Myra recognized the sapphire jewelry set; an auction piece from a month ago, rumored to have sold for nearly two million dollars. “Kayla, who were you with? And who gave you this?”
“M-Mom…” Kayla stammered, attempting to change the subject. “Let’s eat first. I’ll explain everything afterward. Look, I brought back all your and Dad’s favorite foods!”
She unpacked the food, its rich aroma filling the room. The selection was luxurious, but Myra’s frown deepened. The containers bore the logo of a five-star hotel. Suspiciously, she asked, “Kayla, are you dating someone?”
“No! It’s nothing like that. I just had dinner with a cousin, and they gave me a gift. That’s all.” Kayla touched the sapphire necklace and smiled.
Myra raised an eyebrow. “Which cousin? Jake’s family is avoiding us. Would they give you such an extravagant gift?”
“It’s not them! It’s from my biological parents’ side…” Kayla confessed. “My aunt found me and wants to take me in.”
Myra froze, finally understanding Kayla’s implication: she wanted to leave, to escape the bankrupt Fuller family's struggles. A flood of emotions washed over Myra; she felt a chilling coldness settle in her heart. Countless thoughts raced through her mind before she sighed. “Fine. Leave if you want to.”
Kayla pouted. “Mom, don’t worry! I’m just staying with my aunt temporarily. I’ll come back. I still have to take care of you and Dad!”
In the past, Myra would have been heartbroken, desperately trying to keep Kayla. But after everything, her feelings had weakened.
Before Myra could respond, she heard a noise at her feet. Dexter, who had been sitting quietly, had crawled to her side unnoticed. Myra was stunned. As she reached to help him up, Dexter’s expression shifted. He began growling, his hostility directed not at Myra, but at Kayla.
“What’s wrong with Dad? Is he having another episode?” Kayla was startled, nearly falling off the couch. For a moment, she thought Dexter had regained his senses, but he couldn’t speak coherently, only baring his teeth like a wild animal.
Myra remembered Felicia’s words: sufficient stimulation might pull Dexter from his nightmare. This stimulation likely related to the cause of his madness. With this in mind, she glanced at Kayla, quickly masking her expression.
Suddenly, Dexter leaped up, sweeping his arm across the table, sending the food crashing to the floor. He roared, swinging at Kayla. Kayla, unprepared, scrambled out of the way and ran toward the door, filled with anger and frustration. What was wrong with him? First, he lost his mind; now, he was acting like a mad dog!
To Kayla, Dexter was a burden. Regardless of the years she’d called him “Dad,” she couldn’t tolerate caring for someone so incapacitated. She deemed him utterly useless.