A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

Jack, guilt-ridden, answered, "No! I just wanted to give Beryl a surprise. I didn't mean to..."

Grim-faced, Emily said, "My Beryl doesn't need your surprise. And she will not accept a puppy you snatched from who knows where. So spare me the drama."

"Well, then, I will take it back," answered Jack. However, Jack was afraid that the dog would bite him again if he took it back.

"That's entirely up to you," she answered. Emily turned around and let Beryl in the house without further delay.

"Wait! Wait! Miss Lu!" implored Jack, as he quickly wedged his hand between the closing door and its frame. He sincerely begged, "I just want to apologize for what I said last time. It was too abrupt and offensive. I'm sorry for..."

Emily glanced at his wounded arm, and without a care in the world, she said, "Go away!"

"No!" Jack persisted. Disregarding Emily's displeasure towards his determination, he threatened, "If you do not forgive me, I will not move from here."

With a deadpan expression on her face, Emily slowly pulled the door inwards, pressing his hand tightly. "Go!" she demanded.

"No!" Jack refused again. It was as if all shame and dignity had abandoned him. "Even if my hand breaks, I won't move from here," he said, confidently.

Jack thought that Emily would give in to him by now, but he forgot that she was no longer the woman she used to be. She wasn't going to entertain his bluffs and deceptions anymore.

Without a warning, Emily slammed the door shut!

"Ah!" screamed Jack. Although, the pain wasn't bad enough, he cried out loud just to escalate the situation. In doing so, he assumed he could somehow evoke Emily's compassion.

Such a pity, that didn't work either!

"Zoe, get him out of here right now," commanded Emily.

As soon as Emily's orders registered in her head, the babysitter pushed Jack away without hesitation. "Sir, you'd better leave now," Zoe suggested.

Then she whispered, "Otherwise, Miss Lu will resent you more." Jack froze for a second and drew his hand back. Emily closed the door on him without hesitation. "Bang!"

Jack will stop bothering me from now on. I'll move out of here

her to resent him any more than she already did. Jack stood in front of the door and frowned

"I thought you would be of great help to me,

the door, in despair, he sighed and thought of his next plan.

getting more and more irritated with

do?' Jack wondered.

I continue to help her with her career? Nah, it's too obvious. It could easily backfire. Should I try to impress Beryl? I'm afraid that the little girl hates me as much as her mother does, '

so hard to believe him? Jack had developed a skull-splitting headache trying

his arm, his eyes suddenly lit up. Jack

completely exaggerated. He groaned painfully as he patted the door, and screamed, "It's

house answered

continued his dramatic performance. "Please! Open the door, or I will die in front of your house..." he

living room, Emily was busy processing long beans, completely unaware

her slippers, carrying a chair with both hands. She slowly placed the chair behind

dangerous!" exclaimed Emily. Her eyes were filled with disapproval and concern.

looked through the door's peephole on her toes. Beryl cried out, "Oh, mommy! That

asked, "Is that the new word your teacher

learned how to use it,"

good!" said Emily, with a proud look on

daughter talking, Jack silently swallowed his bitterness. Poor guy! No one cared about his injured

the more he felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, Jack's stomach lurched and

thought on his mind was whether Emily would be more angry

his dignity was growing wider

on what was going on. "Oh my God! Mommy, that

so she ignored

herself, "His face looks so white. He looks like

Emily asserted, "Beryl, you'd better get down from that chair before

need to take a look. The

in Jack's tricks, so she lifted Beryl