Vanessa bit her lip and shot a disdainful look in the direction Gael had disappeared. She was about to leave when a server approached her. "Miss, you haven''t paid your


    bill yet."


    Vanessa froze for a second before walking to the counter, paying, and turning to leave.


    For so long, her food, clothing, and amodations had all been arranged for her. It had been a long time since she had paid for anything herself.


    Vanessa walked out of the equestrian club in a daze. Even in August heat, a cold shiver traced her spine.


    Without Gael, and with Harvey MacLeod no longer covering her living expenses, she had no assistant, no agent—not a single person to help her.


    Just then, her phone rang. She nced at the screen and answered. "Hello?"


    "Ms. Shannon, as per our agreement, today is your scheduled day for a blood sample collection. Would it be convenient for you toe to theb now?" It was Dr. Smith''s assistant.


    Vanessa''s face soured. Ian had just mercilessly ordered her out of the country, and now she was expected to go donate blood for him? The blow to her pride was immense. How could she possibly be in the mood to give blood?


    "Some other day," Vanessa said coldly.


    "Ms. Shannon, the contract clearly states that you must cooperate on schedule to ensure the continuity of the research," the assistant replied in a formic tone.


    Vanessa gritted her teeth, but then a thought struck her. Her birthday was next month, wasn''t it? If she behaved, she could request the stipted gift fromn.


    She wouldn''t ask for a gift; she would just haven convert it to cash at the highest possible value.


    That could be up to two million dors!


    With that in mind, Vanessa decided to go give blood after all.


    At that moment, a car was preparing to leave. Vanessa immediately put on a charming smile and gged it down the driver was a middle-aged man, an employee at the club, who seemed more than happy to give her a ride.


    When they reached the city, the man tried to get her number. Since she had epted the ride, Vanessa felt obligated to give it to him.


    But a hundred yards after getting out of the car, her expression turned cold and she blocked his number. She, Vanessa, wasn''t someone just anyone could pick up.


    Vanessa arrived at Dr. Smith''s office. She extended her arm, enduring the sting of the needle piercing herekin as she watched the blood flow from her body. She closed her eyes.


    Finally, after six vials were collected, Vanessa was guided to a nearby lounge to rest.


    Since she had nowhere else to go, Vanessa decided to rest for half an hour before leaving.


    After receiving the blood samples, the assistant followed standard procedure and first ran a routine health screening. Fifteen minutester when she got the report the was utterly shocked.


    Vanessa''s blood sample report showed positive results for both the syphilis antibody test and the sma reagin test.


    In disbelief, she ran the test again, but the result was the same.


    Not daring to dy, she immediately took the report and knocked on Dr. Smith''s office door.


    "Doctor, this is Ms. Shannon''stest blood test report. Please take a look—" The assistant handed it over.


    Dr. Smith took the report, his expression instantly turning grave. Vanessa''s results meant her blood was no longer usable for the experiment.


    At least, not until Vanessa was fully recovered. The research would have to be


    halted, and much stricter controls would be needed going forward.


    Dr. Smith dismissed his assistant and, without hesitation, picked up his phone to call<pn.