Chapter 4

Brianna

A genius?

That was a title used only by people who knew about my research—my actual work.

From the moment I learned my mother was gravely ill, nothing had truly belonged to me anymore: not the fruits of my studies, not the compounds I'd developed. I sold every result of my research, and I sold it dear.

Aside from a handful of medical institutions, no one knew that I was the mysterious "Dr. L," the highly sought-after figure in the underground trade. My identity had to stay hidden. If it ever got out, I'd be a target for assassination at any moment.

Because I was the one who'd developed that cursed compound—the one that halted healing. If the price hadn't been so astronomical, I never would have made such a thing.

It was strange, really. The formula's components were bizarre, almost impossible for a human body to use. Put another way, that drug wasn't meant for humans at all. It seemed better suited to animals. But if it was meant for animals, why had it landed my name on an assassination list?

I didn't understand it.

And now Cole was calling me a genius?

Did he know who I really was?

This man—was he friend or foe? I couldn't tell.

I lifted my head cautiously, studying him. I needed to know whether I was safe.

"Captain Cole, I don't understand what you mean."

Cole looked down at me, and a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. By everything I'd learned in psychology, his reaction didn't seem feigned.

But a second later, his gaze held mine, his voice gentle yet carrying an unmistakable weight of pressure.

"Brianna, there's no need to hide anything from me. I think what we need between us is honesty."

His words only made me more tense.

Honesty—was he testing me? Was he telling me that he knew my identity, that he wanted me to confess it myself?

I clenched my fists and lowered my head.

I couldn't admit who I was. My identity meant mortal danger for me, and disaster for my family. I couldn't be honest with him, even though he was now my employer.

I gritted my teeth and gave Cole nothing.

Seeing my silence, the mockery from the others began.

Perhaps they assumed I'd fabricated my credentials, deceived Cole, and now that I'd been exposed to his face, I was about to face his retaliation.

Kate looked at me, the corners of her lips curling higher—the expression of someone watching a joke unfold. She pointed at me, her tone sharp and cutting.

"Brianna, my goodness! I never imagined you were this kind of person! Did you forge your résumé? At Ronaldo University, that isn't allowed—in serious cases, you can be expelled. Do you know that?"

Then Kate turned to Cole. "A genius? Where did you hear that, Cole? From a résumé she wrote about herself? How could you be so gullible? In this entire academy, no one but me deserves the title of genius."

She wasn't wrong, actually. She was genuinely brilliant—in her own way, she could be called a genius too. Three years of medical school scholarships, a finalist in medical competitions. To earn an internship at Bright Hospital at her age was truly impressive.

Jess stood behind Kate, his glare as vicious as ever.

"Cole, I'll give you three more minutes to reconsider and replace your team doctor. Otherwise, your teammates and I will walk out, and you can rebuild your team from scratch! I guarantee you'll never find players as good as us again!"

Jess's expression told me that if Cole hadn't been standing beside me, he would already have lunged forward to tear me apart.

Cole didn't look at Jess, nor did he acknowledge Kate's shrill chatter. He simply turned his body toward me. His fingertips brushed lightly against the back of my hand, clenched white—was he signaling that he was on my side?

"Brianna, the wound-healing spray. I know the patent belongs to you."

A jolt ran through me, and my head snapped up.

I'd drafted that patent almost carelessly, while sorting through old research notes some time ago. I hadn't even expected it to succeed. I'd sold it in secret only recently—how could he possibly know? Had one of my partners leaked my information? Impossible. We'd signed confidentiality agreements; they were responsible for my safety.

While I was still stunned, Cole had already walked toward Jess.

From a distance, the difference in their builds was almost absurd. I could guarantee that if Jess had been Cole's opponent, he'd already be flat on the ground.

Cole looked down at Jess as though studying a... well... a dwarf?

Sorry—there happened to be seven teammates gathered there. It made me think of a certain fairy tale.

I nearly laughed, but then Cole's cold voice rang through the entire room.

"Jess, no one's stopping you. If you want to leave, you can go anytime. Of course, once you leave my team, we become rivals. Brianna is my team doctor. That will never change."

His voice was low, yet saturated with menace.

Of the seven players, all but Jess trembled, unable to find their words.

Jess slammed his palm against Cole's chest. "Cole, you'd better be sure! I can't stand another second of an irresponsible captain like you! You don't deserve your teammates' respect! From start to finish, you've only ever thought about yourself. I've had enough!"

With that, Jess turned to face the members behind him. "Let's go."

But strangely, no one followed.

They understood exactly who had carried this football team to where it stood today. The financial foundation, the charge on the field—all of it rested on Cole. They'd followed Jess to pressure Cole only because they were dissatisfied with me, not with Cole himself.

Seeing that no one moved, Jess and Kate visibly lost face.

Jess roared, "Think it over! A team doctor is important! Don't treat your own lives so carelessly!"

Kate shrieked in fury, pointing at me. "Brianna, let me tell you—I'm going to report this forged résumé to the dean! Just wait to be expelled! Cole, you'll regret this."

Cole shrugged, utterly indifferent. He glanced back at me, then said to Kate in a flat tone, "My team doctor was probably worried about hurting your fragile pride, Kate—that's why she wouldn't admit it. Honestly, you should be grateful for her silence. Otherwise, your 'genius' reputation would look ridiculous."

Kate tilted her head. "What did you say?"

Cole pointed at me. "Brianna is the developer of the wound-healing spray. That spray improves the efficacy of existing healing agents by thirty-seven percent, and it solves the problem of athletes developing a dependency on the medication."

Cole's voice carried clearly through the entire ward, every word striking my heart.

"Someone who can devise a formula like that—if that's not a genius, then what is?"

Jess froze. The smugness on Kate's face stiffened in an instant, and she blurted in disbelief, "You've got to be joking! She just started university!"

Cole's words set the surrounding players whispering, and Jess's expression changed as well. They knew, of course, just how severe the side effects of current healing agents were for athletes. If an improved version really existed, it would be tremendous news for the entire team.

Jess frowned at me, his face full of disbelief.

The ward fell instantly silent. Watching the reactions around her, Kate went white as paper. She shook her head and backed away. "It's impossible... Cole, don't be fooled! Résumés can be faked. I'm going to expose her right now—I'll have her expelled!"

Cole sneered and produced a document. "I'm the manufacturer commissioned to produce that compound. Of course I know who developed it."