When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

I was standing at the doorway of the hospital room, feeling that something about Rachel was off, more than usual.

Clyde's sudden fainting spell was bizarre enough, but why would she, if she truly cared for him, prevent him from getting checked out?

After Warren spoke, Rachel seemed to freeze for a moment, then quickly masked it with a smile.

"I'm not stopping him, just worried. Since a check-up is necessary, let's go ahead," she said.

"But I hope it's not always about drawing blood; it's not good for the body."

She seemed all concerned for Clyde's well-being, and even Warren nodded in agreement.

But I caught a glimpse of worry in Rachel's eyes.

Then she saw me and quickly put on an indifferent face, edging closer to Clyde.

I couldn't quite figure out why she was anxious, but my mind started racing with possibilities.

Clyde didn't seem happy to see me. Spotting me at the door, his expression darkened.

"We're on the brink of divorce; no need to pretend you care," he said coldly.

"You're not well yourself, just lost a baby, you should rest instead of laying blame on me later."

Each word was a dagger, chilling to the bone. Fenton looked like he wanted to retort, but I stopped him.

Clyde wasn't usually this cutting; it wasn't that he couldn't be, he just deemed it beneath him to verbally lash out.

If he truly disdained someone, he'd act on it, like how he dealt with me once.

Under their scornful gazes, I left the room.

In that moment, I realized how strong I had become mentally, able to endure even when it felt like my heart was being ripped out. But I didn't leave the hospital. Instead, I went straight to Warren.

He was frowning over Clyde's medical report.

"Any issues? Poisoning?"

Curiosity got the better of me and I leaned in closer, just in time to see him spread out the report.

I was lost amidst the medical jargon.

"If you could understand this, my years of medical school would've been in vain. He's not poisoned, all his indicators are fine, recovering well. Could it be nerve damage2 Surely, it's not something supernatural?"

Seeing Warren puzzled was a clear sign this was serious.

I stood opposite him, silent, not wanting to disrupt his train of thoughts.

After about fifteen minutes of silence, my anxiety grew.

"Could it be incense, or some toxic substance in perfume? Or food incompatibility, like eating poisonous mushrooms?"

I blurted out every dramatic scenario Jade and I had seen on TV shows, only to irritate Warren further.

"Think we're in some drama series?

None of that I specifically drew

blood in the room, fearing

tampering, but found nothing.

unusual. Now, without a CT, we can't force anything; maybe it's

psychological stress?"

His uncertainty only fueled mine.

Recalling the shovel hitting Clyde hard on the back of his head, nerve damage seemed plausible.

Without any conclusive answers, I decided to leave his office.

Just as I was about to enter the elevator, Rachel approached me.

"Melanie, I think we need to have a serious chat."

Her face was expressionless, but her eyes were brimming with confidence.

I had a hunch about what she

vel.net

wanted to talk about, but I just wasn't¶n the mood. "We have nothing to talk about. Let's keep it

that way."

Initially, I did ask her to keep a secret, but now, this felt like betrayal, on top of her stealing my husband.

As I stepped toward the elevator, she suddenly blocked my path.

"Melanie, do you really want to see him lose The Patterson Group to someone else? Let's talk."