Lung cancer.
The two words hit her like thunder, shattering her sanity. She tried to smile, but tears poured down her face. She had thought that leaving the rehabilitation center meant she could start over. But fate was playing a cruel joke.
"Doctor... how long... do I have?"
"With proper treatment, you might live longer. But the treatment is expensive." She was silent. Her hands slowly clenched.
"Worst... case?"
"Two months."
The doctor's face was sympathetic, but he pressed on. "With good results, there could be a miracle. You should discuss this with your family."
Her expression went blank. "I... have no family." Her biological parents wanted to sell her. Her adoptive parents despised her. She had no one.
She couldn't afford the hospital bill or even the medication. She owed the hospital money--she would pay it back someday. Her phone and ID were with Carter. And her mind, dulled by years of electric shocks, couldn't remember the way back. Her bad leg throbbed with pain. She could barely walk. She couldn't go back, and no one would lend a phone to a beggar.
She ended up on the streets, sleeping under a bridge, surviving on garbage. She kept telling herself that Carter would come looking for her to finalize the divorce. But she didn't know that everyone thought she had run away to avoid signing the papers.
"Nothing?"
"No, sir. We've searched everywhere--the Brandt house, the Singleton house. No sign of Miss Brandt."
Carter frowned deeply, his eyes flashing with understanding--and disgust. Of course. Adaline would never cooperate with a divorce. She had chased him for ten years, refused to leave, even impersonated Elois and climbed into his bed to marry him. Why would she want a divorce? Her obedient act on the way here had just been to lower his guard so she could run and hide.
He let out a cold laugh. "Start with her friends. Without her documents, she can't go far."
But three full days passed, and they found nothing. Carter grew impatient. He thought of one person and called her. Genevieve Thorne, Adaline's former best friend.
She screamed into the phone, "Carter Holder! Are you even human? You sent Adaline to that place for four years! You're an animal! A bastard! Don't call me!"
"She's with you. Have her come out."
"Are you insane? You think I'm hiding her? Wait--what do you mean? Adaline is missing?"
"Genevieve, don't play dumb."
"Play dumb, my ass! Carter, I've held back for years. You were the one who agreed to marry her, then you backed out. You're worse than a--"
"The Thorne family business deal is canceled."
She went silent. After a moment, her voice softened. "She's not with me. I swear."
He hung up, his face dark. Not with the Brandt family, not with the Sutter family, not with Genevieve. No one in their circle would dare take her in. She had gotten better at enduring. Better at hiding.
He gave the order: "Contact Tranquil Meadows. Once we find her, send her back."
If she wasn't reformed yet, they would keep reforming her.
