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?"

his voice neutral, betraying no

"Your shirt's got blood on it. We could send it to the dry cleaners. Or, if it's inconvenient, I could wash it for you." It was the least I could do, considering he

"No need," he dismissed.

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

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

with the initials MH." I said it to gauge

noncommittal grunt, and mentioned

looked at his lunchbox filled with chicken soup and grilled salmon, both excellent for healing wounds, teased, "Mr. Collins'

you. That's love

He suddenly choked, his

surgery today. Still thinking about returning to grad

time, I was the one who looked down, not responding, and furiously ate my meal as if it would allow me to

to head home this afternoon, so let's leave it at that." I packed my lunchbox and left his office without waiting for

I could find out, I

Kate greeted

tell me you

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

brows furrowed. So, Kate must have known about Daniel's incident last night, but