Chapter 6

A year later, I officially joined my mentor in the sealed laboratory deep in the Alps.

The core research area of the project had no internet or cell service.

The number of times I even looked at my phone could be counted on one hand.

I threw myself into researching a new immunotherapy, and found the life deeply fulfilling.

One evening, just after I'd taken off my sterile suit and stepped out of the white building, I put my SIM card back into my phone.

The screen nearly froze under the flood of incoming messages.

Hundreds of missed calls. All from Fred.

Before I could even read the texts, the phone buzzed again. I answered, and a roar immediately came from the other end.

"Helena! Where the hell have you been? A whole year! Do you have any idea how long we've been looking for you?"

I held the phone away from my ear and rubbed my aching temples. "I already told you, my research project is sealed off. No signal, no internet."

"Is something wrong?" I was confused. In the past, the family