Hanna was seething. As far as she was concerned, everything Rowan had been


    through was Anastasia''s fault.


    The night Rowan showed up at her clinic, covered in blood, Hanna nearly fainted


    from the shock. There was a nasty gash running down his face—so deep she


    could see the flesh beneath. His stomach, arms, and legs were all drenched in


    blood.


    Rowan had refused to go to the hospital. He was barely hanging on.


    Hanna spent the entire night patching him up, not leaving his side for two days


    and nights until he finally woke up.


    "Hanna," Rowan warned quietly, "this doesn''t concern you. Leave."


    She shot him a cold look. "You''d be dead if it weren''t for me. So yeah, it does


    concern me." Turning to Anastasia, Hanna''s tone was even frostier. "Please leave.


    You''re not wee here."


    Anastasia could tell right away that Hanna cared for Rowan. That would exin


    the chilly reception.


    Standing up, Anastasia bowed deeply to Rowan. "I''m sorry. Thank you."


    What more could she say? A sorry, a thank you—there was nothing else left.


    She bit her lip, then added softly, "Take care of yourself."


    With that, she turned and walked away.


    Rowan''s eyes darkened, but he didn''t try to stop her.


    Hanna saw everything, her heart tight with frustration and a bite of injustice on his


    behalf.


    "It''s time for your meds," Hanna snapped, setting the pills down hard on the


    counter. "Take them yourself."


    Normally, she''d hand him the pills—maybe even fuss over him a little. But today,


    she was mad. Mad that he didn''t care about himself, mad that he''d gotten hurt like


    this and still acted like it didn''t matter. What was she supposed to do or say to get


    through to him?


    Leaving the pills behind, she stormed out and caught up to Anastasia in the


    clinic''s lobby.


    "Anastasia—wait."


    Hanna''s face was cold, her dislike in as day.


    Anastasia paused. "Yes, Dr. Hanna?"


    Hanna sighed. "Look, it''s always


    been Rowan chasing after you.


    You''re married now, and he still can''t


    let go. Sometimes I think, if you were


    the one chasing him, maybe I could


    tell you to leave him alone. But


    Rowan—he''s stubborn as a mule.


    Once he sets his mind on


    something, nothing''s going to


    change it."


    She shook her head, exasperated. "I


    don''t really have anything else to


    say. Just, please, take care of


    yourself. As long as you''re okay, that


    stubborn idiot will be too. Why can''t


    you just stay home, do some flower


    arranging, feed your fish, get your


    nails done, go shopping that''s the


    life you rich wives are supposed to


    have, isn''t it? Why are you always


    getting into trouble?"


    Anastasia was stunned. She''d had her fair share of rivals—Julie, Gianna, Sandy


    —all of them hated her, wishing she''d drop off the face of the earth.


    But Hanna, even with her obvious resentment, didn''t wish her any harm.


    Anastasia studied Hanna. She really fit her name—skin pale as snow, bold


    features, and an aura that made people feel safe. She wore herb coat, dark hair


    pulled back in a loose ponytail.


    Even angry, Hanna just seemed…fortable to be around.


    Curiosity got the better of Anastasia. "How long have you known Rowan?"


    "Thirteen years," Hanna said, her


    voice softening a touch. "He was


    sixteen when I met him. First time


    out in the world, got into a fight with


    some punks, ended up with his head


    split open. We''re both orphans. For


    thirteen years, we''ve looked out for


    each other."


    Back then, Hanna had only been thirteen herself, fumbling through her first


    attempt at treating wounds. She''d been so afraid he''d die.


    That night, Hanna decided she''d be a doctor.


    She had a real gift for it—what took most people five years to learn, she''d


    mastered in three. Rowan paid for the clinic. Whenever he got into trouble, she


    was always his first call.


    They''d leaned on each other for so long. Hanna used to think that''s how it would


    always be—just the two of them—until Anastasia showed up.


    "It''s hard to exin," Hanna said quietly. "Nobody else really gets what we have."


    Anastasia nodded, understanding flickering in her eyes. "Rowan and Asher are


    brothers, right? So why—?"


    Hanna gave a wryugh. "Brothers? Asher treats Rowan like a weapon, a guard


    dog. Rowan''s the only one who actually cares about family. He''d do anything for


    Asher—even if it ruins him."