Chapter 38

Soon, the surgery began. If Felix were still awake, he would find that what was happening was far more bewildering than what he had wltnessed fust now.

"Should I set the cautery to forty-flve?" Rory stopped mid-cut through the muscle, glancing over his shoulder at her.

"Thirty-five will do. His clotting's already weak." Rylie stayed glued to the monitor, her hand calmly adjusting the suction tube's angle.

As Rory neared the tumor, a nurse passed him a pair of fine micro scissors. Before he could take them,Rylie reached out instead. "Use the blunt ones. Sharp tips could rupture the capsule."

Without missing a beat, shehanded him another tool, and he accepted it like it was routine.

The circulating nurse gave her arm a discreet pinch. She still wasn't used to scenes like this. It felt like the student was being guided by the master-except everyone knew the roles had somehow flipped.

Then came the moment that left the whole room frozen.

Rory had just grabbed the forceps when Rylie caught his wrist. "Wait. There's a hidden vein just off to your left-two o'clock."

She leaned in, gently shifting the tissue to reveal a narrow vessel. "There. Now go on."

Silence blanketed the room.

No one dared say a word about the sweat beading on Rory's forehead or how he kept glancing at her before making every decision.

It wasn't until the final fascia stitch was tied that Rory let out a sigh. "Drainage tube goes next-"

"Angle it forty-five degrees. Aim toward the diaphragm." Rylie stepped in again. Her fingertips traced along Felix's rib. "His liver sits higher than normal. A standard placement might tear the capsule."

Later, in the recovery room, Felix stirred to the soft buzz of nurse chatter. "Dr. Carter looked like he'd been through a war," one whilspered. "Sald he's never fếlt that much pressure working beside Miss Kirk."

He opened his eyes to find Rylle by the bed, one hand in her coat pocket, casually checking his vitals.

A# around him, the room buzzed wlth quiet awe. Every eye seemed drawn to Rylle. Fellx blinked slowly.

There was no doubt now. His slster wás nothing short of remarkable.

Rylie saw that he was awake. She handed the record book to a nurse and walked over to the bed. With a gentle tone, she said, "The tumor's gone. The biopsy shows it's benign. You'll need to rest for at least two weeks, take it easy, and stay away from alcohol."

Felix's face clouded with thought. "Where did you learn all this, Rylie? Even Rory- the hospital's most famous and experienced surgeon-asks for your advice."

Rylie gave a small smile. "Dr. Carter doesn't take advice from me. We just help each other out."

Felix had worked in business for years. He could see through modesty when he heard it. He still couldn't grasp how his sister, who never even finished medical school, could surpass someone like Rory.

"If that's all, then you should rest," said Rylie. "I'm going home."

"Hold on." Felix stopped her. "I've got a meeting tonight. I left an important document at home. Can you grab it for me?"

Rylie's brow furrowed. "Felix, you shouldn't be stressing over meetings right now. You just had surgery.Don't you care about your recovery?"

Felix softened at her words but tried to reason with her. "I didn't think the surgery would be a problem and had my assistant schedule the meeting for tonight."

"That's not happening," said Rylie, firm and unbending.

Felix wasn't one to back down, but this time, he did. "Alright, I'll call Deandre.He'sprobably still at the office. The meeting's tied to his research anyway. Just bring him the file, and he can go in my place."

Rylie gave a nod. "Got it."

The Owen Tamily had already settled in Crolens after leaving Kouhron. With businesses spread across countries, Felix now worked from their Crolens branch.

Rylie went home and found the fRe. The cover read,"Comprehensive Organ Regeneration and Immune Compatibility Transplant System."

Her eyes narrowed. That kind of research would need at least hundreds of millions in funding. And it was tied to Deandre.

Only then did she realize - her brothers weren't just businessmen. They had secrets too-just like her.

Deandre was walking two separate paths. One as a mafia heir. The other as a scientist pushing boundaries in bioscience.

One identity destroyed lives. The other tried to save them. Rylie couldn't help but find him fascinating.

After getting the company address from Felix, she hopped on her motorcycle and took off.

Elsewhere, Fred had brought Casper-his future father-in-law-to the company. He was hoping to secure a place for the Kirk family in the project and maybe earn a share of the profits.

As Fred parked near the entrance, he adjusted his tie and turned to Casper. "The Owen family used to be nobles back in Kouhron. They're nothing like us. They care about proper manners and old-school etiquette. That's part of why they picked us. It's how I carry myself. So once we're inside, just let me do the talking. Try not to say much."

The smug tone rubbed Casper the wrong way. Still, given how fast the Dury family was climbing and how his own business was falling apart, he forced a smile and nodded. "I get it. I'll watch myself."

They stepped out of the car and entered the lobby of the Owen Group. Right away, they spotted someone unexpected.

Rylie stood near the reception desk, a helmet tucked under one arm. Her black jacket clung neatly to her frame, giving her the look of someone who belonged on a racetrack, not in an office building. She was speaking to the receptionist. "I'm here to deliver something to Deandre Owen."

The receptionist looked up briefly and asked, "Do you have an appointment?"

Rylie paused."No."

"Then you can't go up," said the woman, eyes on her computer. "You'l need fo speak with the assistant and come back another time."

Rylie stood silent. Felix hadn't sald anything about needing clearance. After thinking it over, she spoke again. "I'm his sister. I don't need an appointment."

That earned her a sharp laugh. The receptionist tossed her a look dripping with scorn. "You must've heard something about the Owen daughter showing up today," she said. "But do you honestly think you look like an Owen?"

She gave Rylie a full once-over and continued, "Have you even looked in a mirror?" Women try all sorts of things to ge into Mr. Owen's office, but that excuse? Thât's á first."

A few nearby employees paused their tasks, drawn in by the rising tension.

"Since the Owen Group set up shop here in Crolens," the receptionist went on, her voice rising. had folks showing up daily pretending to be family. But you?" She narrowed her eyes and jabbed her words with extra weight. "You're the only one who walked in looking like you just came off a racetrack.