Eli closed his eyes, replaying Belle's words over and over in the quiet of his mind. Her argument had been perfectly logical, entirely grounded, and he knew with absolute certainty that she was speaking out of a deeply rooted sense of guilt toward his family. But he didn't share that guilt.
"Am I actually that heartless?" he muttered aloud to the empty room, his eyes still tightly shut. "I need to go apologize to her. I must have truly crossed a line for her to react that way."
Snapping his eyes open, he grabbed his keys and phone from the desk, snatching up his bag in one swift motion. He hurried out of the clinic and climbed into his car, navigating the evening traffic with a singular goal: he needed to see Belle as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Dr. Peachy Lopez was also clocking out late, held back by a final, grueling surgical appointment. She had just stepped out of the staff elevator when she spotted Eli's distinct silhouette heading toward the hospital exit.
