Rebirth Into My Second Chance

He furrowed his brows.

I couldn't help but give a slight smile. I was deliberately teasing Max.

"Why are you up? You've got a fever. Here, take this fever reducer," I said as I handed him the medicine.

He grunted, took the medicine, and washed it down with water. Then, he lowered his head back to the pile of documents he was scrutinizing.

Right on cue, my stomach growled. "Dr. Hilton, aren't you hungry?"

He looked up at me. "Let's eat together."

I snapped back to reality and pointed at the lunchbox. "My folks sent me some food. You should have some, too!"

I turned to see another lunchbox on the table, which hadn't been there before.

He cleared his throat. "That's from Ronald."

"Oh," I said, realizing Ronald had sent it.

I chatted, "Dr. Hilton, what about your family? Don't they send you meals?"

he replied, his voice neutral, betraying

with a blood-stained shirt in it. "Your shirt's got blood on it. We could send it to the dry cleaners. Or, if it's inconvenient, I could

"No need," he dismissed.

to ask, "Was the embroidery on the shirt handcrafted by a skilled artisan? It's

he regained his composure. "If you like it, I'll have this skilled artisan do one for you

I'd love an embroidered one with the initials MH." I said

just a noncommittal grunt, and mentioned he

soup and grilled salmon, both excellent for healing

you. That's love

suddenly choked,

did well in surgery today. Still thinking about returning to grad school?" Max asked, changing

down, not responding, and furiously ate my meal as if it would allow me to chew through my

so let's leave it at that." I packed

But before I could find out, I bumped into Claude, pushing Kate

Kate greeted me

leg, "Don't tell me you fell while carrying

but she nodded, looking pitiful, "Yes, such a shame to waste

So, Kate must have known about Daniel's incident last night, but she had an