Chapter 2: A Mother’s ICU, A Liar’s Threats

I could see Mr. Allen’s words were about to set her off again, so I quickly hung up, my nerves fraying.

My hands shook. I honestly couldn’t believe I’d even thought about delivering her phone out of kindness. What was I thinking?

As I hung up, I muttered, "I’ll leave your phone at the police station near the county hospital. If you want it, pick it up yourself. I’m not your errand boy!"

What a nightmare.

But then, not long after, my phone buzzed again—this time it was customer service.

My stomach dropped. They told me someone had reported me for stealing a passenger’s phone.

And then they said she claimed I was blackmailing her, demanding two thousand dollars to get her phone back. My heart sank.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. I quickly explained the whole story to customer service.

Thank God Mr. Allen was still there and could back me up.

After dropping Mr. Allen at the ER, I was about to head to the police station.

I’d barely pulled out of the hospital lot when Sydney’s phone started ringing.

At first, I hesitated, not wanting to get dragged into any more of her drama.

She was trouble. If I answered, she’d probably accuse me of something else. I clenched my teeth, debating.

But the calls just kept coming, one after another. I groaned.

My heart skipped when I saw the caller ID: "Dad."

Worried something serious was going on, I picked up, bracing myself.

"Listen, why did you only answer now? Hurry to the county hospital—your mother was in a car accident and she’s still in the ICU!"

He sounded frantic. Hung up before I could say a word.

I tried calling back over and over, but no one picked up. Each ring made my stomach twist tighter.

Worried, I called Sydney’s number, hoping she’d answer.

"You shameless jerk, just you wait! I swear, if you leave my phone at the station, I’ll make sure you regret it!"

Her voice was all threats, rising higher with every word. "There’s not a single person in this city I don’t know. If I want to ruin you, a nobody like you, I can do it in minutes!" Her arrogance practically oozed through the phone.

I took a deep breath and explained, forcing myself to stay calm.

"Your mom is in critical condition. Please, show some respect and get to the county hospital!"

She blew up again, her anger boiling over.

"Oh, so now my mom’s dying? You bastard, using a lie like that just to trick me into running to the hospital? What are you, five?"

"Whether my mom’s dead or alive is none of your damn business! Even if she really died, that’s my problem. Why are you butting in? Seriously!"

"But let me tell you—you’re finished! Got it?"

Just as I parked in front of the police station, a woman with wild eyes and smeared makeup barreled toward me.

Her hair was a mess, lipstick smudged, and she looked like she’d sprinted all the way from wherever she’d been. She gasped for breath, then shouted, "Officer, it’s him! He’s a thief—arrest him!"

She grabbed my collar, screaming at the top of her lungs. I jerked back, startled.

That’s when I realized—this lunatic was Sydney Ramirez, the woman who’d lost her phone.

I never would’ve guessed that the same person who refused to come get her phone and kept demanding I deliver it would actually show up at the police station faster than me. Unbelievable.

She didn’t even give me a chance to speak. I tried to open my mouth, but she steamrolled right over me.