When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

Chapter 45

Chapter 45



Vinson led me to a quaint vegan restaurant, a choice that left me visibly puzzled.

"Why here?" I asked.

"You seemed a bit off, maybe not up for anything heavy," he reasoned.

He pulled a chair for me and poured a glass of water, its coolness somewhat reviving my spirits, though my appetite remained absent. Eventually, I settled for a bowl of oatmeal, eating it slowly.

Patient and seemingly amused, Vinson watched me eat.

Suddenly, he reached out with a napkin to dab at my lips. I instinctively pulled away, and he quickly withdrew his hand.

He explained with a smile, "You've got oatmeal all over your face. Looks like you were hungrier than you thought."

napkin with an awkward smile, feeling a sudden chill down my

Melanie, sneaking off from work for a date with the senior, huh?" Kayla's sneering voice broke the silence, earning an eye roll from me and a

with my reaction, Kayla sauntered over with

under the weather?"

right? But aren't you forgetting you're a married woman? Out

silently, allowing Kayla's barbs to fly

your affair. Vinson and I are just having a meal. What's so

her sheer audacity. If I had been as bold back then, things with Clyde might not have soured so

Kayla. "Melanie, watch your language. You're going

limited, Mr. Patterson, my apologies." Grabbing my bag, I looked at Vinson. "Done

felt a warm trickle from my nose, a nosebleed, a common aftermath of my treatments. Frantically grabbing tissues to stem the flow, the blood wouldn't

ushered Kayla aside, taking me to the restroom while Clyde got held

Maybe it's just stress or something. I used to get nosebleeds as a kid all the time, Kayla said casually, a tone that made me wish she'd share my current

the

the sensation of losing hair hit me hard. The possibility of going bald, even partially, was something I found hard to accept despite

Handing me water, he asked, "What's going on? Low blood sugar plus