Chapter 3

Brandon's POV

The power finally came back around 2:00 pm. The air conditioner started running again, and Timmy's temperature also finally dropped to 99.5 degrees. He then fell into a deep sleep.

Taylor seemed to have realized that she indeed went overboard that morning, so she spent the entire day mopping up the water on the floor, sweeping away the broken glass, and temporarily sealing up the damaged balcony windows with cardboard.

She even went into the kitchen and made a simple chicken stew before bringing it over to me. Then, she carefully unwrapped the haphazard bandages on my leg that was soaked in dirty water and bandaged it up again properly.

"Does it hurt, honey?" she asked with tears in her eyes. They were filled with guilt and affection for me.

"I'm sorry," she continued. "I really didn't know that the glass on the balcony shattered. I also didn't know that Timmy was down with a high fever. If I had known, I would never have gone to George's.

"I swear that I will only place you and Timmy as the top priority in my heart now. I will distance myself from George from now on. Will you please forgive me again one more time?"

She might have really felt guilty at that moment, but she was still foolish enough to not know whom to prioritize in her life and to stay a respectable distance from George.

Just as I was about to reply, the phone she'd left on the table started ringing.

The caller ID on the screen flashed. It was George.

Taylor froze, her hand holding the antiseptic cream halting midair.

She glanced at me, then at the ringing phone. After hesitating for a few seconds, she answered the call in front of me and put it on loudspeaker to show that she had nothing to hide.

"Tay! Help me, Tay!"

She'd only just answered the call when George's loud shouting could be heard on the other end of the line. Ryan's loud crying was also heard in the background.

"George! What's wrong? Calm down!" Taylor said at once, tensing all over.

"It was so slippery from the flood, and Ryan just slipped and fell and knocked his head against the floor! He's bleeding everywhere and won't stop crying!

"I can't deal with everything by myself! And I can't call an Uber to go out… Tay, what should I do? What should I do?

"If only Tiffany was here… I wouldn't be so clueless about raising a kid because she'd know what to do!"

Taylor shot to her feet at once, her face pale. The antiseptic cream also dropped to the floor.

She looked at Timmy still sleeping in his crib, then at me. The guilt in her eyes gradually disappeared as it was replaced with anxiety and a misplaced sense of responsibility.

"Honey…" she said hesitantly. "Timmy's fever has gone down now, but Ryan's bleeding from his head! I promised Tiffany that I would never let anything happen to her child. I can't just break my promise to her like that!

"I promise that I'll just go over and drop them off at the hospital before coming back immediately to keep you company!"

I watched her rushing off and spoke up, my tone upset. "It's still pouring outside, Taylor. The roads are still flooded, my leg is hurt, and Timmy's fever could spike anytime. Are you sure that you're going to abandon us here again now?"

Taylor stopped in her tracks. She turned to frown at me and said impatiently, "Brandon Hooper! Don't you know what's more important right now? Stop being so unreasonable! Ryan's head is bleeding!"

"Okay," I said with a nod. I pointed at the door and said, "If that's the case, then don't bother coming back once you step out of the door."

Taylor gritted her teeth as anger flashed in her eyes. "I know you're upset, but we'll talk it out after I'm back later. I cannot break my promise to Tiffany!"

With that, she grabbed her car keys and rushed out of the door without looking back.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then, I reached out and touched Timmy's forehead. It was starting to burn up again.

Taylor was still the same as before.

Strike two.