Just then, arge, well-defined hand reached out and firmly pressed down on Vanessa''s arm. The pressure wasn''t great, but it carried an undeniable strength.


    "Don''t move,"n''s low, cold voicemanded.


    Vanessa''s other hand immediately shot out to grab his arm. She looked up, her face streaked with tears, her voice trembling and wounded. "Ian-please, don''t. It hurts so much. Can we stop? There has to be another way."


    "But I''m really scared-can we please just stop?" Vanessa pleaded, her voice choked with sobs as she tried to win his sympathy.


    Those two words cut through Vanessa''s every pretense and fantasy like a knife. She stared in disbelief at his hard profile, at the deep, intimidating eyes that held not a single shred of pity for her pain.


    Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Vanessa saw a figure standing silently outside the phlebotomy room''srge ss window-Eleanor.


    She had clearly been there for a while, holding a cup of coffee. Her face showed signs of fatigue, but her eyes were clear and sharp, as if she could see through everything happening inside the room.


    Eleanor just stood there, her quiet presence more humiliating than any words of mockery could ever be. All of Vanessa''s carefullyid ns, all her attempts to create the illusion thatn cared for her, had just be a monumental joke in the face of this scene:n himself holding her down while a nurse drew her blood.


    A wave of shame and despair washed over her. She forgot about the pain as vial after vial was filled her face pale as she watched Her own blood being drained away. She sat fimply as the nurse finished the procedure.


    Finally,n released her arm. Without giving her a second nce, he turned to Dr. Smith. "Doctor, get these samples to research as soon as possible."


    "Of course, Mr. Goodwin," Dr. Smith replied.


    Suddenly,n froze. His gaze met Eleanor''s through the ss.


    She said nothing, merely shifted her gaze away and turned to leave, coffee cup in hand. Ian watched her go, his jaw tightening.


    By now, Vanessa''s face was paler than ever. She sat slumped on the chair as if all her strength had been drained.


    Vanessa slowly lifted her head, her eyes bloodshot and filled with a wild despare she let out augh that sounded more like a sob. "Is that it,n? Use me and then throw me away?"


    Her ragged cry startled the nurses and Dr. Smith, who had never seen this unhinged side of her.


    expression free of guilt, his eyes


    holding only a cold warning. "This


    was a transaction from the


    beginning. Don''t


    yo


    our


    ce-or your promises."


    With that, he turned and strode out of the room.