Later this afternoon, Oliver came to Candace's room. She curled my black hair and pinned it to the back of her head. She simplified her makeup, but never put it on me. I don't want to complain. I've never been a fan of makeup.

Candace doesn't mention Ben again. There were strange knocks on doors all day. But Candace yelled at them to go away. They all listened to her.

She helped me get dressed. I raised an eyebrow, but felt useless arguing with her. Jane's white dress flowing,

But stop above her knees to show off her transplanted feet. Candace's skirt has a deep V neckline, revealing a thick scar on her chest. She pulled my clothes off the bed. She loosened her corset and I rolled my eyes.

I'm going to take off my old clothes in front of Candace? She took out her skirt and put it in front of me, and I knew I had to. I took off my skirt and bra. When I put on the lace dress, I covered my chest. As she tightened the ribbon, I grabbed the corset. I took a deep breath as she pulled one last time.

Then, Oliver knocked on the door. Candace glanced at the clock before opening the door. Oliver stood there in a suit and a crimson tie. No one spoke, but Oliver held out his hand. I had trouble breathing and the dress didn't help. I struggled to convince myself to keep going, and Oliver smiled. I ignored his hand and entered the hallway.

I was startled when Oliver snatched the glasses from my face. He folded them up, put them in a box, and stuffed them into the pockets on the inside of his jacket.

"You look beautiful, Diana," he said. "I can't wait to show you off."

"You can't sell me," I blurted out. "I'm always learning. I promise. Let me go back to Canada. ”

"Listen, kitten," Oliver said. He cupped one side of my face.

"I've been talking to Dr. Phillips, stay sane. At my next surgery—"

"I can help you." I interrupted him. "I've been learning, I can help you."

There won't be another surgery. I just need to go back to Canada so that could have taken us out of here.

Oliver closed his eyes, was silent for a moment, and then removed his hand from my face. He put his hand on my back and pushed me forward.

We continued down the corridor. "I'll think about it," he said. "I just need you to be a little better."

When Oliver enters the code to open the door. The door slid open, and he led me through Gregory's house. I could hear the music and the chatter. Oliver led me through a series of back corridors.

Walk into a large ballroom. The room is dotted with small circular platforms. Most platforms have a girl in a white dress or a man in black pants and a white shirt. Oliver took me to a platform in the middle. I kept my head down, and a lot of people's eyes were on me. Oliver helped me onto the platform.

I stood up straight, just like Ben had taught me during the exercises. Oliver straightened the hem of my skirt. The remaining subjects entered the room and boarded the platform. I narrowed my eyes. Sure enough, a familiar face came in.

Ben walked in with Bethany. Unlike the others, he does not wear a shirt, so his skin is exposed. Ben was standing on the platform across from me. Ben's eyes were fixed on me. I shifted my weight between my feet. I didn't wear shoes. I looked around and saw that they were also barefoot.

The two doors opened wide, and light poured into the room to the sound of soft music. Several of Gregory's servants walked up and down the platform with trays and champagne.

Bethany put her arm around Oliver's waist. She wears a tight-fitting red dress with lipstick on her lips.

"Don't worry. Everything will go well. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going to say hi to the doctor."

I saw a group of beautifully dressed men and women walking in. Bethany walked through the room to a lady with short white hair.

A man walked up to my platform. He was old and his hair was graying. He held a glass of champagne in one hand and held out to Oliver with the other.

"I couldn't believe it when I heard you finally bring up a topic, Dr. Sweeney," the man said. "I have to see it right away."

I broke the perfect pose and glanced at Oliver to see his smile waver.

"Thank you, Dr. Price," Oliver said. "This is Diana."

Dr. Price grabbed my chin and pulled my face down. I gasped for air, but remembered Ben saying that the doctor might catch me. I glanced and saw that Ben was looking at us.

"What is this?

"A cat?"

"Yes, sir," said Oliver.

"How do you do that?" He asked. "It's unbelievable."

"Her surgery was only two weeks ago." When Price looked back, my chin was still in his hand.

"Christine. Azita. Come and see this," Price said.

Two women came to the platform. The woman was wearing a long black ball gown. The other woman wore a black gown, but her gown was covered with intricate gold details. She wears a headscarf and delicate makeup on her eyes.

"This is Dr. Sweeney," Price told him. "This is Dr. Holland and Dr. Naby."

Oliver shook hands with each of the women. "This is Diana," Price said. "Two weeks ago, he operated on her. He used a cat. ”

He finally let go of my jaw. The woman in the prom dress put her hand on Price's shoulder and pushed him aside.

