Chapter 627



Cara didn’t want to be with Elma.

Truth be told, Elma felt a bit uneasy around Cara and didn’t want her anywhere near her. It was a weird feeling. Elma couldn’t quite put her finger on why she felt that way.

Elma yearned for her mother’s affection, but every time she got near Cara, a shiver of fear ran through her.

There was a missing piece in Elma’s memory. A dark, scary piece. Even though she couldn’t recall what it was, just being around Cara set off alarm bells in her mind.

Out of the blue, Elma’s thoughts drifted back to Kallie and her children. A sharp stab of envy pierced her heart as she thought about Kallie’s children.

Why did they get to have a mom who loved them? Kallie was so warm and caring. If only Kallie was her mom.

Elma’s thoughts drifted as she grew tired, finally succumbing to sleep and crawling into bed.

In the dead of night, someone crept into her room, unnoticed. The person pulled the blanket off her and flung the window open.

The icy wind whipped through the room, and by morning, Elma was burning up with a fever.

Clayton rushed to drive Elma to the hospital, Cara in tow. Cara was a nervous wreck, but all she talked about was, “Clayton, did you tell him Elma’s sick? Her fever’s really bad this time. He’s her father. He should come back and see her. Come on, Clayton, just text him! He can’t be that…”

Cara whined, her voice grating on Clayton’s nerves. Clayton’s head was throbbing. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

“Clayton, we need to get Elma to the hospital now. I’ll let him know what’s going on later. He’s her father. He’ll come back.”

Cara’s voice rose to a shriek. “I don’t believe you!” She actually tried to yank the car door open, Elma in her arms.

They were on the freaking highway!

Clayton’s heart pounded with anxiety. He slammed the locks down just as Cara started kicking the door. “Stop it!” Clayton yelled, on the verge of losing it. “I’ll call him the second we get to the hospital, I swear!”

Cara finally settled down, a smug look on her face. “You better,” she said, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

All the commotion was making Elma, who was already feeling sick, even worse. She started to gag, and Cara shoved her away with a disgusted look.

Elma was burning up with fever, her cheeks flushed. She usually didn’t let Cara hold her, but her weak state granted this exception. She’d been sleeping peacefully until Cara shoved her.

Elma’s eyes fluttered open, confused. When she saw the look of disgust on Cara’s face, her heart sank. All the warmth she’d felt earlier vanished.

At the hospital, Cara refused to budge and take Elma inside until Clayton sent the text.

The doctor took one look at Elma and said she needed an IV immediately.

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