I Was The Temporary Guest In The Home I Helped Buy Chapter 03

I Was The Temporary Guest In The Home I Helped Buy Chapter 03

I was about to respond when a server came in carrying a bowl of soup.

Sabrina stood to take it. Her hand slipped, and the entire bowlful of hot soup spilled into my lap.

The heat seared through my skirt and into my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

But Graham’s first instinct was to grab Sabrina’s wrist.

“Did you burn yourself?”

Sabrina’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

“I’m fine. I just startled Nora.”

Graham’s mother frowned at me.

“It was only a little soup. Nora, you were sitting right by the aisle. No wonder you bumped into Sabrina.”

I looked down at my soaked dress.

Hot soup ran down my calf, sticky and nauseating.

Somehow, all I had done was sit there, and I was the one accused of bumping into her.

No one asked if I was hurt.

They only cared about Sabrina’s feelings.

I stood up.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

The moment the private dining room door closed behind me, I heard Sabrina’s tearful voice from inside.

“Graham, is Nora mad at me?”

Graham spoke softly, comforting her.

“No. She isn’t that petty.”

I stood outside the door and let out a quiet laugh.

Apparently, my self-control was what gave them permission to walk all over me.

After cleaning the stains as best I could, I did not return to that suffocating room. I went straight to my car, my knee still aching.

I had just pressed the unlock button when Graham reached around me and opened the driver’s door.

“Nora, Sabrina isn’t feeling well. I’m driving her to the hospital in your car.”

Sabrina stood behind him as he pulled the door wider.

“Sorry, Nora. Graham was planning to have a few drinks tonight, so he didn’t drive. You don’t mind if we borrow your car, do you?”

Before I could answer, Graham slid into the driver’s seat.

I instinctively reached for the passenger door, but Sabrina hurried around me.

“Nora, can I sit in front?”

She clutched her stomach, her face pale.

“My stomach hurts, and I get carsick in the back seat.”

She did not wait for an answer before opening the door and climbing in.

Graham glanced at me.

“Sit in the back. You can drive it home once we get to the hospital.”

“Good thing you were still here. Otherwise, we would’ve had to ask you to bring the keys over.”

He never asked why I had left dinner early.

He was simply relieved that my leaving had made things easier for them.

I opened the rear door and got in.

Once we were on the road, Sabrina pulled several interior-design renderings from her bag and handed them to Graham.

“Mrs. Mercer says the guest room gets great light, so we shouldn’t turn it into a nursery yet.”

“I’ve been picking up freelance video work. Could I use it as a studio for now?”

Graham glanced at the renderings.

“Just work it out with my mom.”

In the back seat, my hands slowly tightened into fists.

I had planned to save that room for my parents. When they came in for the wedding, they could not spend their entire stay at a hotel.

Sabrina turned around as though she had only just remembered I was there.

“Nora, you don’t mind, do you?”

“I’d only use it once in a while. I wouldn’t get in your way.”

I looked at her.

“You don’t get to decide how our house is used.”

The car fell silent.

Graham frowned.

“Nora.”

It was only one word, but the warning in it was unmistakable.

Sabrina lowered her head, her voice small.

“Forget it. I won’t get involved. I wouldn’t want to make myself unwelcome.”

Graham’s expression darkened.

“Do you have to talk to her like that?”

I turned toward the window and said nothing else.

As we approached the hospital, Sabrina suddenly clutched her chest.

“Graham, my stomach feels awful…”

Graham immediately pulled over.

“What’s wrong?”

She leaned back against the seat, breathing rapidly.

After a few seconds, she suddenly turned toward me.

“Could it be the smell of soup on Nora’s dress? It’s making me nauseous…”

I stared at her.

“You’re the one who spilled it on me.”

Graham had already gotten out and opened my door.

“You need to get out.”

Cold night air rushed into the car.

I looked at him.

“This is my car.”

He avoided my eyes.

“Sabrina’s sick. Call a rideshare. I’ll return the car tomorrow.”

I did not move.

Graham’s voice hardened.

“Nora, could you show a little empathy?”

I got out.

The door shut in my face. A moment later, my car sped away.