"Can you see that, Diana?" She asked with an Irish accent.

"Yes," I said.

I've noticed more doctors gathering around the platform. Ben puts his hands behind his back.

I glanced to the side and saw Candace standing on the platform next to him. She stared at me, and I looked around the room and saw that most of the subjects' attention was focused on me. I took a deep breath and my clothes seemed to get tighter.

"She's been doing well for just two weeks," Azita said.

"I asked Ben to help her," Oliver said. He gestured at him.

"Ah, yes, Benjamin," she said. "He's always been charismatic."

Always? Candace says he always acts like a perfect patient, but he disagrees. I had trouble breathing and my chest burned. "How do you feel?" Another woman asked. "Do you feel any pain?"

"No, I feel good," I said.

"She's also no longer on painkillers," Oliver said. "The only complication she experienced was some swelling, but it resolved quickly."

"It's fantastic," Christine said.

Bethany came to Oliver's side. She put her arms around his waist. She had a glass of champagne in her hand. A disgusting smile appeared on her face.

"Isn't he doing a good job?" She said. Her voice was more of a tone higher than she usually spoke. "I'm so proud of him."

She giggled, stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. He tightened her arms with his arms.

"I knew Diana was going to grab everyone's attention."

Hearing his voice, everyone turned their heads. When Gregory approached, people parted. His body shuddered violently, and his footsteps seemed to be dragging his feet. A few people applauded, but he didn't seem distracted.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Gregory said. "I invited Oliver down early so I could see better." "Is it really as impressive as it seems?" Price asks.

"Yes," Gregory said. "I'd love to add her to my collection, but Oliver won't give her up."

"We've always wanted to talk to you about this," Bethany said.

"Really?" Gregory smiled. "Did you reason with him?"

"We've talked a lot."

"I really hope you'll sell her to me," Gregory said. "You'll be able to give Bethany the fairytale wedding she wants."

Bethany chuckled. My knees bent. The garment crushed my ribs and I struggled to get the air into my lungs.

They talked about my fate as if nothing had happened. They took my future and laughed about it. Sweat began to break down my neck.

Ben must have seen my face turn pale. He stepped down from the podium and joined the crowd.

"Ben," Bethany said. "What are you doing?"

"Diana looks a little sick," he said.

Gregory snapped his fingers. "I need a glass of water."

Oliver took a glass from the tray and handed it to me. My hands trembled as I raised the cup to my lips. I took a sip and felt the cold water run down my throat.

"Are you feeling better, darling?" Gregory asked.

"Yes," I said. Oliver frowned. I tried to impress the doctor and was ruined because of this stupid dress. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Gregory said. "You're new and you may be overwhelmed." He turned to face a group of doctors.

"I'm hungry," he said. "Let's go to the restaurant."

"What's wrong with you?" She asked.

"I can't breathe," I said, grabbing the skirt of my skirt.

"Sit down, Diana," Oliver said. "Don't treat her like a baby, Oliver!" Bethany shouted. "She's just embarrassing you."

"It would have been worse if she had passed out."

Bethany took a deep breath and rolled her eyes.

"Well, I apologize," she said.

She angrily walked away, and Oliver stroked his face with his hand. He watched her leave the ballroom.

"Sit down, Diana," he said.

Ben sat on the edge of the platform. "Drink some water and cool down," Oliver said. "Everybody's coming back in an hour. Be

, I want you to stay with her. Please notify me if her condition worsens. ”

"I will, sir," Ben said.

"See you in an hour, boys," Oliver said before walking away.

Ben put his hand on my back. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. He stroked my back and I held the glass with my fingers.

"Hey," Ben whispered in my ear. "It's okay."

"I want to go home." I whispered. "I told you we'd get rid of it all together."

His hand on my back slid to the side of my head. He rested my head on his shoulder. I closed my eyes and took a few breaths steadily.

"It's embarrassing for yourself," Candace said.

Ben's body tensed, and I looked up. Candace stood in front of us.

"Don't bother her," Ben said.

"I should say the same thing to you," she said. She held out her hand. "Come on, we'll give you a new look, Diana."

"No," Ben said. "She's staying here."

"Listen, she's not your puppet, she's not your doll, she's not anything you want to create. I just wanted to help. ”

"Don't pretend you're so selfless, Candace."

I stood up and put the empty glass down. She smiled, but I shook my head. Ben grabbed my hand and I broke free of it. I'm glad my vision is blurry because I know all the other subjects are looking at us.

"Wait a minute," I said. "I need to be alone for a while."

As I hurried out of the room, I heard Ben calling my name.