Chapter 30
55 vouchers
Kayla’s thoughts stirred. “Thank goodness. I made it in time. I really changed what happened last time. I’m no longer the girl
without a mother‘
There was no time to say much to Bailce. Out of the corner of her eye, Kayla noticed the aftermath of the crash–a chaotic mess of twisted metal and broken glass.
The truck had slammed straight into a streetlamp. Kayla had managed to shove Bailee out of harm’s way just in time, preventing the tragedy from repeating itself.
But the woman who’d been standing nearby hadn’t been so lucky. She was hit squarely by the truck, lying unconscious in a pool of blood.
Kayla quickly pulled out her phone and called emergency services.
“Mom, do you know her?” she asked, glancing toward the woman on the ground.
Bailee was still shaken. Her hand pressed against her chest as she tried to calm herself. If Kayla hadn’t shown up in time, that would’ve been her lying there.
Bailee shook her head and replied, “Nope. She just noticed the necklace you had custom–made for me and asked where I got it. Said she wanted to get something similar for her son. We only had a small talk.”
Kayla looked over at the motionless woman, thinking, ‘What a shame. She seemed like a good mother. Her kid’s gonna be heartbroken if she doesn’t make it.’
She gave a small nod. It was better that Bailee didn’t know her. If she did, the trauma might’ve lingered longer.
The ambulance arrived soon. Kayla hesitated for only a second before leading Bailee to a safe spot on the sidewalk. Then she ran back toward the crash site and helped the staff lift the injured woman onto the stretcher.
After all, it was a good mother who cared about her child. Kayla really hoped she’d pull through.
Though Bailee wasn’t seriously hurt, Kayla insisted they go to the hospital for a full checkup. Only after the tests came back clear did she finally feel the knot in her chest begin to loosen.
When they left the hospital, it was already late. They climbed into a taxi, and Bailee, sensing that Kayla was still wound tight, reached over and held her hand gently, trying to ease the tension.
“I told you I’m fine. You worry too much,” Bailee said with a soft smile. “But honestly, if it weren’t for you tonight, I might not be here now. Kay, you really are my lucky star.”
Bailee leaned over and gave Kayla’s cheek a playful pinch, her eyes full of warmth and affection.
Kayla didn’t pull away. She let her mother hold her like that.
Kayla thought, ‘She has no idea that her well–being is the real luck in my life!
By the time they returned home, the sky had gone completely dark.
Bailee hadn’t called ahead–she didn’t want the family to worry. But the moment they got near the house, voices drifted out from the living room.
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7:34 pm
Chapter 30
55 vouchers
“Dad, you seriously need to teach Kayla a lesson. She’s totally out of control. It was Tristian. His tone oozed anger and disdain, like he wasn’t talking about his own sister, but someone he couldn’t stand.
He added, “She doesn’t focus on studying, throws her weight around, bullies her classmates, and stirs up drama. Do you even know what people are saying about our family behind our backs? They say we raised a brat with no manners.”
Jackson’s voice came next, calm and clipped. “She’s your sister. Watch your language.”
“I don’t have a sister like that,” Tristian snapped, his hands clenched into fists as he recalled the humiliation she’d made him feel the day before.
He continued, “Dad, you really need to stop coddling her. See? She’s not home yet. Who knows where she’s been sneaking off to or what shady crap she’s been doing. If she keeps this up, she’s gonna drag the Sexton name through the mud.”
2/2
AD
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