Serena knewn''s assets were vast, but she was still shocked to discover he owned such a massiveboratory. "This is my brother''s?"


    Just then, the door to a conference room opened, and her brother emerged with a foreign man who had the distinct air of an academic.


    "Doctor, this is my sister,"n said to Smith.


    Serena''sst check-up had been a simple blood draw at a hospital, so she didn''t recognize Dr. Smith.


    "Miss Goodwin," Smith said with a gentle smile. "We''re going to run aprehensive series of tests. I''ll need your full cooperation."


    Serena''s eyes widened in rm. She turned to her brother. "Ian, why are you making me get a check-up all of a sudden? I''m perfectly healthy."


    She had been feeling dizzy and tired, sure, but she chalked that up to herte nights. She was young; any issues she had were bound to be minor.


    "Stop messing around and get the tests done," he said, his voice low and cold.


    Under his intense,manding gaze, Serena''s usual defiance crumbled. "Okay," she mumbled, reluctantly following Smith''s team into the testing area.


    Half an hourter, Smith returned with the preliminary reports, his expression grave. He looked atn and gave a slight, somber nod.


    Serena blinked, obeying him. The serious look on his face sparked a terrible


    premonition. Had they actually found something wrong with her?


    "Bro, don''t scare me. What''s going on?" she asked, rising to her feet, panic creeping into her voice. She had been feeling off for a while-fess interested in parties, less appetite for her favorite foods Her energy levels were so low that she''d lost interest in almost everything. Now that she thought about it, she had been feeling this way for two or three months.


    "Serena,"n began, his voice deep and solemn, "I have something very important to tell you."


    His expression terrified her, and the panic intensified. "What is it? It was just a check-up! Don''t do this to me!"


    Serena stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief, as if she couldn''tprehend his words. "What disease? Mom is sick? Howe I never knew?"


    Dr. Smith stepped forward. "Your mother was diagnosed ten years ago. She has been managing it with stem cell infusions, and her condition has been stable."


    Serena looked from the doctor back to her brother, aghast. "How could you keep something this huge from us? Does Mom even know?"<pn nodded grimly. "And now, what''s important is you, Serena. Your test results are abnormal."