Abel tugged at his flimsy jacket to show it off to Leilani, trying to prove his resilience. Then, rubbing his hands together, he glanced around before leaning in closer to Leilani, lowering his voice. "Dr. Sloan, can I ask you something quietly... Is there any progress on Payton's poison?"
Abel had seen how dedicated Leilani had been over the past few days. Her intensity filled him with hope that perhaps she really could save Payton.
Leilani's footsteps faltered slightly, and her voice dropped. "I'm still researching it."
Abel's eyes dimmed for a split second, but he quickly plastered a smile back on his face. "That's okay! Dr. Sloan, I believe in you! Out of all the doctors Payton has seen, you're the most serious and the most skilled. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, and don't burn out. I know you can do it."
The night wind brushed past them as Leilani gripped the handle of the thermos tighter. She knew Abel was trying to comfort her, but to her ears, his words only made her feel worse.
She took a deep breath and forced a smile that looked perfectly natural. "Alright, it's getting late. Let's go home."
Abel happily fell into step behind her, chattering away about how Payton had coughed up blood again today but stubbornly refused to take his medicine. Leilani listened calmly to his ramblings, but inwardly, a suspicion began to take root.
When they arrived at the villa, Payton hadn't gone to bed yet. He was sitting in his wheelchair under the tree in the backyard, eyes closed in rest.
Hearing their footsteps, he spoke without turning around. "You're back?"
Leilani glanced at Abel. Although she didn't say a word, Abel intuitively understood that she needed a private moment with Payton.
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