When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 36

Chapter 36



After discussing the divorce details with my lawyer, I didn't head back to the office. Instead, I went to the small apartment my mom used to live in. Jade had cleaned it, and everything inside looked just the way Mom left it, simple and unassuming, except for the nail scratches on the headboard, reminding the agony Mom went through. Thinking I might end up in similar pain, I found it hard to breathe and left the apartment.

Jade worked late, so I made myself pasta and hit the sack early.

But as I drifted off, Clyde called. I quickly hung up, but he followed up with a message on Messenger.

It was just a drunk photo of Clyde, but Dailey was speaking in the background.

"Hey Melanie, come to pick Clyde up. He's losing it."

Then I saw Clyde grabbing the phone and hugging Dailey. Clyde was never much of a drinker in college. I thought it was because he was frugal, but it turned out he turned into a lunatic when drunk.

Dailey sent me the address, which I forwarded to Kayla. Clyde didn't want to see me anyway. He was only interested in his mistress.

I went back to sleep, but an hour later, Dailey was frantically calling.

At last, he messaged me. [Melanie, you've got to come. Clyde's in a fight, and we're all down at the police station.]

awake. Clyde was in a fight, heh?

when I called

here any minute now! Melanie, please hurry. Clyde's, um, please hurry!" I could hear the chaos at the police station through the phone, Clyde's voice, Kayla's,

I was stunned. Clyde was a mess with bruises on his face, scrapes on his arm, hair all over the place, and his clothes stained. He didn't seem to notice me, with his head hung low. Kayla was beside him, crying and trying

sat Vinson Russell, my

since I moved abroad, and there he

I shifted to get a

gently. "Long time no see,

he seemed unharmed except for

my voice, Clyde finally looked up, slurring, "You see him but not me? Look

but Kayla

at him, and

it, and... Now that the family is here, sortit out. Here's the police station. I don't care who you are,

shifted between me

sighed, realizing Clyde's antics were well

up. "That's between us.

Clyde lunged forward, Dailey and I pushed him back, with

the subject. "Vinson, you're not hurt, are you? Should we go to the hospital? Could there be

could throw a punch, but Vinson was always quiet,

his head, then snorted, "A cheater's got

blunt words made