Chapter 1098



Lacey’s forced smile returned, brittle and cold. She knew she couldn’t escalate things further, not with Jake’s eyes boring into her and Calvin’s thinly veiled threat hanging in the air.

“You misunderstand me,” Lacey said, her tone dripping with a sweetness that only heightened the tension.

“I was upset, but I’m not someone who holds grudges. I hope the same can be said of you.” She tilted her head slightly, her gaze cutting.

“Elma still needs me,” she continued, turning the focus to her advantage.

“Instead of wasting your energy on veiled sarcasm, Calvin, perhaps you should spend more time supporting her.”

With those parting words, Lacey turned on her heel and walked away, her head held high.

Jake studied Calvin, his face clouded with mixed feelings. Finally, he broke the silence.

“Why did you apologize to her? You didn’t mean it, did you?”

Calvin met Jake’s gaze, his lips curling into a faint smirk that bordered on mockery.

“Sincere or not, it’s what she wanted to hear. If I didn’t, with her temper, she might’ve taken it out on my mom—or worse, refused to treat Elma. We can’t afford that, can we?”

Jake stiffened, the truth in Calvin’s words cutting deep. As much as he hated to admit it, Calvin was right—they couldn’t afford to cross Lacey.

Kallie stepped forward, placing a hand on Calvin’s shoulder. Her expression was firm but tinged with concern.

“Calvin, don’t talk to your dad like that. He’s doing the best he can under the circumstances.”

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is your fiction sanctuary Calvin’s cold smile didn’t waver.

“His best? Then he needs to try harder. Don’t tell me Lacey is the only capable doctor in the world. There has to be another skilled doctor.”

Jake didn’t react with anger. Instead, Calvin’s words struck a raw nerve, a reminder of his own inadequacy. He lowered his gaze, pressing his lips together, and said nothing.

Seeing Jake’s silence, Kallie sighed, exasperation etched into her features. She gently tugged at Calvin’s arm.

“Enough, Calvin. This isn’t the time for blame. Elma’s health is what matters most right now.”

Later that afternoon, Elma briefly regained consciousness, her fragile voice offering a fleeting glimmer of hope. But by evening, her condition took a turn for the worse, and a fever set in, throwing the household into disarray.

Kallie immediately suggested taking Elma to the hospital.

“No,” Lacey said firmly, crossing her arms.

“Moving her now would only make things worse.”

Lacey insisted on her treatment plan of acupuncture. Each needle prick drew a sharp gasp from Elma, and Kallie’s heart fractured a little more with every cry.

Given the state of Lacey’s hand injury, it was clear she couldn’t continue Elma’s treatment properly. With a sharp sigh, she turned and muttered, “I need to find Mr. Reeves. There’s something important I need to discuss with him.”

Kallie hesitated, her instincts urging her to follow. She rose quickly and moved toward the door, only to find Lacey blocking her path with a cold, unyielding glare.

“This is between Mr. Reeves and me,” Lacey said, her voice clipped.

“What does it have to do with you? Do you really need to hover around him all the time?”

Kallie’s brows knit together, her patience already worn thin.

“I’m not hovering,” she replied, her voice firm but calm.

“I have every right to know. If this concerns Elma, I need to hear it—I’m her mother.”

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