Chapter 12

Carrying his medicine kit, Peyton left the study and went to the living room. He flopped onto the sofa and called out, "Driscoll, the snacks."

Driscoll quickly arrived with a tray of snacks, announcing, "Dr. Ellis, I prepared these just for you."

Peyton sat up, took the snacks, and began to complain. "Jayden is insufferable. He never lets me have snacks at his place, even though he knows how much I enjoy them."

Noticing Peyton's change in mood, Elyse asked with a puzzled expression, "Dr. Ellis, what's wrong?"

"It's your husband's fault!" Peyton exclaimed angrily. "He irritated me, so I had to go get some snacks."

Driscoll added, "Dr. Ellis often gets upset after examinations because Mr. Owen never cooperates. He finds that snacks help calm his nerves."

Elyse's understanding dawned, and she sat down heavily on the sofa. Observing her concern, Peyton offered her a bag of chips and asked, "What do you see in Jayden? Sure, he's handsome, but he's disabled. You're beautiful. Why didn't you marry someone able-bodied? Do you have a preference for disabled men?"

"No," Elyse responded softly. She added, "To me, Jayden is just like anyone else."

Fidgeting with the corner of her dress, she gathered her courage and said earnestly, "Dr. Ellis, may I speak with you privately?"

"What do you want to talk about?" Peyton asked.

"I want to understand Jayden's physical condition better and see if there's anything I can do to help," Elyse replied.

Peyton thoughtfully munched on his chips, watching her for any insincerity. Finding none, he saw only a woman deeply concerned about Jayden. He thought, He knows his condition best. Why not ask him directly?

"I've tried, but he refuses to discuss it with me. That's why I'm asking you. You're his doctor; you know his situation well," she insisted.

A mischievous gleam appeared in Peyton's eyes. He quickly finished his snack and nodded. "You want to know about Jayden's condition, right? Come with me to the garden, and I'll tell you everything."

Elyse's face lit up.

As they sat in the garden, Peyton recounted, "A year ago, Jayden was in a car accident. His legs were the most severely injured; they were crushed, and his rescue took a long time." He paused, and Elyse understood the gravity of his silence. The accident had drastically changed Jayden's life, transforming the once-vibrant Jayden Owen into a withdrawn man.

"And will he be like this for the rest of his life?" she asked softly.

"No, with time, I believe there's hope for recovery," Peyton replied, his back to Elyse. Speaking quietly, he continued, "His legs do have nerve responses, but he was traumatized and refuses to let anyone touch them. You know how proud he is."

"I understand. I once saw him trying to stand on his own in the study," Elyse nodded.

"He did that?" Peyton exclaimed, surprised. He rubbed his chin and was silent for a moment before saying, "As a doctor, I recommend you massage his legs daily. It will help stimulate the nerves and prevent his muscles from weakening."

"Could there be a miracle if I keep doing that?" Elyse asked, hope glimmering in her eyes.

With a sly smile, Peyton replied, "Certainly. As a doctor, I can tell you there's always a possibility of a miracle."

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