Chapter 696


    After wrapping up a grueling meeting, Jeffrey snatched his car keys and hurried downstairs, intent


    on picking up Karen.


    As he neared the vi, his cell phone rang.


    A quick nce, a curse under his breath.


    "Damn it!"


    The woman was like a bad penny.


    He pulled over to the curb and answered the call.


    "What now?"


    "Jeffrey." Paige''s voice was a choked sob, her throat raw, "Our girl, she''s in the hospital, you need


    toe, now."


    Jeffrey''s brow furrowed, "I''m not going."


    "I didn''t tell you before, but she has a congenital heart defect. She could die at any time. Please,


    juste see her. The doctors say it''s serious, they''re afraid she won''t make it through the


    surgery."


    "I said, I''m noting."


    With that, Jeffrey hung up.


    But he didn''t start the car right away. Instead, he grabbed his pack of cigarettes, tapped it, pulled


    one out, and lit it with a flick of his lighter.


    What a day from hell.


    He finished his cigarette, flicking it out the car window.


    Turning the ignition, he continued toward the vi, but then mmed on the brakes, grabbed his


    phone, and called Karen.


    "Hey?"


    Karen''s end was quiet, just the sound of keyboard cking.


    "I, uh, got caught up with an unexpected meeting at work, no clue when it''ll wrap up. Order


    something for yourself; don''t wait up for me."


    "What?" Karen grumbled, "I''ve been waiting for you since morning. I''m starving."


    "Sorry, babe, it''s out of my hands. Everett''s not around, so I have to step up. Just eat something, or


    I can order for you, and have it delivered. How about seafood?"


    "No way. I''m watching my figure. Just something simple will do. You focus on work. I was just


    teasing. I''ll finish up here and pop over to the supermarket. I won''t starve."


    Jeffrey bit his lip, his voice tinged with guilt, "Alright."


    Karen added, "Wait! Any idea when you might be back? If it''ste, I might swing by my cousin''s.


    You know how he''s been stewing. Mom says he''s been holed up in his room, and she told me to


    check on him."


    "Because of us?"


    "Of course not!"


    "Because of Dorothy?"


    "Ugh, he knows he can''tpete with Everett, and he''s just being stubborn."


    "Okay, then go. You can take any car from the garage. Don''t bother with cabs; they''re not safe."


    "Got it."


    With that, Karen ended the call.


    Jeffrey ran his fingers through his hair in frustration before texting Paige.


    [Which hospital?]


    …


    Karen tidied up and headed straight for Keh''s ce.


    Surely he''d have food, and she couldn''t be bothered to shop.


    She parked at the downstairs of Keh''s building and dashed up the stairs.


    Knock after knock, but no answer.


    "Keh, open up. It''s me, Karen."


    With no response, she wondered if Keh had stepped out.


    As she reached for her phone, faint footsteps echoed from within.


    The door swung open, revealing Keh''s ghostly pale face, his lips drained of color.


    "Bro! What''s wrong with you?!"


    Keh tried to brush it off as nothing, then copsed.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Karen quickly dialed 911.