Realizing that something must have happened to her, I panicked. My eyes darted to the drugged wine about to be forced down my throat. From somewhere deep within, I found the strength to lunge forward, headbutting Sophia and knocking her over.
Before I could react, Elijah surged forward and slapped me across the face.
A sharp, deafening ring echoed in my ears. My mind went blank.
"Yvonne, who gave you the right to lay a hand on her?" he roared.
While I was still reeling, he snatched my phone from my pocket and held it high above his head.
"Give it back! Elijah, I’m begging you—please, just give it back!" I pleaded.
"That call... it’s my mom.. "
I stood on tiptoe, reaching for the phone, but it was no use. Elijah dangled it just out of my grasp, a cruel smirk playing on his lips as he toyed with me.
Lately, my mother’s condition had worsened. Nine times out of ten, she was unconscious when I visited.
Even her stool had turned black with blood. The doctor already warned me about the end-stage symptoms.
She was already beyond saving. I was just using money to buy time.
The ringing stopped.