"I understand why you did it," Elysia said, "but one lie always leads to another."


    "I''lle clean once they''re in a better mood," Winona replied.


    "Okay."


    When they returned to the room, Keaton was leaning over the side of the bed, dry- heaving. Janelle stood beside him, gently patting his back, her face etched with worry. "You can''t even stand the smell of it? This reaction is way too strong."


    Elysia walked over, greeted Janelle, and checked Keaton''s pulse again. Still nothing abnormal.


    "I''ll write him a prescription for something to help with thister."


    Janelle pointed to a bowl of dark liquid on the nightstand. "I went home this morning and got this remedy from a specialist, but he hasn''t even taken a sip. Just smelling it makes him sick."


    Elysia picked up the bowl and sniffed the bitter brew. "This is indeed for nausea. This will work for now. You need to just grit your teeth and drink it."


    Keaton refused. "The smell alone makes me want to puke. If I drink it, it''ll juste right back up! I''m not drinking it!"


    "Even if you throw it up, some of the medicinal properties will remain in your system. It will help ease your symptoms," Elysia insisted.


    Keaton scrunched his handsome face and shook his head. "No, no, I really don''t want to."


    Winona pursed her lips. "Do you want us to hold you down and force-feed it to you? Like you''re a three-year-old?"


    Keaton''s eyes shot to Winona, a look of pure grievance on his face. "..."


    Winona took the bowl from Elysia. "Elysia, step aside. We''ll pour it down his throat. Janelle, you pinch his nose. Richard and Mr. Bradford, you hold down his arms and legs."


    Keaton''s eyes widened. "I''ll drink it! Fine, I''ll drink it!"


    Winona held the bowl out to him. "Here."


    Keaton stared at the ck, murky liquid, wanting to burst into tears. What had he done to deserve this He wasn''t even sick, yet he had to endure this torture every day now he was being forced to drink


    these foul tonics.


    He chugged it in one go and immediately rinsed his mouth out. Before the nausea


    could hit, Winona handed him two slices of fresh lemon. "Suck on these."


    The intense sourness of the lemon overpowered the bitter aftertaste of the medicine.


    Seeing that he wasn''t going to


    vomit, Janelle let out a sigh of relief.


    "He''s been afraid of medicine since he was little. We always had to crush up the pills and mix them with water just to pour it into him."


    Keatony on the bed, chewing the lemon slices with a look of utter despair.


    Elysia stood beside him and asked, "Bitter medicine or endless vomiting? Pick one."


    "...Is there a not-so-bitter option?" Keaton pleaded.


    Elysia shook her head. "If you want it to be effective, it has to be bitter. If you''re


    willing to drink it, I''ll send a form to Dr. Benjamin."


    Before Keaton could answer, Winona said, "He''ll drink the bitter medicine. It''s better


    than throwing up all the time. You''ll get too weak if you keep this up."


    "Yes, make him drink the bitter medicine!" Janelle and Richard chimed in.


    Elysia nodded and sent a prescription to Benjamin, asking him to have the pharmacy prepare the decoction for that evening.


    With Keaton sorted, everyone sat down for lunch. Janelle had cooked herself, and the spread was


    impressive. Even though Winonan et


    had just eaten several pastries, she was now eating with gusto, plying Janelle withpliments as she ate "This is so delierous! amazing! Janelle, you''re such a fantastic cook!"


    Janelle beamed, unable to hide her delight. "If you like it, eat more. If you want, I


    can cook for you again tonight. Here, try this, and this too."


    While Winona happily devoured the delicious food, Keatony miserable in bed, miserably chewing on a lemon.