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!"

hope Mr. Jack will stop bothering me from now on. I'll

as he didn't want her

said to the puppy, "I thought you would be of great

despair, he sighed and thought of

that Emily was getting more and more irritated with him.

should I do?' Jack wondered.

it's too obvious. It could easily backfire. Should I try to impress

to believe him? Jack had developed a skull-splitting headache trying to come up

he lowered his head and caught a glimpse of the wound on his arm, his eyes suddenly lit up. Jack

the door, and screamed, "It's hurt so much. Could you help me, at least let me in

nobody in the house

Open the door, or I will

busy processing long beans, completely unaware of Jack's whining, and the babysitter was cooking

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

Emily. Her eyes were

to comfort her mom. And then she looked through the door's peephole on her toes. Beryl cried out, "Oh, mommy!

that the new word your teacher taught you

And I have already learned how to use it,"

that's so good!" said Emily, with a proud look on her face.

vaguely heard Emily and her daughter talking, Jack silently swallowed his bitterness. Poor guy! No one cared

lurched and gurgled. Before long,

soon as he heaved, he threw up. However, the first thought on his mind was whether Emily would be more angry if

his dignity was growing

peephole, she gave her mother live updates on what was going on. "Oh

was just a trick Jack was playing, so she ignored Beryl's concern and continued to process

face looks so white. He looks like a ghost. Mommy, should be really

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

look. The uncle looks like

interested in Jack's tricks, so she lifted Beryl in her arms