Inside the ward, Rachel leaned halfway against the headboard.

Thinking about what Felix had just said, a mocking smile curved her lips.

He had actually asked her when they could set a wedding date.

Katrina's body wasn't even cold yet, and he was already talking about marrying another woman.

Human hearts really were that cold.

Just then, the door opened.

"I already told you, about the marriage-"

Assuming Felix had come back, Rachel spoke impatiently. But when she saw Owen standing there, her words cut off abruptly. Her expression turned slightly unnatural.

Owen walked over and sat down on the sofa. His deep eyes settled on her.

"So you and Felix have already reached the stage of discussing marriage?"

His voice was icy.

For some reason, Rachel felt a wave of tension tighten around her chest.

"That's my business. It has nothing to do with you," she replied evenly.

She didn't know how Rachel had interacted with Owen before. She knew nothing about Rachel's past.

So in front of him, she had to be extremely careful. She couldn't afford to reveal the slightest flaw.

Owen let out a cold laugh.

"Rachel, being with Felix... does your conscience feel at ease?"

A sharp edge flashed through his eyes.

Was she not afraid that Katrina would appear in her dreams every night?

Not afraid that Katrina would come back to claim her life?

At the thought of Katrina's death, his gaze grew even colder. The way he looked at Rachel was glacial.

But in Rachel's eyes, that expression meant something entirely different.

In Solandra, everyone knew that Owen had been adopted from an orphanage by the Sterlings when he was four.

The elders had originally planned to change his name, but he refused. They didn't force him. Instead, they showered him with love.

Even after they later had their biological daughter, Rachel, their affection for Owen never diminished in the slightest.

As he grew older, Chairman Sterling allowed him free access to the Sterling Corporation. When Owen turned twenty-two, he was directly handed control of the company.

Because of that, rumors spread like wildfire-Chairman Sterling was planning to marry Owen to his daughter and officially hand over the Sterling family empire.

Owen had never publicly denied it.

He even attended events side by side with Rachel, which only fueled the speculation.

Katrina had only learned about all of this after getting close to them.

And because of that, she had become even more certain that her death was connected to Owen.

Now, hearing his reaction to her relationship with Felix only strengthened that belief.

She remembered Rachel's words before her death-

'Owen would never be interested in you. I was the one who had him approach you. All for your heart.'

The heart transplant.

Now she believed it even more.

The flames of anger and hatred roared inside her, nearly swallowing her rationality whole.

At the last second, she forcefully dragged herself back from the edge.

Beneath the blanket, her hands clenched into tight fists. Her nails dug deep into her palms.

She felt no pain at all.

"Why not?" Rachel ground out through clenched teeth as she stared at Owen. "Oh, I get it. You don't seriously think we're going to get married, do you? Yes, you were adopted by the Sterlings-but publicly, we're brother and sister. How could we possibly be together? What do you think... my dear brother?"

She bit down hard on the last two words-brother-and anyone listening closely could hear the hatred underneath.

Owen didn't look away. His sharp gaze locked onto her, probing.

...Was it just his imagination?

Why did the Rachel in front of him feel different from before?

Wade's recent reports flashed through his mind. The once willful, arrogant, do-whatever-she-pleases Rachel had been far too abnormal during this hospital stay.

And most importantly-

When no one else was around, Rachel had never once called him 'brother.'

No one knew that detail except Wade and the Sterling parents.

Not even Katrina.

Sensing his scrutinizing stare, Rachel's heart skipped.

'Did I say something wrong?'

After a long moment, Owen withdrew his gaze. He stood up and adjusted the buttons on his suit.

"I have no interest in whatever is going on between you and Felix. It has nothing to do with me. Rachel, this is the last time I'm warning you-you've already gotten what you wanted. Stay away from Felix's schemes. Don't make Dad and Mom worry themselves sick over you at their age."

With that, he turned and left without looking back.

The suffocating pressure in the room finally dissipated with his departure.

Only then did Rachel let out a quiet breath.

Honestly, under that searching gaze just now, she had almost suffocated.

