Beyond the Divorce

Chapter 37 An Urgent Call from Home

The call shook me to the core. I hadn’t visited my hometown in two years due to Ava’s age and Matthew’s packed schedule. He wasn’t comfortable with me traveling alone with Ava, which was why I hadn’t been back for so long.

I held the phone, feeling dazed. A wave of guilt washed over me.

Although I was the only daughter, I grew apart from my parents after college. I turned to them only in tough times, but I had neglected them in the past couple of years.

Assuming my parents were healthy, I cared for Matthew’s parents more than my own. However, the word stroke” changed everything.

I felt panic, realizing what a terrible daughter I had been. They raised me, but I had done nothing for them.

My parents had waited for me without complaint. How could I tell them that my marriage was crumbling

and that the family I had devoted myself to was falling apart?

There was no time to dwell. I rushed to Matthew’s office, almost in tears, and blurted out, “Honey, please

book me a flight. I need to go home.”

was in a meeting with a few other managers

to leave and then hugged me. “Calm down and tell

mom called. Dad’s sick, and she’s asking me to

not realize how much I needed a shoulder to

me a comforting pat on the back. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Il make all the arrangements. You go ahead while I handle things at work before heading over. My

him, I felt safe. I wish I could have a refuge

to book a flight

“I’ll take you home now. Bring

longer. Stop crying, all right?”

and pack. I wiped away my tears, grabbed my bag, and left

the forecast predicted a hurricane. My unease Increased as a storm

to the airport. His phone kept

turned to me and said, “I have an appointment to meet

I didn’t want to get in the company’s

“I want to go with you, but I have

of things at work. You should head there first. Take care of yourself, and make sure to rest.”