Chapter 0020
BAILEE
My phone ringing startled me awake, though I hadn’t intended to pass out on the couch. Usually, when Brinley was sick, I would sleep in her room to ensure she was okay.
I jumped for the phone to keep the ringer from waking Brinley.
It had been pointless, though, because I cursed loudly as my knee connected with the coffee table, and my arms flailed as I
tumbled off the couch and onto the floor with a thud ”
My vision was still blurry from sleep, and the room spun from the quick movement, but I managed to grab my phone and
answer the call, unable to see the number on the screen as I blinked rapidly to moisten my eyes.
“Hello,” I said breathlessly, rolling onto my back and pulling my knee up to my chest.
“Ms. Evans,” A man said, and my eyes shot open as a jolt of excitement went through me at hearing my maiden name. I had no clue who it was, but it was the first time since the hearing yesterday that I had been called Ms. Evans without me having
to correct them to it from Mrs. Johnson.
“Yes,” I said, cringing when I heard Brinley start crying from my loud start to the morning
“Ms. Evans, my name is Andrew Collins I am the financial and investment manager for your brother, Benjamin Evans.” The man introduced, going on to provide his company name that I didn’t care to remember as I pushed myself up to my feet and
started down the hallway.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said quickly, feeling rushed to go into the room Brinley was staying in to comfort her, but I didn’t want to be on the phone when I did so
“You as well. I’m calling today because I received a request to transfer some funds to you, but based on the dollar amount, I would need you to come into the office to confirm your banking information and sign a few papers. Would you be available today?” He asked, and my eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
“I have to sign for this? How much is he trying to transfer?” I asked, tensing when Brinley’s cries grew louder as the doorbell rang. What in the overstimulating Hell was happening right now? This was not how I wanted to wake up. “I am so sorry. I
need just a minute.”
Mr. Collin’s muffled response was inaudible as I lowered my phone and pushed the door to Brinley’s room open. Her face was red, and her hair was wet, sticking to her face and forehead
“Oh, sweetie!” I gasped, rushing forward as she reached for me. Her forehead was hot again, and I felt tears fill my eyes in anger at myself. I had been in such a hurry to get away from Caleb that I hadn’t grabbed her medicine from the counter.
I placed my phone down, and the illuminated screen showed that Ben’s finance manager was still on the line as I stripped Brinley of her sweat–soaked clothes.
“I’m sorry! One more moment!” I shouted at the phone, hoping he could hear me over Brinley’s crying.
She was hysterical, but I needed to get her dressed, in the car, and to the store to get her medicine. A bath could only do so
much at this point to bring her fever down
Come on, Sweetie,” I cooed as 1–tried to pull a new shirt over her head, but she was resisting. “Please, work with me here.”
“No!” She cried, but her high–pitched wail of defiance sounded weak. “Don’t
It took me another minute to get her dressed, and I had just pulled her onto my hip when I heard heavy footsteps rushing down the hallway.
I had heard Caleb walk like that too many times, and my heart fell, leaving an airy, tingly feeling in my chest. Did he want revenge for Alexander attacking him last night?
1/2
BONUS
I grabbed my phone, rushed into the walk–in closet, and hoped that Caleb wouldn’t find us as I tried to quietly shush Brinley
