Emily Carter never imagined her life could change so drastically overnight.
She had always lived a simple, quiet life in a modest apartment with her mother. They didn't have much, but their days were peaceful. Emily's father had passed away when she was young, and her mother, Mary, had raised her alone. Mary was always optimistic and strong, never letting Emily feel the weight of their struggles. She'd constantly reassure her, saying, "It's okay, things will get better."
But last year, everything changed. Mary suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. The doctors said she would need surgery and long-term care, and the medical bills piled up like an insurmountable mountain. Emily, still a high school student, had taken on part-time jobs to help with the expenses, but her efforts barely made a dent in the overwhelming costs.
Just when Emily thought there was no way out, an old friend of her mother's, Anne Smith, appeared with an unexpected offer. Anne was now the personal physician for the Lancaster family, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the city. After learning about Mary's condition, Anne reached out to Emily, offering her an unusual opportunity.
After years of treating Ryan, Dr. Anne Smith had explored nearly every medical resource on immune systems and allergic reactions. Ryan's rare condition had placed significant limitations on his life, and every failed attempt to make contact with girls had left the family feeling more hopeless. Neither medication nor therapy had been able to ease his severe allergic reactions.
As the Lancaster family's personal physician for many years, Anne had grown increasingly frustrated with her inability to find a solution for Ryan. But during a chance encounter, she noticed something unusual.
On that day, Anne had a brief meeting with Emily and her mother, Mary. During their interaction, Anne observed something intriguing—although Ryan and Emily had briefly shared the same space, there was no indication that Ryan experienced his typical allergic reaction. Normally, even being near a girl would cause his skin to redden and his breathing to become labored. But this time, there were no symptoms at all.
This unexpected discovery immediately caught Anne's attention. She knew that cases like this were extremely rare.
In the days following that encounter, Anne couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it. She began to wonder if Emily's physiology might have some kind of unique effect on Ryan's condition—an idea that seemed almost too good to be true. However, as a doctor, Anne understood that no possibility should be dismissed without investigation.
Curious, Anne ran a simple health screening on Emily, collecting basic data. The results were fascinating. Emily's immune system showed a stable, balanced response, and she theorized that this might counteract Ryan's specific allergic triggers related to female exposure. When comparing these results with Ryan's medical records, Anne began to see certain patterns emerging—there were aspects of Emily's physical makeup that could potentially mitigate Ryan's symptoms.
Although the exact mechanism remained unclear, Anne decided to move forward with a bold new approach: "contact therapy." By gradually increasing the amount of physical contact between Emily and Ryan, she hoped to ease his allergic responses and perhaps even find a path toward recovery.
"The Lancasters' only son, Ryan, suffers from a very rare condition," Anne explained. "He has a severe allergic reaction to the touch of any girl. Even brief contact triggers intense symptoms. The family has consulted countless doctors, but no one has been able to find a cure. However, I've noticed something different about you. You may be the one person who doesn't trigger his allergy."
Emily was bewildered. She was just an ordinary high school girl—how could she possibly have anything to do with a cure? But Anne was serious, telling her that this was a unique case, and that Emily's presence could be the key to helping Ryan.
"If you're willing to move in with the Lancasters and help Ryan with 'contact therapy,' not only would you be helping him, but you'd also be earning a significant paycheck. It could really help cover your mother's medical bills." Anne's voice was gentle, but Emily understood the gravity of the offer. It was a lifeline.
After a few days of hesitation, Emily finally decided to accept. She didn't really have a choice. For her mother's sake, she had to try.
Now, standing in front of the massive Lancaster estate, Emily couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. The mansion looked like something straight out of a movie, with manicured lawns and luxury cars parked in front. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
"I'm not here for a vacation," she reminded herself. "I'm here to work."
She was soon greeted by a well-dressed butler, who led her into the house. Inside, the grandeur was even more striking. Spacious halls, soaring ceilings, and sparkling chandeliers made the place feel almost unreal. The butler escorted her to a bright, comfortable guest room that would be hers during her stay. It was far larger than the apartment she shared with her mother.
She had just set down her bags when there was a soft knock at the door. Emily opened it to find an elegant woman standing there—Ryan's mother, Katherine Lancaster.
"Emily, welcome," Katherine said warmly, with a kind smile. "We're so grateful that you're willing to help Ryan."
Emily, feeling a bit formal, nodded politely. "Thank you for the opportunity," she replied, though she was still a little nervous inside.
Sensing her unease, Katherine's expression softened. "I know this must feel overwhelming," she said gently. "But we're hopeful you can help Ryan adjust to human contact. His condition has been a challenge for so many years, and nothing we've tried has worked. From what Dr. Anne has said, you may be the only girl who won't trigger his allergic reaction, and for that, we're incredibly grateful."
Emily nodded again. While she didn't fully understand why she was different, she knew she had to do her best, not just for Ryan, but for her mother's sake.
"Ryan may resist at first," Katherine continued, "but please, don't be discouraged. We'll take things slowly."
That eased Emily's nerves just a little. She knew this wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to try. She didn't know what to expect from Ryan, but she was mentally preparing herself for whatever challenges lay ahead.
And so, Emily officially entered the world of the Lancaster family—a world that was unfamiliar and daunting, but also her one chance to change her life.