Chapter 2

I curled my fingers into a fist. However, I did not have the time to question what she and Caleb were doing in her house.

"Where's Caleb?"

Just as I said that, Caleb walked over to the door with a cat in his arms. His expression darkened the moment he saw me.

"Esther, what on earth do you want?"

He seemed extremely annoyed. "I told you that Bailey was sick and had trouble eating his usual food. I'll go home after making him some food. Can't you show a small animal some empathy?"

I did not want to waste my time arguing with him. I grabbed hold of Caleb's arm. "Come with me. Mom just had a heart attack."

Yet, Caleb pulled away from my grip.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I know about my mother's condition better than anyone else. She's doing well.

"I did a medical checkup on her during the day. She's in a stable condition, so don't use that as an excuse to threaten me."

Indeed, Caleb had been monitoring Sophia's condition all along. Still, there was no telling when unforeseen circumstances could happen. As a cardiologist, Caleb should know that better than I do.

I tried my best to suppress my anger and remain calm.

"Caleb, I'm not joking about this. Mom's waiting for you at the hospital, and she needs your help. If you don't go now and something bad happens to her, you're going to regret it for the rest of your life."

Caleb started wavering as he took in the grim yet anxious expression on my face.

At that very moment, Lexie gazed at me with a dejected look on her face. "Esther, I know you're jealous that Caleb is here at my house. That's why you've made up that lie about Aunt Sophia having a heart attack.

"However, there's really nothing going on between us. It's just that Bailey is sick and Caleb is here to see him. Please don't be mad."

Upon hearing Lexie's words, Caleb swiftly concluded that I was saying all this out of jealousy.

"Lexie's right! Don't you know how it's not right for you to say stuff like that about my mom? She's the only family I have left. You can make up stories about yourself dying if you want. Don't say such ominous things about my mom!"

I was so infuriated that it felt like I was about to lose my mind.

The person lying unconscious in the hospital's emergency room was his own mother. Did Caleb somehow fall and hit his head?

Unfortunately, I did not have the time to quarrel with Caleb. Sophia was still waiting for him to perform the surgery on her.

"If you don't believe me, call Morgan. He can prove what I'm telling you is true."

Caleb took his phone out and was about to call Morgan. However, Lexie responded as though she was being thoughtful. "Caleb, you don't have to make that phone call. You should follow Esther. Hand Bailey over to me."

As she was saying that, Lexie tried to take the cat away from Caleb's arms. However, Caleb avoided her hands and petted the cat's head.

"I'm not leaving. I'm going to stay and watch over Bailey. I haven't even finished preparing his food."

I pointed at Caleb in exasperation after seeing how he was more concerned about a cat and chose to neglect Sophia's safety and well-being.

"Caleb Wright, you'd rather stay here and prepare food for a cat than follow me to the hospital to save your mom?"

Lexie replied before Caleb could say anything, "Esther, I know you're angry because you've misunderstood me and Caleb's relationship.

"However, Aunt Sophia's condition has always been quite stable. So, you shouldn't say such ominous things about her. I'm afraid it may come true someday even if you don't mean it."

Caleb knitted his brows and spat, "How did you end up becoming someone like this, Esther? My mom has always been nice to you. Yet, you're using her as an excuse to make me go home.

"You're truly an ungrateful and cold-hearted person. No wonder your parents abandoned you."

I clenched my fists so tightly that the joints of my fingers turned white.

My parents preferred having boys over girls, so they abandoned me not long after I was born. I was brought up by my uncle.

This part of my past had always been a wound that still festered in my heart. Yet, Caleb was rubbing salt into my wound now.

I bit my lip so hard that a cut was made.

I could almost taste despair on the tip of my tongue as the taste of blood filled my mouth.

I said in a choked voice, "I'm begging you, Caleb. Mom is in critical condition. You need to follow me to the hospital and save her."

Lexie put her hands on mine, seemingly kind and understanding.

"Esther, don't worry. Caleb will go home after he's done making food for Bailey. So, you shouldn't make up those stories about Aunt Sophia anymore."

If it had not been for her, Caleb would have followed me to help Sophia at the hospital. The thought of it got me boiling with rage. I tore myself from her grasp.

"That's none of your business. You should just stay out of this!"

I did not even use that much force, but Lexie fell backward onto the floor when I yanked my hand away.

Caleb immediately helped her get up from the floor. "Lexie, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Lexie shook her head slowly. "I'm alright."

Caleb glared at me. "That's enough, Esther. I've had enough of your bizarre behavior. Stop making a scene here!"

Then, he pushed me away and slammed the door shut.

As I came to my senses, I quickly pounded the door and shouted desperately, "Caleb! Caleb, open the door! You need to come with me and save Mom! She's waiting for you!"

Yet, Caleb completely ignored me no matter how hard I pounded at the door.