Chapter 29

"No, I'm not leaving. You promised to give me three months!" Lily's voice trembled with emotion, her head shaking like a bobblehead. "Don't force me to send you back to the psychiatric hospital," Darren threatened, his tone stern. I stood up and excused myself, claiming I was going to get fruits for Darren. I had no desire to listen to their drama or get caught up in their conflict. Whatever grievances they had were their business, not mine. I wasn't sure how Darren managed to convince Lily, but when I returned with a bag of fruits, she was already gone. She wouldn't leave Darren just because of a threat. He must have used other means to persuade her. But I didn't feel like probing further. I peeled a banana and started eating, focusing on the simple task. Darren watched me silently, his eyes glued to me as if he couldn't bear to look away. I wondered what he hoped to gain from staring at me like that. The doctor had advised that Darren needed special attention for th