In the hallway, Orion turned to Caleb. "Do you have any news regarding Rowan?"

"I heard his research at the Aether Research Facility covers a vast range," Caleb replied. "The human trials you mentioned are referred to as 'test subjects' on the island. A lot of terminally ill patients willingly signed waivers for experimental treatments. As for any shady practices, we haven't found concrete evidence yet."

Caleb looked at him. "You didn't ask Lemira?"

It would be much easier to just get the answers directly from her.

Orion rolled a lighter between his fingers, ultimately deciding against pulling out a cigarette. "She doesn't want to talk about it, and I don't want to force her to relive those memories."

Thaddeus nodded in agreement. "Makes sense. If Lemon hasn't brought it up, interrogating her would just push her away."

"Whatever the case, Rowan is a bizarre guy," Caleb noted. "He has no moral baseline. He keeps to himself, doesn't associate with anyone, and has zero friends. He's completely isolated."

Recalling Rowan's bizarre behavior outside the operating room, a heavy knot of worry formed in Orion's chest. But now wasn't the right time to push Lemira for

answers.

Inside the room, Lemira finally had her phone. Sure enough, she had missed calls from the Langston family and a text from Rowan asking if she was awake.

Stella let out a dramatic sigh. "You almost scared us to death last night. Thank God a certain someone dropped out of a helicopter to save you."

Janice smiled at Lemira. "After everything that happened, I actually think a certain someone is a pretty great guy."

Regardless of how you looked at it, Orion treated Lemira exceptionally well. His only flaw was the deception regarding his identity.

Lemira fell silent for a moment. "I know."

Especially now that she had remembered exactly what happened during the car crash all those years ago.

"As long as you're okay, Lemira. We won't bother you any longer. Get some rest," Stella said.

After her friends left, Lemira lay alone in the hospital bed. She glanced at her phone and saw another message from Rowan: "How are you feeling now? I used the best drugs available for your pulmonary lavage. There won't be any lasting effects."

Lemira bolted upright.

Rowan had performed her pulmonary lavage?

Orion walked in just in time to see her pale, anxious expression as she stared at her phone. He hurried over. "What's wrong?"

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion. "What did Rowan do here last night?"

Orion hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside the bed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him near you."

He proceeded to explain everything that had happened.

Lemira's grip on her phone

Det

tightened. The visceral memory of

the operating table flashed through

her mind it wasn't

a dream

dream, ther

She murmured.

She had thought it was just a

nightmare from her past

Pone

horrifying moment she was about to have her kidney harvested The sheer terror had overwhelmed her.

Orion watched her carefully. "You thought it was a dream? You looked absolutely terrified when you woke

up, as if something horrific had happened."

Lemira lowered her phone. "I really did think it was a dream."

But how could she ever explain the secret of her rebirth?

Orion's expression darkened. "If Rowan has ever experimented on you in the past, you have to tell me."

He would make sure Rowan paid the price.

Hearing the word "experiment," Lemira blinked in surprise. "You're overthinking this.

How could he possibly experiment on me?"

All he did was forcefully take one of her kidneys.

Orion let out a visible breath of relief. "Then why were you so terrified?"