CHAPTER 40

Mom is on bed rest as she appears tired and pale these past few weeks. What complicates matters is that there's no one else at home. Alice went away with her family, while my brother is still on his way. He was in Claybourne earlier, but I texted him to inform him about Mom's condition and seek his advice on what to do. Thankfully, I managed to call for help, and my reliable friends Christian, Lance, and Kyla quickly arrived. I asked Kyla and Lance to stay with Mom while Christian and I went to the market as we had run out of food at home. Cooking has never been my strong suit, and I'm grateful that Kyla knows how to cook. This situation is entirely new to me. In the past, we had the means to go to private hospitals and hired maids to take care of Mom. It's an anxiety-inducing experience for me. And if you ask whether I sought help from my dad, the answer is no. I no longer trust him, even though I don't have concrete evidence. He betrayed us, and I refuse to seek his assistance. "S