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?"

was sure.

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

was all detailed in the report. If Kristin could see it, I was sure anyone who wanted to look into it could find

her question but asked, "Did Clyde

it counts as a work-related

ask anything else?" Seeing Kristin shake her head, I had nothing more

more question, he might have learned about my condition,

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

wife was sick, filled with regret and turning over a

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.

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

agreed. Perhaps it was the wisdom of experience speaking. All love

most clear-sighted view at

made Kristin promise not to

puzzled. "Maybe if he knew, he'd

helplessly. "Clyde won't change. He'd think I'm playing the victim. Better to

would never know, and maybe that was for

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

in line for a long time.

it. He

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