When Love Comes Late by PASSION

Her heart sank like a stone.

She crumpled to the floor, hugging her knees, tears pouring out.

After a bit, she mustered the strength to dial her older brother, Karson Padilla.

“Karson, something’s up with Mom…”

Her voice raspy, she struggled to get the words out, but all she got back was a cacophony of noise.

Finally, Karson’s impatient voice pierced through, booming, “Who’s this? I can’t talk now, busy!”

Devyn caught wind of the chatter on his end, betting odds being tossed around.

Her eyes widened, frustration boiling over.

“Karson! How… how could you gamble again?”

She’d hoped he’d learned his lesson after all those tough times.

But she never imagined that with their mom still fighting in the ICU, Karson would hit the tables again.

it was Devyn, burst out, “Chill, I

different; we’ll be back on top

junkie chasing a

with madness, filled the air, leaving Devyn’s heart

was on the edge

lost it? When will you quit relying on gambling to fix things? Haven’t you learned from past mistakes? Do you have to push it till you

the same old busy signal from her

in disbelief, tears clouding her

gripped it so tight, she

her emotions

pale in the

on, so she had to

USB flash drive from

data from Stella’s computer earlier, including some of her designs, all

time to waste

Stella’s designs, she could tackle all

forwarded Devyn’s latest

meticulously studying it, Matthew couldn’t help but