The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 124

"Sloane," Lilah said, suddenly turning her head. "Can I ask you a question?"

Sloane met her gaze with calm eyes. "Go ahead."

"Why did you come to Antarctica?"

Lilah looked at her earnestly. "You don't seem like... the adventurous type. Not that you're scared, but you just feel so quiet and grounded. Like someone who belongs in a coffee shop with a good book. Is there a specific reason you came to a place this dangerous?"

The question was entirely sincere, her eyes brimming with curiosity.

Sloane fell silent for two seconds.

"I just wanted to see it," she finally said.

Lilah nodded, not pressing the issue. She seemed to perfectly grasp the boundary of 'don't ask if they don't want to tell,' and merely smiled. "Well, you just make sure you finish your mission and get back safely."

She took another sip of her cocoa. Her gaze swept the room once more before landing on the nightstand.

The small white pill bottle sat there in silence.

"Sloane," Lilah said, a touch of concern in her voice as she eyed the bottle. "Is that your medication?"

Sloane followed her line of sight, pausing for a moment before answering. "Yeah. I get headaches sometimes, so I brought some painkillers."

"Headaches..." Lilah furrowed her brow slightly. "Are they the really bad kind? My mom gets terrible headaches too. Sometimes it hurts so much she can't even get out of bed. Is it like that for you?"

"It's manageable," Sloane said. "It doesn't happen often."

Lilah nodded. Her eyes lingered on the pill bottle for one more second before she pulled her gaze away, her bright smile returning.

"Well, you have to take good care of yourself," she said, standing up and placing her empty mug back on the tray. "Getting sick out here is a huge hassle. But with Professor Harrison and the team, I'm sure you'll be fine."

She walked to the door, pulled it open, and waved back at Sloane. "I'm heading out! Thanks for letting me hang out for a bit. Good luck tomorrow!"

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