Inside the ward, Rachel leaned halfway against the headboard.
Thinking about what Felix had just said, a mocking smile curved her lips.
He had actually asked her when they could set a wedding date.
Katrina's body wasn't even cold yet, and he was already talking about marrying another woman.
Human hearts really were that cold.
Just then, the door opened.
"I already told you, about the marriage-"
Assuming Felix had come back, Rachel spoke impatiently. But when she saw Owen standing there, her words cut off abruptly. Her expression turned slightly unnatural.
Owen walked over and sat down on the sofa. His deep eyes settled on her.
"So you and Felix have already reached the stage of discussing marriage?"
His voice was icy.
For some reason, Rachel felt a wave of tension tighten around her chest.
"That's my business. It has nothing to do with you," she replied evenly.
She didn't know how Rachel had interacted with Owen before. She knew nothing about Rachel's past.
So in front of him, she had to be extremely careful. She couldn't afford to reveal the slightest flaw.
Owen let out a cold laugh.
"Rachel, being with Felix... does your conscience feel at ease?"
A sharp edge flashed through his eyes.
Was she not afraid that Katrina would appear in her dreams every night?
Not afraid that Katrina would come back to claim her life?
At the thought of Katrina's death, his gaze grew even colder. The way he looked at Rachel was glacial.
But in Rachel's eyes, that expression meant something entirely different.
In Solandra, everyone knew that Owen had been adopted from an orphanage by the Sterlings when he was four.
The elders had originally planned to change his name, but he refused. They didn't force him. Instead, they showered him with love.
Even after they later had their biological daughter, Rachel, their affection for Owen never diminished in the slightest.
As he grew older, Chairman Sterling allowed him free access to the Sterling Corporation. When Owen turned twenty-two, he was directly handed control of the company.
Because of that, rumors spread like wildfire-Chairman Sterling was planning to marry Owen to his daughter and officially hand over the Sterling family empire.
Owen had never publicly denied it.
He even attended events side by side with Rachel, which only fueled the speculation.
Katrina had only learned about all of this after getting close to them.
And because of that, she had become even more certain that her death was connected to Owen.
Now, hearing his reaction to her relationship with Felix only strengthened that belief.
She remembered Rachel's words before her death-
'Owen would never be interested in you. I was the one who had him approach you. All for your heart.'
The heart transplant.
Now she believed it even more.
The flames of anger and hatred roared inside her, nearly swallowing her rationality whole.
At the last second, she forcefully dragged herself back from the edge.
Beneath the blanket, her hands clenched into tight fists. Her nails dug deep into her palms.
She felt no pain at all.
"Why not?" Rachel ground out through clenched teeth as she stared at Owen. "Oh, I get it. You don't seriously think we're going to get married, do you? Yes, you were adopted by the Sterlings-but publicly, we're brother and sister. How could we possibly be together? What do you think... my dear brother?"
She bit down hard on the last two words-brother-and anyone listening closely could hear the hatred underneath.
Owen didn't look away. His sharp gaze locked onto her, probing.
...Was it just his imagination?
Why did the Rachel in front of him feel different from before?
Wade's recent reports flashed through his mind. The once willful, arrogant, do-whatever-she-pleases Rachel had been far too abnormal during this hospital stay.
And most importantly-
When no one else was around, Rachel had never once called him 'brother.'
No one knew that detail except Wade and the Sterling parents.
Not even Katrina.
Sensing his scrutinizing stare, Rachel's heart skipped.
'Did I say something wrong?'
After a long moment, Owen withdrew his gaze. He stood up and adjusted the buttons on his suit.
"I have no interest in whatever is going on between you and Felix. It has nothing to do with me. Rachel, this is the last time I'm warning you-you've already gotten what you wanted. Stay away from Felix's schemes. Don't make Dad and Mom worry themselves sick over you at their age."
With that, he turned and left without looking back.
The suffocating pressure in the room finally dissipated with his departure.
Only then did Rachel let out a quiet breath.
Honestly, under that searching gaze just now, she had almost suffocated.
Even now, her heart was still pounding uneasily.
...
After leaving the ward, Owen went straight to the attending physician's office.
"Mr. Blake, are you here to see Miss Sterling?" the doctor hurried forward.
Owen nodded slightly. His voice was low and steady.
"Dr. Johnson, I came to ask you something."
"Of course. Please go ahead."
"If someone undergoes a heart transplant... is it possible for their personality to change as well?"
Dr. Johnson looked at him in confusion. "Mr. Blake, are you suggesting...?"
"Could they seem like an entirely different person?"
That was exactly how Rachel had felt to him today.
As if she had become someone else.
And faintly... strangely... there had been a trace of familiarity about her.
Dr. Johnson didn't answer immediately. After a long pause, he asked carefully, "Mr. Blake, forgive my bluntness. Are you saying Miss Sterling..."
He trailed off, but the implication was clear.
Owen gave a slight nod. "I need an answer."
Dr. Johnson adjusted his glasses and explained, "From a medical standpoint, a person's personality, temperament, and even habits are shaped from childhood. A heart transplant, under normal circumstances, would not alter lifelong behavioral patterns or character traits."
He hesitated before continuing.
"However... there have been rare cases reported. There was an article in the United States about transplant recipients developing habits, personality traits-even mannerisms-similar to their donors. Some even identified themselves with the donor's identity."
"These cases are extremely rare. As for how to explain the phenomenon... the medical community still has no definitive answer."
After hearing the explanation, Owen said nothing more. He gave a slight nod and left the office.
Outside, Wade had clearly heard everything.
"Mr. Blake... could it be..." He hesitated. Maybe they were overthinking it. Rachel was still recovering; her body was weak. It didn't necessarily mean what the doctor implied.
Owen frowned.
"Don't mention this to my parents for now. I don't want them worrying. As for Rachel-we'll observe her for a while before drawing any conclusions."
Wade nodded in understanding.
