Holden touched the bump on his forehead.
"Winifred," he called out into the room.
She glanced up. He immediately forced a smile.
"Winifred... I got hurt."
Her gaze slid indifferently past his face and returned to her mortar and pestle.
Holden tapped the lump on his head. "Am I... invisible?"
He laughed bitterly. "I thought it was a doctor's duty to heal the wounded. Are you just going to let me suffer, Dr. Shultz?"
Winifred kept grinding the herbs, her eyes lowered.
"If you're sick, go to a hospital. This is a research lab."
Holden shifted his weight, wincing as his bruised groin flared with pain. His legs shook as he dragged himself further into the room.
He stopped right beside her, purposely keeping his hand near the massive bump on his head, making sure she couldn't miss it.
"You've got pain relief powder right there. Why don't you put some on me?"
"This isn't for you."
"Oh? And who is it for, Dr. Shultz?"
"For my children's father." Winifred picked up the mortar and moved to the inner room.
Holden limped after her.
"I drank too much yesterday. It was bad—alcohol poisoning. They had to pump my stomach. My gut still hurts so much I can barely walk. Look, my legs are totally weak."
As he spoke, his eyes scanned her workstation.
There was an antique wooden tray divided into dozens of tiny compartments, each holding a different herb.
It was clearly the prep station for the wellness pills.
Right in front of him, Winifred picked up the wooden tray and pulled it close to her chest, physically blocking it from his view.
She wouldn't even let him look at it. Holden chuckled darkly.
"Let me guess... that's for your kids' dad, too?"
Winifred ignored him.
He let out a shaky breath.
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