A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Hudson's brows pulled together in a tight frown.

"I knew it—there's just no fooling you, is there?" he said with a resigned sigh. "If you knew the truth, you'd tell him. You wouldn't be able to keep it from him, not for a second. That's why I can't let you see, and I can't let you know."

"Callie, this is my decision. I appreciate your concern, really, but you don't need to worry about me."

"After breakfast, just write me a prescription or something, and then you should head home."

"I get it—you can't lie to Lance. So don't say anything. I'll do the talking, and you just nod along, okay? He'll only believe it if you back me up. Otherwise, he won't trust a word I say."

Calliope went quiet, her mouth opening, then closing again. She studied Hudson for a moment. She still couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong with him, but she had a gut feeling-it had to be something terminal.

"Hudson, you know how good I am at this," she pressed gently. "If you don't let me take a look, I can't say for sure if I can help you or not. But even with a terminal illness, there are always different scenarios. Sometimes, it's not hopeless."

"And even if I can't cure you, I'm pretty sure I can buy you some more time. That's not nothing."

please, just let me take a look. I can't promise a miracle. But I'll do everything I can

anyone else, maybe she'd turn away. But not him. They got along. And besides, she was friends with Lance too, and she knew that

she couldn't fix everything. But she could

look. "I know you'd help if you could. But this is... complicated," he said, rubbing his temples. "Honestly, it's better if you don't know. Knowing, but being powerless to help? That's worse. This is my choice. It's got nothing to do with you. My time's running out. I just don't want Lance to be miserable before he has

him like a ton of bricks." Calliope's heart squeezed in her chest. She felt for both of them. People called

could

she knew better.

was just

he finds out now,

to

that happy right now, anyway," Calliope shot back,

new voice chimed in from

eyes darting between

said, managing a faint smile.