"Why do you have to ask?"


    Right now, Everett was in a bind. He couldn''t admit the truth, but denying it felt just as impossible. So, he tried to dodge the question.


    But didn''t his very avoidance seem like an admission of guilt?


    "You...you really make me sick."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Dorothy yanked her hand away, ready to storm off.


    Almost reflexively, Everett reached out and grabbed her wrist, holding on tightly.


    Despite the bandages around his hand quickly staining with blood from his grip, he refused to let go.


    "What are you doing now?"


    Dorothy''s voice turned icy.


    She felt genuinely nauseated, repulsed.


    "There was nothing between her and me."


    Everett''s exnation was dry and blunt.


    But he had to say it.


    He was genuinely afraid that Dorothy, in a moment of impulsion, would leave the hospital and go straight to Keh Nelson, or some other man. Or perhaps she''d end up in a bar, drowning herself in liquor, and then leaving with some random guy.


    That thought was enough to drive him mad.


    Mad beyond anything Dorothy''s current state could provoke.


    "...Nothing as in what? No kissing? No sleeping together?"


    "None of it."


    Dorothy scoffed, "Am I supposed to believe that? Thest time the two of you were in the office, were you just discussing work?"


    She wasn''t born yesterday. Everett had brought her into his office before. She knew exactly what could happen behind those closed doors.


    "I told you the truth, but you don''t believe me."


    "And that hallucination earlier, who was it about?" Dorothy bit back, turning to face him, "In your dream, you said you had to save her, that you wouldn''t let her die. Who was it?"


    That question was even harder to answer than the previous ones.


    "Who did you think it was? Me? Or Quincy?"


    "Neither."


    Everett wasn''t even sure what he had been rambling about during his episode, what had been said, or what he could possibly make up on the spot.


    "Then who?"


    "My mom."


    Dorothy frowned, "Really?"


    "Really." Everett nodded.


    Seeing her demeanor soften, he silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward, an indescribable tension hanging between them.


    Everett could only cough lightly, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "I could use a drink."


    "I''ll get you some water."


    Dorothy got up to pour him a ss.


    Then she helped Everett sit up.


    "Did the doctors say what''s wrong with me?"


    Dorothy shook her head, "They couldn''t find anything specific, just mentioned it might be psychological."


    She hadn''t realized Amanda''s death had


    no


    4 deep scar on Everett,


    t the breakup. Contexere?


    he was struggling to


    "It figures they couldn''t find anything."


    belongs


    Everett muttered, inadvertently catching Dorothy''s gaze.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Nothing, just talking to myself. I guess I''m just not impressed with Eldorria City''s healthcare."


    Everett was starting to amaze himself with his own ability to lie so effortlessly.


    After drinking the water, Dorothy''s


    tone softened a bit, "You need 1


    rest, stop overworking


    overworking yourself.


    and Langston miss you a lot."


    Everett looked at her, "You moved out of Bay Residence."


    "Yeah."


    "So, can I..e over to see the kids?"


    Dorothy hesitated before refusing.


    "You can take them to your ce, just let me know."


    She didn''t want Everetting over to her ce again!


    Because then, her home would be


    filled with


    memories of Everett


    d she couldn''t bear the


    constant reminders.


    Too torturous.


    "Oh, alright."


    Everett''s eyes fell, a shadow of disappointment clouding over him.