The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 1029

But seeing him in action proved the complete opposite. He wasn't some entitled rich kid; he was incredibly capable and lethal.

But most importantly, he was deeply devoted to Leilani.

That was all Payton needed to know.

"It's just a damn shame Paulina isn't here to see you get married. If she knew you finally found someone who would protect you and love you with his whole heart, she could rest in peace."

Payton stared at Leilani's face for a long time. A heavy, somber tone crept into his voice.

"Kid..."

"In this life, finding someone who genuinely loves you—someone you can lean on without a second thought—is a rare thing. Now that you've found it, hold onto it. Understand?"

"I've lived a long time. Honestly, whether this antidote works or not doesn't mean much to me anymore. If I can just live long enough to see you walk down the aisle and start a family, I won't have failed your mentor."

He had seen everything Leilani had done for him. In his heart, she had been his daughter for a very long time.

Leilani's chest tightened painfully. A rush of warmth, mixed with a suffocating wave of grief for Paulina, flooded her. Her eyes burned, and her throat felt thick. Staring at Payton's loving, solemn face, she nodded fiercely, her voice cracking.

"I know, Payton... I will never forget everything you and Paulina have done for me."

"And you're not going anywhere. You're going to be at my wedding."

Payton's will to live had always been dangerously low. With the antidote's legitimacy still in question, Leilani didn't want him falling into a fatalistic mindset. She desperately wanted to use her future to anchor him to the present.

Just then.

Beep.

A sharp chirp from the machine signaled it was finished.

Leilani snapped out of it. She took a sharp breath, blinking rapidly to force the tears back, and turned to the monitor.

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