When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 10

Chapter 10



Ever since I started working, I've felt some of my old spark returning. But the best part? I finally had a paycheck.

The day before, our finance department, in an unprecedented move, handed me a month's base salary. To me, $20,000 felt like winning the lottery. I didn't dwell on why they paid me for a month after just three days of work. After all, Clyde wasn't short on cash.

I immediately transferred half to Jade, who'd been slaving away preparing nutritious meals for the two of us every day. Despite her decent salary, taking care of her grandma on top of everything else, including me, has been a real struggle.

Unfortunately, she refused the money and gave me an earful in the hospital room. "What do you think you are doing? My meals aren't just for anyone, you know. Don't bother to transfer money unless you have a million or two to spare."

I held my food tray, grinning at her.

"Jade, I'm back at work and got my first paycheck," I chuckled.

"What's so funny? You haven't fully recovered yet. Eat up. You're such a pain sometimes." She roughly dished out some lobster for me, quickly wiping a tear when she turned her back.

I devoured the lobster, tears welling up in my eyes, too. Jade's terrible cooking was a waste of the lobsters. After a hearty meal, we fell into our usual chit-chat.

you from overthinking? You should be resting, and Clyde..." Mentioning Clyde, we both instinctively stopped. He was both a taboo and an inevitable

I have much else going for me besides this one talent. Who knows, I might not stick

was superstitious, trying to ward off

to eat more lobsters. I'll

was on my budget. Lobsters were expensive, and frankly, eggs and milk were cheaper protein. Luckily, now that I had a salary, I shouldn't have to worry about affording

in spirits, but my recovery was going well. Before being discharged, I

to the hospital, excited. "Melanie, you're amazing. Your revision got approved on the first try. You have no idea the Design Department struggled for months only to get rejected. Everyone's waiting for you to lead when you get back. You've got to

Clyde sometimes couldn't separate personal from professional, often taking it out on the team because of

were different. First, I needed

started thinking about the final

granting me another half year of

want to meet immediately

Lina's troubled face,

sense for me to handle the talks. Others might not grasp the project's

wouldn't significantly impact the project, but for me, it was crucial. I needed to be discharged and rest at home a

my dog, whom I hadn't seen in

showed me my latest reports, confirming my steady recovery. It seemed I was getting

call shattered my