Chapter 881


    The silence on the other end of the phone hung heavy in the air for what felt like an eternity.


    Dorothy was tipsy, her vision blurring as she peered at the screen, half-convinced the call had


    disconnected.


    “Right… we broke up ages ago; he’s noting.” she slurred to herself.


    “Miss, are you drunk-dialing your ex?” The guy noticed her staggering attempt to stand and reached


    out to steady her.


    She shook her head, instinctively recoiling from his touch, “Here, take your phone back! The money


    is yours.”


    “Whoa, you’re giving me all this? I’d feel like a real jerk taking your cash without making sure you


    get home safe,” he said, his voice dropping yfully as he chuckled, “This bar’s full of guys eyeing


    you like a b of prime rib. So, you gonna stroll out with me or take your chances with them?”


    The alcohol clouded her mind, and Dorothy struggled to keep up with his banter.


    But a sliver of sobriety clung on, reminding her that after the drinks, home was the destination.


    Even with her tongue tied in knots, she managed to furrow her brow and say with deliberate rity,


    “To my ce.”


    “Alright! Off to your ce we go.”


    The rest of the night was a blur to Dorothy. She vaguely remembered stumbling out of the bar,


    dodging his attempts to guide her more than once, and then hearing him mutter behind her, “Jeez,


    the call’s still going!”


    When consciousness returned, she found herself on her apartment’s couch! Relieved to see her


    clothes and bag in their proper ces, she breathed easier. It seemed she had managed to get


    herself home, albeit not without some drama.


    ...


    The next day.


    Dorothy turned over, only to roll off the couch and onto the floor with a hiss.


    “Ouch…” Her elbow had collided with the coffee table, and the pain creased her face.


    Inspecting the injury revealed a red mark, but nothing serious.


    Pushing herself up, the hangover was kicking in with a vengeance, so she rifled through her bag for


    some ibuprofen. Not caring if it was a good mix with the residual alcohol, she swallowed a pill with


    water.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    She grabbed her phone and saw missed calls fromwyer Ephraim and Karen, and not much else.


    She returned Ephraim''s call first. It was nothing serious, just a reminder about a court date to note


    that she shouldn’t bete.


    She was washing up in the bathroom when she dialed Karen. While brushing her teeth, she was


    also listening to her friend''s pep talk, “You’re gonna nail this, Dorothy! Keep your chin up!”


    “Mhm.”


    Because she was drunkst night, Dorothy slept for a long time. Although she had a headache


    today, she was still in good spirits.


    Karen rambled on until Dorothy was all set, then she finally said, “I won''t hold you up. Grab some


    breakfast, and I''m waiting for good news!”


    Dorothy was a bit helpless, “It''s not like they’re handing down a verdict today.”


    “But today you finally get to drag those creeps to court! Isn''t that what you''ve been after all these


    years?”


    “That''s true,” Dorothy conceded, her mood dipping as a hazy memory flickered briefly, “Karen…


    how’s Jeffrey?”


    “Huh?” It was rare for Dorothy to bring up Jeffrey, and it threw Karen off, “He’s packing for a


    business trip. Hispany needs him out of town.”


    “Oh.”


    “Is something wrong?”


    Quickly, Dorothy forced augh, “Nothing, just asking! I gotta go.”


    As she hung up, her hand lingered over her chest. It seemed the memory was just a figment of her


    imagination; she hadn''t called Everett after all.