Chapter 12 " Aria , didn't you just get discharged ? Is Tessa bothering you again ? " Juliet's worry crackled through the phone . " No , no . I just have something to handle tomorrow . Can't explain now . I'll tell you later . " The fewer who knew about her illness , the better . She wouldn't burden Juliet . " Okay . Whenever you're ready . I'll talk to the professor ," Juliet said . Aria's eyes stung as she hung up . Against cruelty , she was armor . But kindness ? That shattered her defenses . She couldn't bear imagining Juliet's grief if she died . A knock interrupted her thoughts . " Ms. Whitmore ? It's me . " Zoe stood at the door , holding a steaming plate of pasta - just like before . " Don't take tonight to heart , " Zoe said gently , eyeing Aria's frail frame . " Tessa's ill . Try to be patient with her . Mrs. Whitmore does care . She knew you skipped dinner and asked me to bring this up . " Aria accepted the plate . " Thanks , Zoe . I'm fine . " Chapter 12 She knew it was a lie . Zoe meant well , trying to mend what was broken . But some fractures couldn't be fixed - not between her and the Whitmore family . The next morning , Aria rose early . She bought a pastry and milk , then boarded the bus to Yealchinn Hospital . Arriving thirty minutes early on the third floor , she scanned the hallway- no familiar faces . Sighing , she sank into a chair and nibbled her pastry . A man's voice cut through the sterile air . " Ms. Whitmore ? " Aria looked up , puzzled . " Yes ? Do I know you ? " The young man offered a friendly smile and extended his hand . " I'm Mike Cross , Mr. Rhodes ' assistant . " It was Bennett's aide . No wonder she didn't recognize him . " Aria ," she replied , shaking his hand . Mike checked his watch . " Right on time . Let's find Dr. Cole . " Inside the consultation room , Mike exchanged pleasantries with the elderly specialist before gesturing for Aria to take the seat . Griffin Cole , nearing eighty , was a legend in oncology - his appointments were gold dust . The silver - haired man peered at Chapter 12 Aria over his glasses , his gaze oddly assessing . " How old are you ? " he asked abruptly . She was pretty yet so young . " Twenty , " Aria said . " Twenty ? Still in school ? That's young . " His brow furrowed as if age itself were a symptom . Mike cleared his throat subtly . ' Not the time , Dr. Cole , though I know you are anxious , he wondered . Griffin shot him a glare before turning back to Aria , his expression softening . " Why aren't you taking your meds ? Defying doctors never ends well . " Aria floundered . Because living feels pointless wouldn't sound sane . " The pills are bitter ." Griffin scribbled on a prescription pad , tore off the sheet , and handed it to her . " Get these tests done . Results will be mailed to you . " He adjusted his bifocals and began typing . " I'll prescribe something to stabilize you for now . Follow up in a month ." He paused , eyes twinkling . " If the medicine's too bitter ? Sweeten things up with romance . " Chapter 12 Aria blinked . ' Since when are doctors this funny ? ' she wondered . Aria took the test requisition form , relief washing over her as she spotted the mammogram listed . At least she wouldn't need a bone marrow aspiration . The memory of that long needle piercing her spine still made her shudder - a pain worse than death itself . In her previous life , she'd endured multiple attempts , each failure amplifying the agony . At the doorway , she nearly collided with a white - coated figure , Owen . Startled , she stumbled back.What's he doing here ? Owen's brow furrowed with irritation upon recognizing her . " Stalking me now ? " " Open your eyes . I was here first , " Aria retorted coldly , waving her paperwork . " Move . I need to get meds and run tests . " Owen's frown deepened . " How long will you keep up this act , Aria ? " First the hospital , now Griffin's clinic - her theatrics knew no bounds . Again with the act . A bitter laugh threatened to escape her . How foolish she'd been , wasting breath defending herself to people determined to misunderstand . When she remained silent , Owen massaged his temples wearily . " I'm here for an academic symposium - and to beg Dr. Cole to see Chapter 12 Tessa . I don't have time for your games . " A colleague had tipped him off about Griffin's rare clinic hours . Securing the legendary oncologist for Tessa could change everything . Aria met his gaze , eyes glacial . " You're the one needing a doctor . Get your vision checked ."