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?"

course, I was sure. Otherwise, I'd be paying

showed me how to organize the paperwork. But when she saw my

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

"Did Clyde tell

nodded. "Said it counts as a work-related

else?" Seeing Kristin shake

he had just asked one more question, he might have learned about my condition, but he didn't. I

interested in why I asked for reimbursement. My medical report had been sitting where he usually dropped

wife was sick, filled with regret and turning over a new leaf. But he

company. And he had brought quite a few women around. Nearly everyone knew my husband was cheating on me. Yet, he never

at my documents and then at me with sympathy. "Melanie, you're talented and gorgeous. Why put up with this? You should

wisdom of experience speaking. All love was transient.

the most clear-sighted view at the prime of her

Kristin promise not to

puzzled. "Maybe if he

change. He'd think I'm playing the victim. Better to leave

never know, and maybe that was

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

edition. I've waited in line for a long time. You need to spend millions a year to

He chose the color. Pretty,

to notice me, exclaiming dramatically. "Melanie, you came to finance for