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

she saw my documents, she paused. "How young are you to be dealing with this? When did

detailed in the report. If Kristin could see it, I was sure anyone

asked, "Did Clyde tell you he approved

it counts as

Kristin shake her head,

he might have learned about my condition, but he didn't.

nor was he interested in why I asked for reimbursement. My medical

out their wife was sick, filled with regret and turning

relationship with Clyde wasn't a secret at the company. And he had brought quite a few women around. Nearly everyone knew my husband was cheating on me. Yet, he never let go, and the office was rife with

sympathy. "Melanie, you're talented and gorgeous. Why put up with this? You should be stacking

time, I wholeheartedly agreed. Perhaps it was the wisdom of experience speaking. All love was transient. Only

I envied Kayla, who had the most clear-sighted view at the prime of her

Kristin

puzzled. "Maybe if he knew,

He'd think I'm playing the

know, and maybe that was for

the finance department, I saw Kayla flaunting her new designer bag to others with

line for a long time. You need

Clyde helped me reserve it. He

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