The scarred billionaire's healer

ak. He won't look at you. And wh

before being escorted into the mansion that l

oed each step, polished to perfection, but somehow lifeless. The air was cold. The chandeliers hung above like ghostly watch

ironed uniform who had introduced himself only as "Morris

rauma patients before. Ex-military, burn survivors, even children who had lost limbs. But never l

an C

name carr

ellites, communication systems, even government contracts. Elena remembered seeing him once, years ago, in a pr

came the

e wreckage and rumors of disfigurement

ompany was handed over to his bo

idden. And he'd req

tor had req

black wood and gold handles. Morris

engage," Morris whispered. "He hasn't allowed a so

step

hing she notice

ackout curtains kept the sun out. A single floor lamp illumi

n't lo

s face that caught the light looked untouched, handsome, strong-jawed,

r a long second, let

ars across 45% of his upper torso and face, and post-traumatic symptom

. Cross? I'm Dr. Elena

asting yo

e like gravel. It wasn't a sh

ena said softly, stepping closer. "No

le

er step. His he

ere's still nerve activity in your leg

're wasting

ess behind the voice. But s

he table beside him and crouched do

ldn't walk again," she said, her voice steady. "But they di

ind. It wasn't amusing.

this is abo

d his he

ime, she saw the ot

rs were

kin in a map of old pain. It wasn't grotesque, but it was enough to see

dn't f

urpris

peopl

d assessing. Like he was waiting for her to

him non

ly. "But don't pretend you've already won th

"You have no ide

w what people lose wh

lan

it in the flic

ht he might stand or sh

he look

your sympathy,

here because something in you still wants to live. Otherwise, you wo

beat of

h

ve thre

d her head.

arms. "No one makes it past three days in this hou

ns after three

d at her again.

. Or I wil

od slowly

e," she s

But before she opened it, she pause

t scars don't scare me. Silence doesn't scare me. You want to test me? Fine. But I

dn't

room, she could feel

a very long time, Adrian C

beginning...