When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 4

Chapter 4



Clyde hadn't returned home the previous night, choosing to stay with Kayla.

The office grapevine was buzzing with gossip about the two of them.-

[Mr. Patterson is over the top, isn't he? Making a big deal over a tiny wound and rushing Kayla to the hospital.]

[Have you ever heard of a man's sweetheart? Mr. Patterson was beside himself with worry.]

[Did Melanie storm into the office today to catch a homewrecker red-handed?]

[The boss's wife is apparently after money but just asked for $100,000. How pathetic. Kayla's necklace, I looked it up, worth $190,000.]

I closed WhatsApp with a sneer playing at the corner of my mouth. The idea of the boss's wife getting pitied was indeed a joke.

Woken up by the noise, I couldn't fall back asleep and decided to start packing my things.

It wasn't my first rodeo with surgery. I packed my personal belongings with practiced ease.

Everything in our home was top-notch. Clyde had an eye for quality. Even the bed linens and tissues were the most expensive. I unapologetically crammed them into my luggage. Hospital charges were high, and I wasn't about to waste a dime.

Even though I now had $100,000, what if something happened during surgery?

Hospital bills could skyrocket, and it was better to be safe than sorry.

wear at any time, was pathetically small. Standing before the jewelry cab, I decided against smashing it open. Breaking it would likely mean losing my chance

of gold studs and a small, pitiful diamond ring. Clyde had said it was the engagement ring he planned to use to propose when he was broke. Buying such a ring must have taken him ages to save

fetch much, especially with its crude

to find an affordable yet reliable caregiver when daylight

spoken with the

$30,000 deposit. We've reserved a double room for you, and you can share a caregiver

had thought of every possible way to save me money. I thanked him as I dragged my suitcase out

home. Brenda

me.

"Be good. I'll

strong even

said,

went inside and returned with a silver cross. "I got this for you in the church the other day. May God bring you safety and

with a faded string, I nodded with a smile. Brenda was kind-hearted, and Rocky would do well

cross tightly. Maybe with God's blessing, I

doctor's

the

quick.

next day, I

in the hospital

for Clyde at the school gates as he returned from

were awful, reeking

flavoring, but they

each. Clyde always beamed with joy when seeing me

and I answered the phone instinctively. "Clyde, I want the blueberry ones today.

on the other end before

turned over and fell back asleep, happy to