Falling for My Ex Next Door: A Best Friend's Brother Second Chance Romance

Chapter Ten

As soon as morning came, I received a call from my mom. She was quite upset and claimed I had abandoned and forgotten about her.

“That’s not it, Mom, I’ve just been too busy with work lately.” I tried to convince her.

“You should have called to let me know that. You are so far away, yet you do not try to stay in touch with your family.” She wouldn’t buy my excuse.

“I’m sorry-”

“You being sorry alone won’t do. I want you to come home one of these days. We can spend some time with both your father and Daisy.” She cut me off.

“I’ll see whether I can reschedule-”

“It’s not a request, Jacob Bradley. It’s an order.” Her voice was sharp.

Oh boy!

“Yes, Mom. I’ll let you know when I’ll be coming.” I tried to assure her.

“Good.” She said, firmly.

I sighed. Situations like this were inevitable when you had a karate guru as your mother.

“How are you doing, by the way?” I asked.

“I’m alive, that’s what matters.” She answered curtly. It was clear she was still angry with me. My mom could be very sweet, but she wouldn’t pardon you easily if you made her upset.

“I know you are still angry with me, Mom. I’m sorry.”

“You know, sometimes, I think your father made a mistake sending you to that place.” She began. “Now, you’ve drifted further apart from your family and...” She suddenly paused.

“What’s it, Mom?”

“You are still single.”

Voilà!

“You are in your thirties.”

“Early thirties.”

“Makes no difference still. You should be a married man at this age, with two or three children.” She said, arrogantly. “Do you not have any woman you are seeing?” She asked.

“No, Mom.”

“I wonder why,” She said with a childish inclination, still sounding very conventional.

“Really! Mom.”

“I would have arranged a match for you with a woman if only we weren’t in the twenty-first century.” I knew she was being honest.

“Thank goodness, we are not in the Victorian era,” I said, jokingly.

She chuckled.

“But seriously, you must get married soon. Do you know a man’s life expectancy these days?”

“Mom.”

“We’ll continue with our discussion when you come home. For now, you are permitted to work as much as you want.” She cut me off.

She sounded as if she intended to hold me prisoner when I came home. She had done it in the past and could do it again.

“Ah, will you be in attendance at the Annual Shareholders’ meeting tomorrow?” I asked at the recollection of it.

“No, I’ll have Daisy represent me,” she responded.

“Great.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll talk to you later.”

“I’ll be expecting your call.” She said.

The call ended, and I prepared to leave for work, but my legs had a mind of their own. They propelled me toward Clara’s house, my heart longing to see her. I couldn’t shake the regret from the previous evening, the nagging thought that we could have done something to change everything.

I wanted her back in my life. It was clear I couldn’t let her go without apologizing for my behavior.

Ringing the doorbell, I waited, but she never came. I rang again and again, but still no response. I could hear the TV murmuring inside. She wouldn’t leave it on and go to work. She had to be there, but she wasn’t answering.

A sinking feeling gripped me. I called her name, and pounded on the door, and still nothing. Desperation drove me to check the back door. It was unlocked.

Inside, the house was eerily quiet and spotless. Where could she be? Was she avoiding me? Embarrassed to face me?

“Clara!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty rooms. No sign of her in the living room or the hallway. Then it hit me—the kitchen!

I sprinted across the house and skidded to a halt at the kitchen door. There she was, sprawled on the floor, unconscious next to the counter.

“Clara! Wake up!” I gathered her cold, lifeless form into my arms, tapping her face frantically, but she didn’t stir. Panic surged, and a nightmare came to life.

I fumbled for my phone, hands shaking, and dialed 911.

As the operator’s voice crackled through the line, I couldn’t shake the dread gnawing at my gut. What had happened to Clara, and would I be too late?