Beneath the post, her fans were already flooding thements with sympathy.


    "Oh my goddess. Are you okay, darling? My heart aches for you! At least your beloved is with you."


    "That arm has so much presence! Is it that powerful CEO I''m thinking of? "


    "Wow, so lucky to have someone by your side! I''m so envious!"


    The fans, unaware of the truth, showered her with praise and envy. Eleanor, who knew the real story, found Vanessa''s public disy utterly meaningless. For her, the only thing that mattered was thatn had sessfully persuaded Vanessa to cooperate. That, at least, was a relief.


    At Goodwin Manor, Serena was bored and scrolling through social media when she saw Vanessa''s post. She studied the photo carefully. The sofa Vanessa was sitting on and the equipment in the background looked familiar, but she figured mostbs were probably set up the same way. She wondered what illness required a blood draw and recognized the arm in the photo as her brother''s.


    She decided to ask Vanessa directly. "Vanessa, what''s wrong? Do you have a cold?"


    Vanessa replied quickly. "Yeah, just a cold and a bit of a fever. I''m at the hospital getting it checked out."


    "You need to take care of yourself. The weather has been so unpredictabletely. Make sure to dress warmly," Serena said, concerned.


    "I will. You too. We should get afternoon tea sometime," Vanessa suggested.


    "Okay, I''ll let you know when I''m not so busy," Serena replied vaguely. She couldn''t make any promises. Her brother had told her to stay home, and the recent blood tests had left her feeling weak and looking pale. She was so anxious she was even losing her hair; she didn''t have the courage to see anyone.


    However, she had been feeling a bit better thest couple of days. The sleeping aid Eleanor had rmended had given her two nights of good sleep, and her appetite was slowly returning.


    Switching off her phone, Serenay on her bed, her thoughts drifting. Had the world''s only donor agreed to her brother''s terms? Would this dy her mother''s treatment? Serena desperately wanted to know who this person was. For her mother''s sake, she was willing to beg.


    "Miss Serena, the flowers have been prepped. Your grandmother would like you toe down and help her with the arrangements."


    "I''ll be right there," Serena called out. Lately, her grandmother had been teaching her flower arranging to pass the time. Serena had never had the panence for such things before, preferring a life of ease and


    Now, she found a strange sense of peace in the quiet art. The flowers seemed to lift her spirits.


    On the ride home in her private car, Vanessa''s phone rang. It was Henry.


    "Hello?" she answered, her voice sounding deliberately weak.


    "What''s wrong? Why are you getting your blood drawn?" Henry asked anxiously.


    "It''s nothing, just a small cold."


    "Didn take you to the doctor?"


    "Yes, he did. I''m on my way home now."


    "The weather''s been crazytely. You need to stay warm."


    Vanessaughed softly. "If you''re so concerned, why don''t you take me out to dinner?"


    Normally, Henry would have


    immediately booked the finest


    restaurant and ordered her a feast of


    nourishing food. She wanted


    expectantly for his reply.


    "I can''t tonight. I promised my mom I''d visit a family elder. I''ll make it up to you next time."


    Vanessa''s grip on her phone tightened. She forced a smile. "Oh, really? Well, you go on then."


    "Have your assistant take good care of you. I have to go."


    "Okay," Vanessa replied sweetly. But the moment she hung up, her expression soured. A family elder? Henry who was known for his


    rebellious streak and dislike of


    family obligations?


    to''


    In his office, Henry grabbed his car keys and dialed his mother''s number. "Mom,


    what should I bring as a gift to the Quigleys'' house?"