When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 20

Chapter 20



Clyde had finally agreed to let me file for employees' compensation, and I wasn't about to save him any money. Plus, I had my reasons this time. Something about how Clyde looked at me today felt different, reminiscent of old times. That evening, I organized all the paperwork carefully and sent it to the finance department.

It took Kristin half an hour to respond to my message.

Kristin: [Is this your medical report? Mr. Patterson approved the reimbursement?]

I replied: [Yes, I'll come to see you tomorrow.]

I could imagine Kristin's shock. After all, my illness was a secret to everyone at the company.

Kristin was a veteran at the Patterson Group, handpicked by Clyde's grandfather to lend him a hand, so I trusted her, knowing she wouldn't gossip. And I believed she would tell him the truth if Clyde asked her.

I gently clutched my phone, fixing my eyes on my chat with Clyde.

I wondered what Clyde would look like if he knew I was sick.

The next day, I went to the finance office with my documents. Kristin was staring at me with the reimbursement forms, completely lost for words. "Melanie, is this for real? I thought you were joking. Are you sure you want the company to cover this?"

nodded firmly. Of course, I was sure. Otherwise, I'd be paying out of

But when she saw my documents, she

opening, and it was all detailed in the report. If Kristin could

asked, "Did Clyde

nodded. "Said it counts

Kristin shake her head, I had nothing

he might have learned about my condition, but

care about me, nor was he interested in why I asked for reimbursement. My medical report had been sitting where

hoped he might act like the heroes in novels when they found out their wife was sick, filled with regret and turning over a new leaf. But he didn't even glance at my medical report, which I eventually

quite a few women around. Nearly everyone knew my husband was cheating on me. Yet, he never let

me with sympathy. "Melanie, you're talented and gorgeous. Why put up with this?

was the wisdom of experience

had the most clear-sighted view at the prime of

I made Kristin promise not

looked puzzled. "Maybe if

won't change. He'd think I'm playing the victim.

would never know, and maybe that was for the

I saw Kayla flaunting her new designer bag to others with

waited in line for a long time. You need to spend millions

me reserve it. He chose the

exclaiming dramatically. "Melanie, you came to finance for reimbursement? A few hundred bucks worth the