.”
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She knew it was a lie. Zoe meant well, trying to mend what was
broken. But some fractures couldn’t be fixed–not between her
and the Whitmore family.
The next morning, Aria rose early. She bought a pastry and
milk, then boarded the bus to Yealchinn Hospital. Arriving
thirty minutes early on the third floor, she scanned the hallway-
no familiar faces. Sighing, she sank into a chair and nibbled her
pastry.
A man’s voice cut through the sterile air. “Ms. Whitmore?”
Aria looked up, puzzled. “Yes? Do I know you?”
The young man offered a friendly smile and extended his hand.
“I’m Mike Cross, Mr. Rhodes‘ assistant.”
It was Bennett’s aide. No wonder she didn’t recognize him.
“Aria,” she replied, shaking his hand.
Mike checked his watch. “Right on time. Let’s find Dr. Cole.”
Inside the consultation room, Mike exchanged pleasantries with
the elderly specialist before gesturing for Aria to take the seat.
Griffin Cole, nearing eighty, was a legend in oncology–his
appointments were gold dust. The silver–haired man peered at
Chapter 12
Aria over his glasses, his gaze oddly assessing.
“How old are you?” he asked abruptly. She was pretty yet so
young.
“Twenty,” Aria said.
“Twenty? Still in school? That’s young.” His brow furrowed as if
age itself were a symptom.
Mike cleared his throat subtly. ‘Not the time, Dr. Cole, though I
know you are anxious, he wondered.
Griffin shot him a glare before turning back to Aria, his
expression softening. “Why aren’t you taking your meds?
Defying doctors never ends well.”
Aria floundered. Because living feels pointless wouldn’t sound
sane. “The pills are bitter.”
Griffin scribbled on a prescription pad, tore off the sheet, and
handed it to her. “Get these tests done. Results will be mailed to
you.”
He adjusted his bifocals and began typing. “I’ll prescribe
something to stabilize you for now. Follow up in a month.” He
paused, eyes twinkling. “If the medicine’s too bitter? Sweeten
things up with romance.”
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Aria blinked. ‘Since when are doctors this funny?‘ she wondered.
Aria took the test requisition form, relief washing over her as she spotted the mammogram listed. At least she wouldn’t need a
bone marrow aspiration.
The memory of that long needle piercing her spine still made her shudder–a pain worse than death itself. In her previous life, she’d
endured multiple attempts, each failure amplifying the agony.
At the doorway, she nearly collided with a white–coated figure,
Owen. Startled, she stumbled back.What’s he doing here?
Owen’s brow furrowed with irritation upon recognizing her.
“Stalking me now?”
“Open your eyes. I was here first,” Aria retorted coldly, waving her paperwork. “Move. I need to get meds and run tests.”
Owen’s frown deepened. “How long will you keep up this act,
Aria?” First the hospital, now Griffin’s clinic–her theatrics knew
no bounds.
Again with the act. A bitter laugh threatened to escape her. How
foolish she’d been, wasting breath defending herself to people
determined to misunderstand.
When she remained silent, Owen massaged his temples wearily.
“I’m here for an academic symposium–and to beg Dr. Cole to see
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Tessa. I don’t have time for your games.”
A colleague had tipped him off about Griffin’s rare clinic hours. Securing the legendary oncologist for Tessa could change
everything.
Aria met his gaze, eyes glacial. “You’re the one needing a doctor. Get your vision checked.”