Even now, her heart was still pounding uneasily.

...

After leaving the ward, Owen went straight to the attending physician's office.

"Mr. Blake, are you here to see Miss Sterling?" the doctor hurried forward.

Owen nodded slightly. His voice was low and steady.

"Dr. Johnson, I came to ask you something."

"Of course. Please go ahead."

"If someone undergoes a heart transplant... is it possible for their personality to change as well?"

Dr. Johnson looked at him in confusion. "Mr. Blake, are you suggesting...?"

"Could they seem like an entirely different person?"

That was exactly how Rachel had felt to him today.

As if she had become someone else.

And faintly... strangely... there had been a trace of familiarity about her.

Dr. Johnson didn't answer immediately. After a long pause, he asked carefully, "Mr. Blake, forgive my bluntness. Are you saying Miss Sterling..."

He trailed off, but the implication was clear.

Owen gave a slight nod. "I need an answer."

Dr. Johnson adjusted his glasses and explained, "From a medical standpoint, a person's personality, temperament, and even habits are shaped from childhood. A heart transplant, under normal circumstances, would not alter lifelong behavioral patterns or character traits."

He hesitated before continuing.

"However... there have been rare cases reported. There was an article in the United States about transplant recipients developing habits, personality traits-even mannerisms-similar to their donors. Some even identified themselves with the donor's identity."

"These cases are extremely rare. As for how to explain the phenomenon... the medical community still has no definitive answer."

After hearing the explanation, Owen said nothing more. He gave a slight nod and left the office.

Outside, Wade had clearly heard everything.

"Mr. Blake... could it be..." He hesitated. Maybe they were overthinking it. Rachel was still recovering; her body was weak. It didn't necessarily mean what the doctor implied.

Owen frowned.

"Don't mention this to my parents for now. I don't want them worrying. As for Rachel-we'll observe her for a while before drawing any conclusions."

Wade nodded in understanding.

Half a month later, with the doctor’s approval, Rachel was discharged and returned to the Sterling residence.

Standing in front of the unfamiliar yet grand estate, a strange sense of panic rose in her chest.

Using her weak health as an excuse, she shut herself inside her bedroom the moment she got home.

She slowly surveyed the room.

Then she let out a mocking laugh.

The former Rachel really had a girly heart.

The entire room was decorated in shades of pink. Plush toys covered the bed, piled high.

The sugary sweetness of it all made her skin crawl.

In her current state, those soft pink hues only gave her goosebumps.

The very next day, Rachel had all the pink décor removed from her room.

The curtains were replaced with a warm orange shade. The bedsheets and duvet were switched to sky blue. As for the pile of stuffed animals—big and small—she had them all moved into the storage room.

It was that same day that she discovered Rachel’s old diaries.

She hesitated for a long time before taking a deep breath and slowly opening one.

If she was going to live on in Rachel’s place, she needed to understand her—at least enough to avoid raising suspicion.

She locked herself in her room the entire afternoon, flipping through every diary Rachel had ever written.

Who would’ve thought this pampered young miss had kept journals for years?

It saved her a lot of trouble.

The pages recorded everything—Rachel’s daily life, her childhood, and most importantly…

Her long-standing love for Owen.

As for getting together with Felix?

That had only ever been for one purpose—

To obtain Katrina’s heart.

When she read those words, Katrina couldn’t stop the mocking laugh that escaped her lips. Tears welled up in her eyes.

If Felix ever found out he’d been used like that by Rachel… would he lose his mind?

She hadn’t expected her own heart to be so valuable.

Valuable enough for Owen and Rachel to work together so seamlessly—one seducing the man, the other getting close to her.

Such perfect coordination.

Her conviction only deepened.

Her death… Owen had a hand in it.

At that thought, her clear eyes burned with violent hatred.

Felix.

Owen.

She would make both of them pay.

No matter what.

...

At dinner that evening, Rachel looked at Mr. Sterling seated at the head of the table. She opened her mouth several times before finally forcing the words out.

“…Dad, I… want to start working at the company.”

