"The donor wishes to remain anonymous,"n replied calmly, dismissing his mother''s request.


    "Brother, we won''t bother him. Can''t we just thank him?" Serena asked, equally curious to know who their benefactor was.


    "The most important thing right now is the treatment. Let''s not disturb anyone," he said, shutting down his sister''s suggestion.


    Though still filled with gratitude, Gina nodded in eptance, burying the debt in her heart. Then, her thoughts turned to Eleanor, and her eyes filled with shame. "This must be so difficult for Eleanor."


    Serena bit her lip. Arge part of why she had been able toe to terms with her own diagnosis was the strength she drew from Eleanor. Eleanor''s reputation as a medical genius gave her hope for a cure. But she couldn''t bring herself to say it out loud. She had hurt Eleanor too many times in the past; now, she didn''t even have the courage to face her and say thank you.


    Just then,n''s phone rang. He nced at the screen and said to his sister, "Stay with Mom. I need to take this."


    Asn stepped out, Serena took her mother''s hand. "Mom, don''t overthink it. Brother has everything under control."


    Tears streamed down Gina''s face as her emotions surged. "I had no idean was carrying this burden alone for ten years="


    "Mom, he did it so you wouldn''t worry. How can you rest if you keep getting upset like this?"


    Gina looked at her daughter, momentarily stunned. She had be so sensible, so considerate. A faint, relieved smile touched her lips. "You''re right. I''ll listen to you both. I won''t dwell on it."


    "You''re going to get better, Mom," Serena said, dabbing her mother''s tears with a tissue. She didn''t dare tell her mother about her own diagnosis; her brother had forbidden it. Although the donor had initially been uncooperative, it seemed her brother had negotiated a deal, and the experiment was back on track. With Eleanor and Dr. Smith in theb, she had to believe they would find a cure. In the hallway.


    On the other end of the line, Rnd Yeaton let out a breath of relief mixed with


    utter delight. n, thank you so much. If it weren''t for you, I—"


    "Don''t thank me,"n cut in coldly. "Thank your daughter." He then hung up.


    In his office, Rnd stared at the


    disconnected call. He took a long, hard drag from the cigar resting beside him, his frustration palpable. After exhaling a cloud of smoke, he sighed with resignation. The shares he had given up were now in eldest daughter Vanessa''s name so it wasn''t a total loss. But dealing with a man liken was suffocating. The young man was ruthless.


    Still,n had promised that the value of the shares he''d relinquished would be more than recovered. He would just have to consider the


    thirte


    teen percent stake dowry. Once his daughter married into the Goodwin family, the returns would be far greater than this.


    With that thought, Rnd picked up his phone and called Vanessa.


    "Hello, Dad."


    "Vanessa, I''ve saved you a seat at the shareholder meeting next week. I''d like you


    to be there," Rnd said gently.


    "I don''t think I can make it, Dad."


    Rnd chuckled. "Come on, can''t you do your old man a favor?"


    "Dad, you know I don''t understand any of this. n can handle it for me."


    "I just got off the phone with him."