Chapter 7
In the car, Jolene kept dialing Kathleen’s number. Looking anxiously at David, she said, “It’s still turned off. Kathleen never goes
this long without answering her phone.”
“Don’t panic yet. Let me call Bowen,” David said while driving.
The phone rang for a long time before someone picked up.
“David?” Bowen’s voice sounded strange–low and exhausted.
“Bowen, is Kathleen with you?” David asked urgently. “Her phone is off, and we can’t find her. Mr. Foreman said she transferred
all her assets to Yve. We’re worried she might…”
There was silence on the other end for several seconds. Finally, Bowen asked, “David, Jolene, w–where are you right now?”
Jolene grabbed the phone. “We’re on our way to your house. Bowen, is Kathleen there? Is she okay?”
“You should come quickly.” Bowen’s voice dropped even lower.
Jolene’s heart was pounding. “What’s going on? Did something happen to Kathleen? Say something!”
“Jolene, y–you’ll understand when you get here. Drive safely.”
The phone went dead.
Jolene looked over at David, and both their faces had gone pale.
“Drive faster!” Jolene shouted. “Something’s definitely happened! My baby girl-”
About 20 minutes later, they pulled up in front of the Liddells‘ residence. The front gate was wide open, and a black van sat in the driveway–a vehicle from the funeral home.
“No…” Jolene’s knees buckled. “No, this can’t be happening!”
They stumbled into the house. In the living room, Yvonne sat on the couch, her eyes red and puffy. Bowen stood by the window
with his back to them.
“Where’s Kathleen?” Jolene asked, her voice shaking. “Where is she?”
Bowen slowly turned around, his eyes bloodshot. “David… Jolene…”
“Where is she?” David braced himself against the doorframe. “Just tell us where she is!”
“Upstairs,” Annie said, coming down the staircase with grief in her expression. “Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan… I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“For our loss?” Jolene shrieked. “What are you talking about? What do you mean by that?”
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Chapter 7
She bolted up the stairs like a woman possessed, with David following behind her.
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The bedroom door was ajar. Kathleen lay peacefully on the bed, wearing a simple dress with her hands folded across her chest. Her face was pale as paper, but her expression was serene, with even a faint smile on her lips.
“No!” Jolene threw herself beside the bed, holding her daughter’s cold body. “Kathleen! My baby! Please wake up! I’m here!”
“Kathleen…” David’s tears poured out as he reached with trembling hands to touch Kathleen’s face. “How could this have happened… You were fine last night…”
“I was wrong… I shouldn’t have said those things…” He choked up. “Please wake up? I will never play favorites again!”
Yet, only silence answered them.
“W–What happened?” Jolene looked up, revealing her tear–streaked face. “How could she suddenly…”
Annie stood in the doorway, her voice breaking as she said, “Mrs. Liddell had late–stage cancer. She passed away this morning at 6 a.m.”
David muttered in disbelief, “Cancer? How is that possible? She never said anything…”
“Three days ago, the doctor said if she didn’t receive treatment, she only had 72 hours to live.”
The air froze.
“But that treatment slot…” David’s face turned ashen.
“Was given to Ms. Lawson,” Annie said, finishing his sentence.
All eyes turned to Yvonne, whose face instantly lost all color. She frantically defended herself, saying, “No, it’s not like that! I really was sick! My kidney-”
“These are Mrs. Liddell’s final letters,” Annie said, interrupting her and distributing the letters to each person.
The room was filled only with the sound of rustling paper and muffled sobs.
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