Rachel’s eyelids twitched as she looked apologetically at Xavier.

“Dr. Jenkins, you know how he is—more bark than bite. Don’t count it against him.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. That rascal was worse when he was younger. Come to think of it, if the Lewises could show him more love, he wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

“I know about that. It’s his subconscious defense mechanism. It’s become a habit over the years,” Rachel said knowingly.

His harsh words were, in fact, a guard he put up to protect himself.

Rachel’s eyes dimmed as she glanced at Tyler in his ward. He always looked so impenetrable, but in actual fact, his heart was riddled with wounds and past hurt.

Having been by Tyler’s side every day during this period, she realized how vulnerable he could be, especially at night.

Gradually, she could understand the reason behind his sleep disorder. He would often wake with a start at the tiniest sound or movement and was frequently haunted by strange dreams.

Rachel often heard him yelling in his dreams.

“Don’t lock me up, don’t lock me up! I’m begging you, I’ll be good next time!”

He would always say something similar.

She said to Xavier, “Don’t worry, Dr. Jenkins. He sleeps much better nowadays. Doesn’t it show on his face?”

Xavier nodded. “That’s true. He’s injured right now, but he’s clearly in much better spirits than before.”

He looked more like a human now.

Rachel asked, “Dr. Jenkins, is my father not doing very well recently?”

Although Jim was able to talk and walk, she knew about the notion of terminal lucidity, which occurred to people right before they passed away.

That was what she was most worried about.

Xavier sighed. Rachel knew her guess was right even before he spoke.

Jim didn’t have many days left.

Rachel took a deep breath; she wrung her hands tight, bracing herself before following up with another question.

“Dr. Jenkins, can you give me a rough estimation? How much more time does my father have?”

Xavier had been paying attention to Jim’s condition all along, ensuring that he received the best doctor, equipment, and medication. However, Jim’s health was in very poor condition.

He was looking for an opportunity to break it to Rachel but couldn’t find the right time.

He pondered for a moment before saying with a heavy heart, “Since you’ve asked me, I won’t hide it from you. Your dad… has one month left, tops. That is, provided he doesn’t get agitated. If that happens, he could go anytime.”

Rachel’s eyes widened; her heart clenched, as though someone was squeezing it so hard that she could barely breathe.

That meant there was no longer a point for him to continue staying in the hospital.

Rachel made up her mind.

“Dr. Jenkins, can I discuss this with my father’s attending doctor? I think there’s no point in making him stay in the hospital, given his condition. However, can you prescribe him painkillers so he won’t be in pain and feel better?”