The Heiress Chooses Madness novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Chapter 173

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Terry gave them both a knowing, almost teasing smile before stepping forward to examine Kayla’s face. “You’re young, so your skin shows damage easily. It looks worse than it is, but it’s just a minor injury. I’ll prescribe some ointment. Just make sure you use it regularly.”

Kayla’s face burned even hotter with embarrassment. She quickly grabbed the prescription, mumbled her thanks, and practically dragged Payton toward the exit.

But they’d barely left the exam room when Payton suddenly stopped. “Wait, I forgot something. I’ll be right back,” he said.

“What is it? I can grab it for you,” Kayla said quickly.

Payton shook his head. “Nah, I got it. Just wait here.”

Terry was packing up his stuff when he turned around and found Payton standing right behind him. He jumped back, hand flying to his chest. “Jeez! You scared the hell out of me. Do you have to sneak up on people like that?”

Payton scratched his nose awkwardly and cut straight to the point. “Dr. Hunter, why didn’t you tell me Kayla paid my mom’s hospital bills?”

Terry blinked in surprise. “She made me promise not to tell you. Said she didn’t want you feeling guilty about it-” He stopped, eyes going wide. “Wait, you tricked me!”

Payton’s face lit up with a huge grin. “So it really was her!”

That explains everything,’ he thought. ‘No wonder Max saw Kayla in our neighborhood asking about hospitals. No wonder she didn’t come to the hospital when her shoulder was badly hurt, but showed up for a tiny scrape on her hand, and at the exact hospital where Mom’s staying.

No wonder someone mysteriously paid Mom’s bills and hired the best specialists right when I was broke and desperate.‘

Everything lined up too perfectly, too perfectly to be a coincidence. Payton kept wondering who had helped

him.

I thought maybe some random good person had helped out. Never would’ve guessed it was Kayla, Payton realized.

Kayla had been helping him this whole time without telling him.

Warmth spread through Payton’s chest, and a soft smile touched his lips. ‘She acts so cold, but the things she does are so kind, he thought. ‘Such a contradiction.”

Terry pointed at him with a helpless laugh. “You sneaky little punk. But don’t tell Kayla I said anything, alright? She was worried you’d feel guilty, so she made me swear to keep quiet. You’re the one who tricked it out of me. I didn’t break my promise!”

Payton grinned. “Don’t worry, Dr. Hunter. Your secret’s safe with me. Thanks.” He gave Terry a quick hug, then

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Chapter 173

bolted out of the room just as fast as he’d come in.

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Down the hall, Payton spotted Kayla standing near the OB–GYN department, talking to a doctor. He was too far away to hear clearly, but he caught fragments of the conversation.

“It’s a delicate time for you, so you need to take care of yourself. After what happened, increased bleeding is normal…” the doctor said.

Payton stopped dead in his tracks. His smile vanished. ‘Delicate time? Increased bleeding? What does that mean?‘ he thought, confusion and worry flooding through him.

Payton suddenly remembered the last time he saw Kayla at the hospital. Kayla had been with this same doctor. A bad feeling hit Payton out of nowhere. ‘Wait… is Kayla pregnant?‘ he thought.

But Payton shut that thought down immediately. Kayla already told him the pregnancy thing was fake, so that couldn’t be it.

Then what did that doctor mean just now?‘ Payton wondered. ‘Is she sick? What could be that serious?‘ His chest felt heavier with each passing second, worry churning through him.

After a moment, Kayla finished talking with the doctor and spotted Payton standing there, completely spaced out. She walked over, looking puzzled. “Did you get your stuff? Why are you just standing there?”

Payton watched as Kayla kept rubbing her stomach absentmindedly. He hesitated before finally asking, “Is your stomach bothering you?”

Kayla’s face turned bright red instantly, and she shook her head. “No, I’m fine!” she said quickly, clearly embarrassed.

Not wanting him to keep asking, Kayla changed the subject. “Let’s go. I’m starving and exhausted. Let’s grab something to eat.”

It was getting late anyway. Instead going to the gym, Kayla decided to eat first.

Payton noticed how she kept holding her stomach protectively, and his expression grew serious. “Alright,” he said quietly.

At the restaurant, Kayla walked straight to the counter and ordered two combo meals.

Payton’s gaze happened to catch a dark red spot on her pants. Combined with what the doctor said earlier, everything clicked. His face went hot. ‘Oh, so that’s what’s going on,‘ he thought.

Without hesitating, Payton stepped behind Kayla, blocking the view from anyone around. He quickly took off his jacket and tied it around her waist.

Payton suddenly got way too close, practically wrapping his arms around her waist. Kayla froze. “What are you doing?” she snapped.

Payton gave her the most pitiful look. “My hand’s hurt. Can I use your waist to hold my jacket? You wouldn’t say no, right?”

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Kayla glanced at his injured arm and rolled her eyes, but she didn’t push him away.

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Listening to what Kayla ordered, Payton frowned. He remembered the neighborhood ladies always saying girls shouldn’t drink cold stuff during their period. “Can we swap the iced cola for something hot?” he asked quickly.

Kayla blinked in surprise. She’d completely forgotten the meal came with a cold drink. ‘Right, I definitely can’t have cold stuff right now. Good thing Payton caught that,’ she thought. “Yeah, make it hot. I’ll take a hot latte.”

Payton thought for a second, then added, “Actually, how about hot milk instead?”

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