Chapter 5

After hitting post, I turned off my phone and boarded the medical charter flight arranged by the research team with my brother.

At the most exclusive rooftop restaurant in downtown LA, Ethan sat across from Vanessa, but his mind was entirely elsewhere.

A heavy, suffocating sense of unease pressed against his chest.

Vanessa noticed his distraction and assumed he was still worried about the public backlash.

She softened her voice. "Ethan, what's wrong? Didn't you already handle the PR?"

Her voice pulled him back to reality.

Instead of responding with his usual warmth, his brow furrowed deeper.

A minute later,…