The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 484

"You've been up all night," Malcolm observed gently. "Your current state obviously isn't suitable for high-intensity thinking."

Leilani finally paused. She lifted a hand to massage her temples and took a sip of the coffee. The bitter liquid slid down her throat, but it did little to suppress the agitation in her heart.

Malcolm watched her, noting that she was clearly off-balance. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to voice his suspicion. "Leilani, is this patient really just a regular patient to you?"

Leilani's fingers stilled on the cup. She looked up at him.

Malcolm continued, "Your recent reactions don't seem like how you'd treat a standard case." Even for a dedicated doctor like her, this level of desperation was unusual.

In a way, Malcolm had hit the nail on the head. Leilani remained silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "He... he's like family."

She couldn't explain Payton's true identity or his connection to Paulina. There were too many complications involving the underground world, and it was better for Malcolm, an innocent outsider, to remain in the dark.

"I see," Malcolm nodded thoughtfully. "Family. That explains the tension."

He wondered briefly how her relative had contracted such a complex, rare poison, but he looked at her tight expression and decided not to pry.

He sighed softly. "I understand how you feel, but science doesn't yield results just because you push yourself to the brink. You're too scattered right now. Forcing deductions will only waste time. Go back, relax, and let your brain reset. The answer might come when you're not looking for it."

Leilani closed her eyes, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the coffee cup. She knew Malcolm was right.

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