For the first time, Darren was the one on the receiving end of a call being hung up by Laura. His irritation grew as he paced back and forth in the hospital room.
Outside, the storm raged with flashes of lightning and thunder. Darren closed his eyes, his thoughts heavy.
He couldn't stop thinking about the wound on Laura's wrist, which hadn't healed yet. She was still kneeling. His frustration grew even more.
Melanie, perceptive as always, spoke gently. "It's okay, Darren. You can go to her. Laura is really impatient today. She probably wants you to go be with her. Go ahead."
Darren let out a cold snort and stopped in his tracks.
"It’s just a tactic. She doesn’t have a heart," he said.
A flash of smugness flickered in Melanie's eyes before she quickly replaced it with a gentle smile. "Don’t be stubborn."
"She should be taught a lesson," Darren said, standing by the window. On the surface, he appeared calm, but the clenched fist betrayed the turbulent emotions inside.
Darren thought for a moment, then decided to call again. If she called back once more, he would let her come back.
He had to protect Melanie this time, but why wasn’t Laura angry anymore? She wasn’t jealous like she used to be?