I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra) novel Chapter 40

I looked at him intently. "Aren't you eating, Uncle Julian?"

His bearded face was unreadable. He placed a few shrimp on my plate, then turned his attention to the magnificent king crab. When he looked back at me, his eyes were filled with the warmth of a loving elder. "This is all for you. Your mother told me you love seafood. From now on, Uncle Julian will make up for all the meals I’ve missed sharing with you over the years."

A lump formed in my throat. For someone like me, who felt so unloved, such tenderness was almost too much to bear. "Thank you, Uncle Julian."

I had to make money, and fast. I had to help Uncle Julian afford his surgery. I couldn't let him die young, not like he did in my past life.

After dinner, although I only had the afternoon, I went on a whirlwind of interviews at several companies.

It was dark by the time I got home. Rachel looked worried. "Why are you pushing yourself so hard? If you need money, I can support you for a while. Take your time finding a job."

I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from turning up in a blissful smile. "I can't. I need to earn money quickly, for Uncle Julian's surgery."

The next morning, I took a cab to the courthouse, arriving twenty minutes early. Steven wasn't there yet.

This was it. The divorce. The prison that had held me captive in two lifetimes was finally about to open. I took a deep breath and spotted a bench by the road. I was about to go sit down when my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Is this Ms. Zephyra? Mr. Julian's condition has suddenly worsened. He needs emergency surgery. Please come to the hospital immediately."

My heart seized, and the world spun. "Okay, yes, okay!"

I covered my face with my hands and began to sob.

How could I save him? How could I change his fate when I knew nothing about his condition? A crushing wave of helplessness washed over me, trapping me in a dark, suffocating box.

Suddenly, my phone rang again. I pulled it out. It was Steven.

I walked to the stairwell and answered. His voice, tight with barely suppressed rage, came through the line, chillingly cold. "Zephyra, are you playing games with me?"

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