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!"

voice passed through the door, "I hope Mr. Jack will stop bothering me from now on. I'll move out of

at the door. After a short while, he stopped knocking as he didn't want her to resent him any more than she already did. Jack

the puppy, "I thought you would be of great help

sighed and thought

good that Emily was getting more and more irritated with

should I do?' Jack wondered.

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,

to believe him? Jack had developed a

eyes suddenly lit up.

was completely exaggerated. He groaned painfully as he patted the door, and screamed, "It's hurt so much. Could you help me, at least let me in to have a

in the house answered his desperate

of audience, Jack continued his dramatic performance. "Please! Open the door, or I will die

unaware of Jack's whining, and the babysitter was cooking in the kitchen.

looked at her mother and then looked towards the door. She tumbled over in her slippers, carrying a chair with both hands. She slowly placed the chair behind the door and

Emily. Her eyes were filled with

Beryl gave her a smile to comfort her mom. And then she looked through the door's peephole on her toes.

the new word your teacher taught

And I have already learned how to use it,"

with a proud look on

vaguely heard Emily and her daughter talking, Jack silently swallowed his bitterness. Poor guy!

thought about it, the more he felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, Jack's stomach lurched and gurgled.

as he heaved, he threw up. However, the first thought on his mind was whether Emily would be more angry if she found out that he had

dignity was growing

Beryl watched the whole thing through the peephole, she gave her mother live updates on what was going on. "Oh my God! Mommy, that uncle out there seems to be

a trick Jack was playing, so she ignored Beryl's concern and

so white. He looks like

Emily asserted, "Beryl, you'd better

think you need to take a look. The uncle looks

over towards the door. Emily was not interested in Jack's tricks, so she lifted Beryl in her arms and