Chapter 73

ylie suddenly let out a laugh. "Alright."

Just then, the doors of the research institute burst open. Deandre's cheerful voice echoed through the entrance. "Rylie, your classmates said you were here -"

He froze when he saw Brad looking messy and half-dressed. His smile vanished, replaced by a scowl.Muscles tense, he stepped forward and pulled Rylie behind him. "What the hell, Brad! Are you messing around with my sister?"

Deandre swung a heavy punch, but Brad caught it easily. "You've misunderstood," Brad said calmly.

"Misunderstood? Your boxers are on that chair,and there's a tub right there! You call that a misunderstanding? You sure know how to enjoy yourself! Deandre raised his leg to kick, but Brad blocked it like it was nothing.

Brad, a little thrown by Deandre's anger, muttered,"Even if I was indeed intimate with your sister, what's wrong with that? She's already twenty, and she has every right to have a boyfriend. Why are you so furious?"

Rylie saw Deandre's face flush with rage. She quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Deandre,calm down. It's really not what you think."

Deandre turned to her. Her calm expression stopped him cold. Something inside him cracked.

He had barely spent time with her since coming back,and now Brad was taking her away?

He turned back, grabbed her shoulders, and leaned in. His voice dropped with urgency. "Rylie, listen to me. You can't be with Brad. He's always traveling for work - sometimes gone for years. When he's not away, he's dodging assassins. And now, he's sick.He doesn't have much time left. Are you really going to waste your youth on someone like him? I don't support this. Break up. You have to break up!"

Rylie tilted her head toward Brad with a sigh. "Look at the mess you've made."

Brad's smile remained, but his eyes turned cold.Deandre's words had hit him right in the gut.

He worried Rylie might take them seriously. But there was no space between them for half-truths.

"Deandre, he's lying to you," Rylie said, patting her brother's arm and pointing to the cluttered lab bench. "I was mixing a formula for him. I'm treating Mr. Morgan's illness, and I told him to soak in the ice bucket. That's all."

Only then did Deandre notice Rylie's lab coat,hanging loosely like a prop.

She was still a university student. Sure,she'd helped Rory with Felix's tumor surgery, but Brad's case was on another level.

Deandre looked at her seriously. "Rylie, stop lying.My team already analyzed Brad's condition. We couldn't treat him. How can you? You're still a student. You want to date? Fine, I'll protect you. But He continued, "Even if Brad dies and leaves you a fortune, we don't need his money. You can't throw away your future like this."

Rylie let out a breath. "I'm not playing around,Deandre. What will make you believe me?"

Deandre's tone deepened. "Any drug used on Brad needs rounds of research and trials. You've been busy with school and parties. When did you have time to develop a cure? And trials need donors and high-level approval. You don't even have a license.How could you do all that?"

Rylie paused. By her official identity, she didn't have a license. But on the dark web, as the Healing Hand,she did. Telling him that would only make things Worse.

At that moment, Brad stepped in. "I trust her. And she's already injected the medication."

Deandre blinked. "Injected? Was it tested?"

"No. He's my test subject," Rylie answered.

The words stunned Deandre. Rylie braced for his anger-she had clearly broken the rules. But instead of scolding, Deandre went silent. He seemed lost in thought.

Then he looked at Brad and said solemnly, "Whatever she's done, I'll take the blame. If you still have a conscience, don't let her carry the weight when you're gone."

Rylie was taken aback. Her brother was willing to take the fall for her.

Her voice softened. "Deandre, Mr. Sean Morgan knows that I want Mr. Morgan to be my patient, and he gave his permission. If you're still unsure, call him.Ask directly. Then you'll know if I'm telling the truth."

Her tone was steady and sincere. There was no sign of a lie.

Deandre hesitated. He didn't know what to believe anymore. Brad, now dressed, spoke calmly. "I'll head back. My father will talk to Mr. Kendrick Owen soon.

As for my illness, it's in fate's hands. No matter what happens, Rylie won't be dragged into it."