Page 3 of Reflections of Peonies
My muscles seized as Julian glared at her while she rubbed her temples. A long moment passed, and finally, I couldn’t hold back my question any longer.
I looked at Julian. “She’s your m-mother?”
“Yes,” he said, his tone regretful as his attention returned to me. “I didn’t know until you gave me your medication, and Ididn’t want to say anything until I knew that you were safe. She’s using a different name. I had no idea—”
“Julian wasn’t aware of your existence.” Dr. Reed sighed, returning to her chair. “At least until recently, it appears. Regardless. Julian, Bianca is my patient. You have no grounds to even be in this room.”
“I won’t leave,” he said, lowering his head. “I am her supporter. I have every right to stay with her.”
“Unfortunately, modern law doesn’t take that into consideration.” Dr. Reed leaned back in her seat. “And there are private things that I need to discuss with Bianca. Go wait for me in my office.”
“N-no!” I grabbed his hand and pulled it to my chest. He couldn’t leave! His presence was the only thing keeping me from the darkness. “I want him to stay! Please, d-don’t make him leave.”
“Bianca,” Dr. Reed said, “we’re going to discuss your medical history. Are you certain that you’re okay with that?”
My heart skipped, and realization buzzed through my awareness. But my fear of being alone was suffocating, especially with comfort so close at hand.
“Stay…” I tightened my hold on his hand, but he didn’t complain. “Please.”
Julian’s expression morphed from a worried mask to determined, and his focus shot back to his mother. There was a tone of command in his voice when he spoke, “What’s going on? Let me help.”
“If you remain, you must keep in mind that Bianca cannot decide on her own treatment,” Dr. Reed said, straightening in her seat. “And if you want any respect with her parents, you cannot approach them as her friend. You must be professional.”
Julian blinked at her. “What?”
“I know you can do this,” she said, determination setting into her expression. “I will take you on as my resident, but there will be things in her records that you won’t be able to access, at least not now. And if Bianca doesn’t want to discuss something, then you are not to press it. In the end, she is my patient.”
This was happening so fast, and now he was going to be my doctor? This wasn’t what I’d agreed to.
My grip on his hand loosened as fear turned my blood to ice.
There were things Juliancouldn’tknow about me. Things I never wanted anyone to know. What if he found out?
This was a terrible idea.
However, relief practically radiated from him—how could I take that away?
“On that note,” Dr. Reed began, and my skin began to feel clammy at the look on her face. “Bianca, I’m putting you back on prescription.”
I clenched my fingers in my lap and opened my mouth to protest, but Julian beat me to it.
“Why?” he asked.
She looked at him. “Julian, what did I just tell you?”
“I don’t care!” Julian protested, squeezing my hand. “Why do you want to suppress her abilities?”
“That’s confidential,” she replied smoothly, not moved by his cold glare. “Now sit there quietly and let me talk to her.”
Julian froze, the fury rolling off him in waves.
She completely ignored him. “Has your chest been hurting since you’ve been off your medication?”
I bit my lip as I felt Julian’s gaze on me.
“N—” My hands shook as I grit my teeth. “How do you know that?”
“Finn told me,” she replied, jotting down something else in her notes.
