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.]

Leilani’s steps faltered slightly, a sudden wave of guilt washing over her. She remembered. She had agreed to call him daily during her trip. But in those final three days, Payton’s training had been brutal. She had been so exhausted she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, with no energy left to even touch her phone. She had completely forgotten.

Steeling herself, she pushed her suitcase over to him.

Callahan stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. “You’re back?”

Leilani kept her face impassive. “Mm.”

Callahan raised an eyebrow. “Just ‘Mm’?”

He reached out to take her suitcase, leaning in close to her ear, his voice low and resonant. “We agreed on a call every day. Did Dr. Sloan completely forget about me for the last three days?”

His warm breath brushed against her ear. Leilani’s ears felt hot, but she maintained a calm expression as she explained, “I was too busy those last few days. It slipped my mind.”