It was just the stress. It [i]had[/i] to be the stress. This couldn't be happening again, not now, when the world was beginning to turn against me again, when the temptation to use it would be all too great. I had seen what this monster was capable of, and never wanted to repeat the experience. I said nothing, just closed my eyes. I didn't need the necklace, not anymore. No matter how difficult things got, there would be another way out. If the companies I owned became too much to handle I could just forfeit leadership; I had more than enough money to live extravagantly for the rest of my life. Whatever it took, I could not afford to let it into my life again!

But Vivian... if something had happened to Vivian again, even if she had been healed, that would be proof...