When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 23

Chapter 23



Ever since that day, my relationship with Clyde had gone south.

He stopped coming home, and I stopped asking where he was. Even at work, we acted like strangers.

I was relishing the newfound freedom. Life without him was significantly lighter. Kayla also stopped her provocations, though she always sported a smug look whenever our paths crossed.

'Just another jerk,' I thought. If it hadn't been Kayla, it would've been someone else.

After all, the world was all lookalikes. Finding another Clyde wouldn't be hard. But I had bigger fish to fry than to dwell on their soap opera, especially since I was about to start my treatments.

With Clyde's approval, the finance department promptly processed my bonus. Armed with the cash, I felt empowered and splurged on some health supplements.

After scheduling with my doctor, I took some time off work.

Jade, always looking out for me, took off to keep me company too.

"The first session might hit you with heavy side effects. You might want to stay overnight for observation," The doctor cautioned as he administered the treatment.

my bloodstream, feeling a sense of life getting injected

looking good. That's a positive sign," he encouraged. "But you need to up

nodded along, having gifted me two boxes of gourmet protein bars, pretending they were from someone else. But she forgot the

she turned into a mother hen, chattering away. "Back in college, all you cared about was staying slim. Now, you better eat up. I'm taking you out for a hearty meal once a week,

feeling the warmth and

a parched mouth. My doctor said these were all common and told me to make

but

wife, shouldn't you keep your word?" he chided. "You promised us the next project. Why the sudden cold

I had discussed collaborating with his company with Clyde, who had

pacifying Jake, I rushed

l

was. Breaking a promise could tarnish the Patterson Group's reputation. Clyde might be a piece of work, but the Patterson family had been good to me. I couldn't

in the office, I unearthed the new

Who are they? Never heard of them," I

decided on them today. It's a new firm, not

through the contract and noticed the owner shared Kayla's last name. Things started clicking

stop me but recoiled

brushed

at my

toward him, playing the victim. "Clyde, Melanie just stormed in.

glanced at me impatiently. "What's it