Chapter 8 - Adrian Had Taken Luca Again—And This Time He Wanted Me to Choose Between My Life and the Cure My Mother Had Never FinishedThe old Mercer estate was abandoned.
We entered through the basement.
Luca was there.
Attached to medical equipment.
But alive.
Adrian stood behind him.
“You came.”
Vincent raised his gun.
“Let my son go.”
Adrian smiled.
“After she finishes the treatment.”
He pointed at me.
“You know the formula.”
“I don't know enough.”
“You know more than anyone alive.”
I looked at Luca.
He was terrified.
“Let him go.”
“You save him first.”
I approached the equipment.
It was sophisticated.
The same technology as the implant.
I checked the monitors.
His blood chemistry was destabilizing.
The poisoning had triggered an inflammatory response.
I knew what to do.
I used my mother's notes.
Adjusted the medication.
Removed the toxic agent.
Stabilized his liver enzymes.
For the first time, Adrian looked impressed.
“You see?”
I turned.
“What?”
“You were always meant for this.”
“No.”
“You have her blood.”
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“She never wanted this.”
“She lacked vision.”
I stared at him.
“You murdered her.”
“She chose to die.”
“That's not a choice.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“You think medicine is about saving everyone.”
“It is.”
“Medicine is about deciding who gets to live.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“That's why you're different.”
He wanted me to continue the research.
I refused.
Then Vincent attacked.
Security opened fire.
Adrian fled.
We escaped with Luca.
But he left one final piece of evidence.
A photograph of my mother.
And on the back:
Ask Vincent what happened the night Sarah's mother died.
I looked at him.
He went pale.
“What?”
“I wasn't there.”
“You're lying.”
“I was nineteen.”
“Then what happened?”
He hesitated.
“My father took me with him.”
I stared.
“Where?”
“To your mother's hospital.”
My blood went cold.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“What did you see?”
He closed his eyes.
“She saved me.”
“What?”
“Your mother.”
He explained.
His father had ordered him to test a compound.
He refused.
My mother intervened.
She helped Vincent escape.
She knew what his father was doing.
She saved his life.
Then Adrian killed her.
Vincent had carried guilt for years.
He had never told anyone.
Now everything connected.
My mother's death.
Luca's research.
May you like
Vincent's guilt.
And the reason Adrian had been obsessed with our family.
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