hadn't slept, and dark circles bruised the skin u

ing hours, Chloe walked to the Integrative Medicine dep

her and his face lit up in surpri

int. "Mark, I need a favor. Can you print me a few blank

e quickly prepared the documents for her. After th

An unknown numbe

ice was soft, weak, but laced with

syrupy, fake apology, claiming she had no idea Leo was

ly into the phone. "I'm sorry, I... I think I caught a

, Genesis is sick. I'm bringing her to the hospital. You'd

She hung up. She knew this game. An

ting a "frail" Genesis. Genesis looked pale, leaning heavily on Ku

d. "You are a doctor, go help her handle the hospital a

nsurance card into Chloe's h

e nurses' station. Kurtis watched, satisfied. He thought

n, Chloe quickly pulled out the

urgery and Special Treatment," into the middle of a stack of

ormation on the top few page

and here," she said flatly, pointing to the signatu

himpering Genesis beside him. He was anxious to get h

snatched the pen and scribbled his name-Kurt

orization" form in the mi

rt was a block of ice. This man, who would sign anything

son's surgery consent form alo

clipboard back at her. "Done. Now

the nurse. Then, she carefully slid the signed "Special Authorization"

he paperwork is processed. Yo

without a single quest

t a standard form. She had added a single, typed line below the title: "Regarding the Irre

f blackmail, as a threat to a man who valued his

erattack. Precise,

looked at her sleeping son, her e