Chapter 18 Anna's Care Center
ANNA'S POV
“So with us moving back to California, does that mean the drug would launch there?” Daniel asked, glancing over his shoulder as we folded clothes into one of the large silver luggage boxes sprawled open on the bed. His tone was casual, but I could tell from the way his eyebrows were slightly drawn together that he was genuinely curious, maybe even a little worried.
“Well,” I said, neatly folding one of my cream-colored tops and placing it inside the box, “I’ve been thinking about that. My ex — when I re-engineered the last formula that he took credit for, he got signed under a company. After that, the drug was released worldwide.” My voice came out steady, though my hands slowed slightly as the memories brushed past my mind. It wasn’t something I liked revisiting, but it was part of my reality now.
Daniel leaned forward, resting one hand on the edge of the box. “So, you want to get signed under a company before you release your own?” he asked, looking a bit puzzled.
“I thought about that too,” I admitted, reaching for another pile of folded clothes. “But what fun would it be working under someone else? I’ve spent years watching people take credit for what I worked on, and I’m not doing that again. So I thought…” I looked up at him with a small smirk, “Why don’t I just create my own company instead?”
He blinked, clearly surprised. “Oh, uh, okay. I didn’t expect that,” he said with a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I’ve been thinking about it for months,” I continued, a little more confidently now. “While I’ve been here, I studied both business and pharmacy. I figured if I could combine both fields, I could handle the science side of things and also understand the business aspect. Opening a medical company — one dedicated to affordable treatments and cures feels right. It’s the best way to get the drug out there on my own terms.”
Daniel nodded slowly, clearly impressed but still skeptical. “Well, opening your own company does have its perks,” he said. “But it’s still a huge responsibility. There’s a lot of planning, paperwork, hiring, and competition too. Do Mom and Dad know about this yet?”
I shook my head, folding another shirt. “Not yet. I know now isn’t the right time to tell them something like this, especially with the funeral coming up. I’ll wait until we get to California. Maybe after the burial.”
He zipped up one of the smaller boxes before sitting on the edge of the bed. “Alright then,” he said, his tone turning serious but warm. “If you need any help or assistance at all — financial, connections, anything, just let me know.”
I smiled faintly. “Sure, I’ll keep that in mind.”
A quiet moment passed before Daniel suddenly said, “Anna’s Care Center.”
I blinked. “What?”
“That should be the name of your medical company,” he said, grinning as he pulled the zipper closed on one of the suitcases. “Anna’s Care Center. It sounds personal, meaningful. It has a nice ring to it.”
I chuckled softly. “Okay, that actually sounds like a good name. Way better than the ones I had in mind,” I admitted. The ones I came up with were more technical, cold, and scientific. His idea had warmth to it.
“You know,” he said suddenly, “something tells me you and my friend Ryan are going to be good friends.”
I let out a small scoff, giving him a sideways look. “And what makes you think that?” I asked, half amused, half curious.
He shrugged lightly. “This might sound weird, but you two have a lot in common.”
“Just because we have a lot in common doesn’t mean we’re going to be good friends,” I said, rolling my eyes as I tucked another blouse into the box. “I haven’t met the guy, and honestly, I plan to keep it that way. No offense.”
“Jeez,” Daniel said with a playful laugh, “you haven’t even met him yet and you’re already acting this rude. How are you going to act when you actually meet him?”
“We're going there to console the family, not exchange names or anything else,” I said, shaking my head.
He sighed, leaning back on his palms. “You still have this tough wall around yourself. I thought it would’ve come down by now.”
“The last time it came down,” I said quietly, “it didn’t end well. So for now, I’m not open to relationships or friendships that might lead to anything complicated. I’ll just focus on my company and my goals.”
Daniel raised both hands slightly in surrender. “Alright, alright,” he said with a half-smile. “I won’t try to match you up again.”
I gave him a small nod, the corners of my lips lifting. “Good.”
After a brief pause, I glanced at him. “So, how long have you and Ryan been friends? I’m guessing forever since you guys must’ve met around the same time Dad and Larry became close.”
“You’re right,” Daniel said, smiling at the memory. “Ryan and I have been friends since we were kids. We grew up together — same schools, same sports teams. That’s why I have to be there for him right now. Losing his dad… I can’t even imagine how that feels.”
His tone softened at the last part, and I felt a small pang of sympathy. “That’s… good of you,” I said. “Not everyone stands by their friends like that.”
He shrugged. “We’ve been through a lot together. It’s only right.”
He went quiet for a moment before turning to me again. “How about you?” he asked. “Did you just say it’s fine coming with us because of Dad, or are you actually fine with it? Going back there means you might see a lot of people even if you don’t want to.”
I froze briefly, my hand hovering over the suitcase. “So what if I see some people I don’t want to see?” I said, forcing a calm tone. “I don’t care.”
He tilted his head slightly. “Even if you see your…”
“Like I said before, I don’t care,” I cut him off sharply, a little more defensively than I intended. “Let’s just finish packing, alright?”
Daniel sighed but didn’t press further. He turned back to the other box, quietly folding a few of his shirts.
The truth was, I did care. But not in the way he thought. It wasn’t fear or shame that bothered me anymore, not the thought of seeing those faces again, not the whispers or the judgment. What I cared about was something else. Something darker.
James.
Just hearing his name in my head was enough to make my pulse quicken. The betrayal, the humiliation, the pain he caused, it still burned inside me, as raw as the day it happened.
I made him a promise before leaving. A promise I intended to keep.
So, in a way, I was glad we were going back to California. That city might hold painful memories, but it also held opportunities and I planned to use every one of them.