When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 26

Chapter 26



The next day, I texted Clyde's secretary, Gemma, to call in sick. I kept it vague, mentioning I had personal matters to attend to without diving into any details.

Gemma's response was brief, a simple "Okay," without further inquiry.

Being Merritt Patterson's right hand, Gemma was Clyde's most trusted assistant. So, getting her approval was as good as getting Clyde's.

After the unpleasantness of the previous day, Clyde probably thought I was being petulant and throwing a tantrum. He didn't mince his words when he texted me, stating I was absent for not taking a leave and that I'd lose my perfect attendance bonus for the month.

After doing the math, the loss wasn't as painful as I thought, so I didn't fret much about it.

Jade was already waiting for me downstairs early in the morning, holding some sandwiches. "I know you're not feeling up to eating much, but you've got to try a bit. They say chemotherapy can take a toll on you."

With a look of concern, she watched as I took big bites of the sandwich, finally breathing a sigh of relief before driving me to the hospital.

the chemotherapy, especially when I noticed a young girl with a bald head nearby. I instinctively grabbed Jade's hand tightly. Jade saw the girl, too, her

lose their hair during chemo. We decided to shave

You can

blissfully unaware of the gravity of her situation, excitedly talking about the

nodded, smiling. "Yeah, let's check

opened her mouth as if to

after my treatment that she spoke up. "Melanie, you're always the brightest star in my sky! I'll buy you the fanciest wig!" Seeing the tears

head. "Spare my few strands, will you?

each other's eye and burst out laughing, the sadness we'd felt just moments before temporarily

immediately feel sick from the chemo, which was

asked Jade to stop. "I want

it was only a haircut, she agreed to accompany me inside. My hair had grown since high school, only trimmed once

want to cut it short? It's such a pity," the barber asked for the third time, but I was determined. "Keep my hair, please. I want to make it into a wig. Your shop can arrange

barber understood my

I just smiled. It was just a haircut, not the end of the

and preserved my hair, offering encouragement and sharing stories of cancer