Nixon watched Shaelyn leave and this time he did not chase after her or attempt to stop her,
"Nixon...is Shaelyn mad at me?" Leyla asked cautiously, her tone weak and exhausted, as she stared at him.
"And why would you say that?" Nixon asked distractedly.
"You know she seemed angry, I hope I did not interrupt anything important..." Leyla stated remorsefully,
"Nevermind, Shaelyn and I can always sort these things out later." Nixon reassured calmly, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
"Oh right! I forgot to ask. Leyla, what brings you here?" Nixon asked, with an expression that was a hint of curiosity with mild annoyance
"I just felt the need to remind you about my health checkup later today," Leyla said, her tone casual. "You said you'd accompany me."
"I did...I completely forgot," Nixon replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Of course I'll go with you."
Leyla's smile widened as she seized this opportunity to bask in the fact that she had diverted his attention from that undeserving woman.
"Thank you, it means a lot to me...you mean a lot to me." She said sweetly, leaning slightly closer to him, as if to emphasize her gratitude.
'She meant it as a friend, of course.' Was Nixon's only thought.
"It's not a problem Leyla. By what time are you supposed to be at the hospital?" He asked, glancing down at his wristwatch,
It had been sometime since Leyla arrived and considering the car she came in was owned by his company, Nixon knew she must have checked in on him at the office only to be redirected here,
Leyla noticed Nixon's concern for her and decided to subtly take advantage of the situation further. "You know," she began casually while observing Nixon's facial expression in an attempt to gauge his thoughts,
"I've always thought it admirable how supportive you are of your friends' health needs. Not everyone is like that." She let her words hang in the air for a moment before adding with a hint of sarcasm, "Some people might even call it… selfless."
Nixon nodded appreciatively at Leyla's comment but glanced at the direction Shaelyn left with a pondering expression.
Leyla's insinuation was clear to those who were smart enough and she assumed Nixon understood her snarky words and his nod expressed his approval of them.
"Yeah," Nixon interjected lightly but firmly, attempting to steer the conversation back on track. "It's great that we can all be there for each other." However, Leyla wasn't finished yet.
"Absolutely! And having each other's back is so important. We go way back, and we always go the extra mile for one another, don't we?" Leyla continued enthusiastically,
Her words subtly reinforced her own narrative that painted herself as someone who needed support and understanding more than others did.
It also dropped a reminder that the only reason her body was so weak was due to the fact that she donated her kidney to his mom,
It was only natural she took priority over others in situations such as these, and Shaelyn's reaction made her an inconsiderate woman, petty enough to over analyse everything without considering the bigger picture.
Nixon seemed caught between two worlds: one where he felt compelled to support Leyla and another where he knew his knowledge of his wife's character clashed with Shaelyn's recent actions.
Leyla's lips tilted slightly, a hidden smile with veiled intentions, it became increasingly clear that Leyla was not merely reminding Nixon about his commitment; she was also weaving a web designed to shift his perception of both herself and Shaelyn.
And the fact that he was wavering, went a long way to show the extent of his trust for her and her influence over him,
Shaking out of his seemingly endless thoughts, Nixon turned to Leyla, who looked visibly affected by Shaelyn's words and vulnerable amidst the chaos.
"Come on," he said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Let's get you to the hospital for your appointment."
Leyla nodded silently, her expression a mixture of gratitude and concern as she followed him to his car.
The moment they stepped away from the street where the heated confrontation had occurred, Nixon let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry about what happened back there," Nixon said, as they walked towards his car. "Shaelyn can be really intense sometimes."
Leyla glanced up at him, her brow furrowed with worry. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble… I just wanted to check in on you guys. With all that has happened between you two, I felt the need to come forward and explain... though I did not get the chance to." Leyla paused.
"After all, it indeed is my fault. I have been such a bother, and lately I feel like I haven't been a good friend to you." Leyla added, lowering her eyes guiltily,
"I know how you feel," Nixon replied as he opened the car door for her. "But right now, your health is what matters most." He paused for a moment before adding thoughtfully, "We'll figure out everything else later."
As they drove towards the hospital in silence, Nixon couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders. He needed to ensure that both Leyla and Shaelyn were okay both emotionally and physically.
And it had been going so well these two years, why was Shaelyn suddenly acting out?
Once they arrived at the hospital, Nixon parked and turned off the engine. He looked over at Leyla who was staring blankly ahead.
"Are you ready?" he asked gently.
Leyla took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Yeah… I think so."
They stepped into the hospital together, Nixon leading Leyla in,
Nixon sincerely hoped Shaelyn would cool down and figure things out because he honestly could not comprehend the reasons behind her actions,
Nixon had previously thought she was angry and dissatisfied with him, however her actions a few minutes ago proved him wrong,
Thinking back, the look in Shaelyn's seemed to be full of blame which was obviously directed at him.
But just what had he done so wrong?