Chapter 1164:

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“All right.” Gracie’s body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. The pregnancy had sapped her energy in ways she’d never anticipated. “I’m trusting you with everything here.”

Gracie left the hospital, climbed into her car, and drove straight to Radiant Technologies.

Rest would have to wait — time was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

Phoebe caught sight of her the moment she walked through the door and rushed over, concern flooding her features. “Ms. Sullivan, you were here all night, then you finally left to rest a few hours ago. Why are you back already? You can’t recover if you don’t actually sleep.”

“Follow me to the lab. Now.”

Gracie cast a quick glance at the staff bent over their workstations before leading Phoebe toward the laboratory.

Gracie pressed a vial into Phoebe’s hands, her expression grave. “As of this moment, you’re on leave. Take this and hide it somewhere safe. Don’t come back to the company, and don’t try to contact me until I reach out first.”

Phoebe’s eyes went wide as she stared at the luminescent blue liquid swirling inside the vial. “This is…”

“A prototype of the Rebirth reagent — not complete, but close. It’s too dangerous to keep with me or anywhere in this building.” Gracie’s fingers closed around Phoebe’s, securing the vial between them. “You’re the only person I can trust with this. Please, keep it safe.”

The weight of responsibility settled over Phoebe’s features. She wrapped both hands protectively around the vial. “I won’t fail you. But Ms. Sullivan, your due date is next month. How are you going to handle all of this alone? I’m terrified for you.”

“I’ve survived worse than this. What’s one more impossible situation?” A tired smile ghosted across Gracie’s lips. “Don’t waste energy worrying about me. I’ll manage.”

𝗡𝗈𝘃еlѕ і𝘯 𝘁𝗿е𝗇𝘥 𝗈n ga𝗅n𝗼v𝘦𝗅ѕ.соm

Phoebe didn’t waste another second. She filed her leave paperwork with HR, grabbed her essentials, and disappeared.

Gracie remained alone in the sterile laboratory, releasing a long, measured breath. She turned back to the workbench and lifted another vial between her fingers. “You wanted this so badly, Eaton? Fine. I’ll give you exactly what you asked for.”

But she’d be damned if she handed over her only leverage.

Hours slipped by unnoticed. Beyond the windows, daylight bled into dusk.

Gracie studied the finished vial cradled in her palm, a cold smile curving her lips. “Rebirth is an abstract concept — impossible to verify, impossible to prove. Who could possibly authenticate something that shouldn’t exist?”

She pulled out her phone and typed a message to Eaton: “The reagent is complete. Name the time and place.”

The moment she hit send, an incoming call from an unknown number lit up her screen.

Gracie accepted the call, and an elderly voice crackled through the connection. “Mrs. Stanley, I’ve just returned from abroad and learned what’s befallen you. We need to meet — soon.”

Gracie’s eyes narrowed.

The fortune teller. Of course.

“About time you resurfaced. I have questions — a lot of them — and you’re going to answer every single one.” Gracie’s voice emerged cold and sharp as broken glass.

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