A little digging revealed the truth: Lauren had been buying some kind of drug from a private overseas medical research institute. After taking it, patients wracked with pain would regain their energy and spirits in a short time-the agony of cancer seemed to fade away.


    But the drug was outrageously expensive. Each pill cost over a million dors.


    Lauren had bought it more than once. After taking the medication, her condition improved dramatically, and she''d even been discharged from the hospital.


    Lately, she''d gone so far as to rent a new apartment and pick up a young club boy as a lover.


    Rosita hired a private investigator to look into that research institute.


    The detective came back with good news.


    Internationally, the institute had long been cklisted. Lauren''s so-called miracle drug had already been exposed: while it could briefly restore a cancer patient''s energy and dull their pain, the side effects were catastrophic. The drug would actually elerate the spread of cancer cells, and every test subject who had participated in trials died suddenly within two months of taking it.


    Two months?


    Rosita did a quick calction. Lauren had been taking the pills for about a month and a half.


    That meant, in another two weeks, Lauren would be dead.


    Rosita''s mood lifted instantly.


    If that was the case, she could finally focus on her own affairs without worry.


    The next day-Monday-Rosita dressed carefully and arrived early at Irwin''s school.


    As the dismissal bell rang, she spotted Irwin from a distance, backpack slung over his shoulder as he left the building.


    She hurried over. "Irwin!"


    Irwin paused, hesitated a moment before recognizing her, and his expression immediately darkened. He stepped around her and kept walking.


    "Irwin, wait, please Mom just wants to talk to you—"


    "Leave me alone!" Irwin yanked his hand free from hers with force. "Get away from me! You selfish, poisonous woman-I''ll never acknowledge you again! Don''t evere looking for me!"


    Rosita stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing.


    "Irwin, what''s wrong? I''m your mother!"


    "No, you''re not! I don''t have a mother-not one as cruel as you!"


    Jeannie, Irwin''s teacher, rushed over from the car pulling Irwin protectively behind her. "Ms.


    Lockwood, please-Irwin alreadyet


    promised Mr. Wentworth that Ke


    wouldn''t see you again. Don''t make things harder for him."


    Rosita red at Jeannie. "And who are you to meddle in my family''s business?"


    "I''m Irwin''s teacher. Mr. Wentworth


    trusts me to look after him, and I intend to do just that," Jeannie


    led Irwin away t


    then led Irwin away to t


    Rosita, unwilling to let things go, chased after them.


    curb.


    She was in such a hurry she didn''t see the e-bikeing from the side.


    With a shout from the rider and a sharp scream, Rosita was knocked to the ground.


    Her head struck the granite pavement just so, and she lost consciousness instantly.


    Irwin broke free from Jeannie''s grasp and ran to her side. "Mom! Mom, are you okay? Don''t scare me, please—"


    The e-bike rider frantically called for an ambnce.


    Jeannie watched Irwin sob over his mother, a strange cold glint shing in her eyes.


    The ambnce arrived quickly. Irwin insisted on riding along, leaving Jeannie no choice but to apany him.


    At the hospital, after a round of


    tests,


    was just unconscious. She


    the doctors determined Ros


    was transferred to a private room.


    Irwin refused to leave her bedside.


    Jeannie had no choice but to stay as well.


    Lying unconscious in the hospital bed, Rosita suddenly furrowed her brow, her lips


    moving restlessly as if caught in a nightmare.


    "No..... Irwin''s real parentage can''t be revealed to Stewart... can''t..."


    Jeannie''s eyes narrowed as she listened, her gaze fixed thoughtfully on the still


    form in the hospital bed.