a new tech-focused hospital wing his company was sponsoring. He framed it as a chance for me to g

't want. He placed a hand on my shoulder, a gesture of feigned concern f

stant knot of anxiety in my stomach. I was working eighteen-hour days trying to bui

id, pulling away

e health screening" for me at the very hospital he was funding.

f tests. She asked me about stress, about my work-l

doctor said as she drew a blood sample. "He sai

father had also arranged for a psychological evaluation. The psychiatrist he'd chos

he psychiatrist asked, his pen poised over his notepa

te conversation," I said mechanically. "Of c

munition for my father. He was building a case to have me legally removed from my own project on the grou

alert from my lab. A system-wide failure. A cascade warning.

nd chaos. Alarms were blaring. My small team of loyal assistan

d?" I yelled

back. "They tried to run a diagnostic without

ooking pale. My father was on a video call

on?" he demanded. "Isabelle sai

Isabelle to get to the main console. My fingers flew across the keyboard, trying

ly saw his project failing. "Isabelle is in ch

e sided with her. He trusted her over his own daughter. The alarms grew louder

ded. Sparks flew. The lights flickered and died, plunging the lab into

rifying silence, I knew my father's ambition had j