Chapter 3 Expel

• Odessa watched in fury as Clyde walked out of the Dove Residence. "Get your ass back here!"
• She yelled. "Only I get to decide on a divorce, you good-for-nothing! You got three seconds to turn around and beg for forgiveness, or I swear I'm cutting off that girl's chemo right now!"
• For three years, Odessa had bossed Clyde around as he was her dog. She thought he deserved to be chewed out, put in his place, and walked all over whenever she felt like it. Even if they divorced, it had to be on her terms, with her kicking him out of the Dove family.
• The audacity of Clyde bringing up divorce first made Odessa's blood boil.
• If people found out she got dumped by this loser, how could she ever show her face again? The nerve!
• Oblivious to Odessa's relentless barrage of screams and insults, Clyde stormed out, never looking back.
• Fury contorted Odessa's face as she snatched her phone and dialed a number. "Cut off Clary Valor's treatment!" she shrieked. "Get her out of the hospital this instant!"
• Meanwhile, Clyde stumbled out of the Dove Residence, feeling like a lost soul. Disoriented and numb, he was in a daze. The sudden ring of his phone jolted him back to reality.
• "Clyde!" It was his mother, Bertha. Her voice crackled with urgency over the phone. "Get to the hospital right away!"
• The urgency in his mother's voice sent a jolt of fear through Clyde. Ignoring the searing pain in his chest, he sprinted towards the hospital.
• Life hadn't been kind to the Valor family. When Clyde was a young boy, his father vanished without a trace, leaving his mother to raise both Clyde and his sister, Clary, single-handedly.
• Unfortunately, Clary had been a frail child, plagued by illness since she was young. And ten years ago, she was diagnosed with leukemia.
• The exorbitant cost of chemotherapy forced their mother to sell most of their belongings to make ends meet. The struggle took its toll. Three years back, the Valor family's financial situation hit rock bottom.
• Clary was on the verge of being discharged from the hospital with no further treatment options. It was at this time that Leopold, a seemingly unrelated individual, unexpectedly entered their lives.
• Leopold not only provided financial assistance for Clary's medical bills but also went above and beyond to secure the best doctors available. Despite the disapproval of his own family, Leopold arranged for his granddaughter Odessa to marry Clyde.
• Confused but grateful, Clyde tried to pry into Leopold's motives. But the old man remained hesitant to offer a full explanation.
• Still, there was no doubt that Leopold had saved their family when they needed it most.
• Now, with Clary finally on the path to recovery, Clyde yearned to learn more from Leopold about the mystery surrounding his newfound grandfather.
• Unfortunately, Leopold developed dementia shortly after, going back and forth between being clearheaded and totally confused.
• From then on, the Dove family started blaming Clyde for Leopold's dementia, especially Olina and Odessa, and twisted this tragedy into a weapon, directing their resentment towards Clyde and blaming him for Leopold's illness.
• They basically hated Clyde's guts and were determined to get rid of him by any means necessary.
• And today, their relentless campaign of hate bore fruit. Today, Clyde was cast out.
• ...
• When Clyde reached the hospital, he saw his mother, Bertha, in a terrible state. She was kneeling by the entrance, desperately pleading and crying with Clary by her side.
• His face changed like a switch went off. He sprinted towards them, shouting, "Mom! What's happening?!"
• "They… they're kicking Clary out, Clyde!" Bertha cried, her voice filled with despair. "The hospital called and said they're stopping Clary's treatment because they're not giving us money anymore. They want us to take her home… right now!"
• Clyde understood everything in a flash. He couldn't believe Odessa would be so cruel, way worse than he imagined, as to cut off Clary's funds.
• Heartbroken and filled with guilt, Clyde knelt by Bertha and choked out an apology. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I failed Clary."
• Bertha's face crumpled, tears rolling down her cheeks. She knew everything Clyde had been through over the past three years to try and afford Clary's treatment.
• Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a single garnet that pulsed with a fiery red hue, its crimson glow seeming to declare its worth to the world.
• Bertha pressed it into Clyde's hand, weeping," This is all that's left, Clyde,"
• She continued, "This garnet is a family heirloom that's been passed down in our family for generations. Take it, sell it if you have to, and see if we can get enough money to keep Clary in the hospital."
• Clyde nodded solemnly, accepting the garnet. "Mom, you take Clary home. I'll handle this."
• He reassured her, determination burning in his eyes. "We'll get through this."
• With the gem clenched tightly in his fist, Clyde hurried towards the pawnshop.
• Unfortunately, he hadn't even reached the first corner when a searing pain tore through his chest, exactly right where Marvin had kicked him.
• Just then, a mouthful of blood erupted from his lungs, and he crumpled to the ground.
• The blood painted a gruesome scene on the ground. Yet, no one saw, in that very moment, the garnet glowed with a faint otherworldly light as Clyde's blood made contact with it.