Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Kiara’s POV

I was bored to death in the hospital. Felt like I was being sucked dry by a leech.

I didn’t like hospitals one bit.

They made me itch, reminding of my past.

Coming here day after day, weak from the chemotherapy, my body barely holding up.

The stale smell of antiseptics, the muffled beeps of the machines, the constant chill that seemed to cling to my skin... it all took me back to a place I’d rather leave buried.

To distract myself, I decided to put the time to some use and dug into research about Jason and the Lincoln family.

He’d always been in the news, but I’d never looked deeper, at least not with this level of... let’s say interest.

Maybe it was that strange encounter in the hospital, the way he’d shown up with food and a near-smirk as he watched me.

Or maybe it was because I couldn’t help wondering if he might know something I didn’t.

Either way, I pulled out my laptop and got to work.

The Lincoln family. Even the name felt daunting, the type to ring out at charity events and board meetings. The Lincolns weren’t just rich; they were woven into the very fabric of wealth and influence.

They had business ties stretching across continents, mostly controlled by the Lincoln Industries conglomerate, and the current heir to the CEO position was none other than Jason Cole.

Which made him one of the youngest CEOs in his industry, though it seemed he’d had little choice in the matter.

Jason was the third son. He had four brothers, Two older than him and one younger, all of whom were somehow doing their own thing, finance, international diplomacy, politics, tech.

Unlike his brothers, Jason had been handed the business reins early, making him the head of Lincoln Industries by the time he was barely out of college.

I could only imagine the pressures there, especially under a father who probably watched his every move.

And then there was his mother. I clicked through the articles, most of which barely mentioned her by name. No one had much to say about her, except for vague references to her "untimely" and "mysterious" passing. It was all so politely phrased, the way they talked about her death, almost brushing over it like it wasn’t worth explaining.

Just one more piece of a family puzzle that didn’t quite fit.

Though after the date, was when Jason seemed to stop being involved with the Lincoln family business and got into JFK, an investment service providing company.

It wasn’t as big as his family, but it was doing okay.

A nagging thought itched at the back of my mind.

Could Jason somehow be connected to all this craziness going on with me?

I shook my head, almost laughing. He was way out of my league in every possible way, not just money but in connections, too.

If anything, he’d probably avoid people like me.

But then why did he keep popping up?

Like he is tied...is it just a mere coincidence or...it just...happened.

Why was I even reborn? What made me be reborn?

My thoughts drifted to that mysterious stranger who’d sent me flowers.

Could it have been Gabriel, playing a sick game?

I wouldn’t put it past him, especially not with Jessica likely feeding him ideas. But then, Gabriel was too... stupid for this.

I tried to picture him orchestrating a scheme like that, his dumb, smug grin plastered across his face as he typed mysterious messages.

No.

I’d have known if it were him. This was someone else.

But that realization didn’t bring me any comfort; it only left me with more questions.

I rubbed my temples, exhausted, and looked up as the door creaked open.

The doctor walked in, clipboard in hand, his expression as clinical as the room itself. "Good afternoon, Miss Williams. How are you feeling today?"

I forced a polite smile. "Feeling ready to get out of here, honestly."

He chuckled, flipping through his notes. "I know hospitals aren’t exactly five-star hotels, but it’s important you rest. Just here for a quick check-up." He reached for his stethoscope, pressing it against my chest as I took a deep breath. "Have you been eating well?" he asked, glancing up at me as he moved the stethoscope to my back.

"More or less," I replied, dodging the question a bit.

He scribbled something onto the clipboard, pausing to look at me over his glasses. "You should stay vigilant about your health. There’s a history of stomach issues, yes?"

I nodded slowly, a familiar heaviness settling over me. "Yes, but... it’s nothing I haven’t managed before."

The doctor’s face softened, his tone becoming more serious. "Miss Williams, stomach issues, especially when aggravated by stress, can be indicators of something more severe, like stomach cancer. You’ll want to keep an eye on that and have regular check-ups."

My stomach twisted at his words.

Cancer.

The mere mention of it brought back memories of my past life, when every moment revolved around the silent, sickening presence of that illness.

It had started with skipped meals, too much caffeine, too many late nights. My thoughts drifted back to Gabriel, and an unwanted wave of bitterness swept through me.

I’d spent hours, days, years sacrificing myself for him.

Working like a dog, pushing through exhaustion and hunger, just to give him a better life while mine quietly fell apart.

I’d burned myself out to keep him afloat.

And where had that left me? In a hospital bed, hooked up to machines, my body too tired to fight anymore and a cheating fucker.

The doctor’s voice cut through my thoughts. "Miss Williams, are you alright?"

I blinked, snapping back to the present. "Yes, sorry, just... thinking."

He gave me a sympathetic nod, probably assuming I was just worried about my health. "If you experience any symptoms, don’t wait. Come in and get checked."

"Understood." I nodded, trying to keep my expression calm.