The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 497

Even after Leilani had disappeared from view, Payton and Abel remained at the airport.

Payton sat in his wheelchair, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the planes taking off and landing. His thin, bony fingers absently traced the rim of a coffee cup.

Abel sat beside him, staring blankly at the same scene, his voice low. “Payton, Dr. Sloan is gone.”

Their lives were about to return to their previous quiet. Although Leilani wasn’t exactly a boisterous person, having three people living together had undeniably been livelier and more spirited than just the two of them.

Payton gave a faint “Mm,” his tone flat.

Abel looked at him, hesitating before asking, “Payton, why did you tell me to accept Dr. Sloan’s house just now?”

Abel thought just like Leilani—it wasn’t like Payton to speak up in such a situation.

Payton’s face remained rippleless, perfectly calm. “She said to give it to you, so take it.”

Once Leilani inherited everything from Paulina, a single house wouldn’t mean much to her. He took a sip of his coffee, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. “That girl... is certainly stubborn.”

Abel didn’t catch it. “Huh?”

But Payton had already turned his wheelchair around, putting his back to Abel. “Let’s go back.”

Abel hurried to push the wheelchair, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Payton’s hand. The hand holding the coffee cup was gripping it so hard his knuckles had turned white.

***

As the plane took off, Leilani leaned against the window, watching the city outline shrink beneath her. Her phone vibrated with a message. It was from Callahan.

Callahan: [Let me know when you land.]

Brief and concise, as always. Leilani’s finger hovered over the screen for a moment before she replied with a single word: [Okay.]

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