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."

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

senior, huh?" Kayla's sneering voice broke the silence, earning an eye roll from me and a chuckle from Vinson across the

my reaction, Kayla sauntered over

Melanie, feeling under

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

Kayla's barbs to fly

earnestly. "Well, you two aren't exactly being discreet, flaunting your affair. Vinson and

sheer audacity. If I had been as bold back then, things

Kayla. "Melanie, watch your language. You're going out with Vinson and you're accusing others?" His glaring almost

is limited, Mr. Patterson, my

I felt a warm trickle from my nose, a nosebleed, a common aftermath of my treatments. Frantically grabbing tissues to stem the

taking me to the restroom while Clyde got

worry. 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

while for the bleeding

hair hit me hard. The possibility of going bald, even partially, was something I found hard to

asked, "What's going on? Low blood sugar