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.

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

had said it was the engagement ring he planned to use to propose when he was broke. Buying such a ring

wouldn't fetch much, especially with

pondered where to find an affordable yet reliable caregiver when

sounding excited, "I've spoken with the admissions

We've reserved a double room for you, and

possible way to save me money. I thanked him as I dragged my

heard Rocky whimpering from my neighbor's home. Brenda opened the door, and Rocky dashed toward me,

me.

holding back tears, and hugged its big head. "Be good. I'll be back soon, and you need to

strong even if I

said,

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

at the cross with a faded string, I nodded with a

the cross tightly. Maybe with God's blessing, I could extend

doctor's directions,

the

quick.

next day,

in

Clyde at the school

were awful, reeking

but they

at a dollar each. Clyde always beamed with joy when seeing me relish

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

was a pause on the other end before a gentle response came, "Okay, wait

back asleep, happy to have had