She had grown up in an orphanage. She didn’t even know who her biological parents were.

Though she used to whisper ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ into the darkness on lonely nights, saying those words now still felt unfamiliar.

The moment she finished speaking, everyone at the table turned to stare at her in shock.

“Rachel, why the sudden interest in working at the company?” Mrs. Sterling asked, confused.

It wasn’t like they hadn’t suggested it before.

Every time, Rachel had rejected the idea with the strangest excuses imaginable.

Rachel lowered her head and bit her lip lightly.

“I… I just feel like I’ve been wasting my days doing nothing. I know I was immature before, too willful. Mom, back then I was worried my body couldn’t handle the workload. But now I’m healthy. I’ll be fine.”

She based her explanation on what she’d read in the diaries.

Mrs. Sterling beamed instantly. Even Mr. Sterling looked delighted.

“It makes us very happy to hear you say that.” He turned to Owen. “Owen, how about letting Rachel learn by your side?”

It would also give the two young people a chance to deepen their bond.

Owen wasn’t blind to Mr. Sterling’s intentions.

His gaze fixed steadily on Rachel, as if trying to see straight through her.

Her sudden decision to work at the company was definitely not that simple.

He knew her heart had never been in the business.

“…Alright,” he finally said after a long pause.

Mr. Sterling nodded in satisfaction.

Rachel’s eyes widened. “Actually… that’s not necessary.”

The moment she spoke, everyone looked at her again.

She forced a smile.

“What I mean is, any position is fine. My brother is already busy enough. He doesn’t need the extra trouble of guiding me.”

Unexpectedly, Owen replied calmly, “I don’t mind. Let’s settle it that way.”

No matter what Rachel was planning, keeping her under his watch was the safest option.

He had no objections at all.

“But—”

“Alright, it’s decided,” Mr. Sterling interrupted cheerfully. “As long as you’re willing to learn seriously, you won’t cause Owen any trouble.”

Rachel lowered her head, saying nothing more.

Inside, she cursed Owen a thousand times.

What exactly was he plotting?

Felix’s earlier words suddenly flashed through her mind. Gritting her teeth, she spoke again.

“Dad, do you remember Felix from the finance department? I heard he’s quite capable. Isn’t the company recruiting a finance manager right now? He—”

“I object.”

Before she could finish, Owen rejected the idea without hesitation.

Rachel shot him a furious glare and sneered.

“Object? Owen, even if you’re currently managing the company, it’s still called Sterling Corporation. Doesn’t Dad have the right to make that decision? Or are you saying…”

Rachel glanced at Owen, her eyes dark and unreadable. Then she spoke, her tone laced with meaning.

“Is someone trying to steal what belongs to the Sterling family and slap our name on it like it’s theirs?”

The implication was obvious.

Mr. Sterling’s expression hardened instantly. He frowned. “Rachel, don’t talk nonsense.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Rachel realized she had gone too far. Her heart skipped. She’d spoken too recklessly. Lowering her gaze, she fell silent.

Mr. Sterling shot her a helpless look before continuing, “All these years, if it weren’t for Owen, the Sterling Group wouldn’t have made it this far. And haven’t I told you before? Once you and Owen get married, the company will belong to both of you. We’re family. How can you talk as if we’re outsiders?”

His voice turned stern.

“I don’t want to hear something like that from you again. Do you understand?”

Then he looked at Owen. “Owen, Rachel has always been blunt and a little spoiled. Don’t take what she said to heart. Your dedication to this family—your care for us—your Mom and I have always seen it clearly. Don’t let her foolish words bother you.”

Owen set down his utensils and glanced at Rachel before nodding calmly at Mr. Sterling.

“I understand, Dad.”

He had always remembered the kindness and trust the two elders had shown him. A few careless words from Rachel wouldn’t shake that.

Just…

His gaze shifted back to her, thoughtful and probing.

“Let’s eat,” Mr. Sterling said, clearly unwilling to dwell on the topic. “As for Felix, we’ll make a decision after further evaluation.”