The Battery Rule That Only Applied To Me Chapter 06

After Dad’s surgery, Owen came to the hospital. 

He didn’t arrive empty–handed. He brought 

supplies for Dad’s recovery, the hospital bills, and 

a neatly organized file documenting my family’s 

contributions toward the house. 

Mom watched him moving from one task to the 

next, her eyes filling with tears. 

“Owen, you two only just got married. You 

shouldn’t have to handle all this.” 

He placed the paperwork neatly into a folder. 

“Mom, anything that matters to Winnie matters to 

me.” 

Standing beside him, I curled my fingers into my 

palm. 

Mom. He’d started calling her that so easily. 

When Dad woke up, Owen leaned toward the bed. 

“Dad, I’m Owen Sinclair. I’ll take good care of 

Winnie from now on.” 

Dad studied him for a long time before nodding faintly. Mom turned away to wipe her eyes. 

My chest tightened. 

I’d been with Caleb for seven years, and he’d never once stood in front of my parents like this. 

That afternoon, Caleb showed up at the hospital. 

When he appeared in the doorway, Owen was pouring water for Dad. Mom sat nearby, asking him quietly whether he was tired. 

Caleb stopped short. Then he marched into the 

room and glared at me. 

“Winona, what the hell is this supposed to mean?” 

The room fell silent. My mother’s expression 

turned icy when she saw him. 

“What are you doing here?” 

Caleb ignored her. His eyes stayed fixed on me. 

“You married him just to get back at me?” 

Owen set the cup on Dad’s bedside table and 

stepped in front of me. 

“She’s my wife now. Show her some respect.” 

Caleb scoffed. 

“Owen Sinclair, I thought we were friends. You 

went behind my back and stole my girlfriend?” 

Owen met his stare. 

“You told everyone at that engagement party that 

you and Winona used to be friends. You don’t get 

to call her your girlfriend now.” 

Caleb’s expression changed. 

Mom grabbed the cup of water from Dad’s bedside table and splashed him with it. 

“Get out.” 

“Where were you when my daughter was slapped and called a homewrecker?” 

“And where were you when her father was being 

taken into surgery and she needed help paying for it?” 

People from the nearby rooms turned to stare. Someone whispered, 

“Isn’t that the guy who got engaged to someone else?” 

“The new son–in–law’s been taking care of everything, and now her ex shows up to cause trouble.” 

“I heard he was getting engaged to another 

woman while her dad was in surgery.” 

Color drained from Caleb’s face. 

At the hotel, I’d been the one everyone surrounded 

and judged. Now it was his turn. 

He looked at me and lowered his voice. 

“Winnie, can we talk?” 

I didn’t move. Owen handed him a folder. 

“We have bank records showing exactly how much Winona’s family contributed to the down 

payment.” 

“You changed the locks without Winona’s consent, 

had Sophie’s name put on the building’s resident 

records, and let her move in.” 

“We’ll be taking legal action.” 

Caleb gripped the folder. 

“Winnie, you’re really going to sue me over 

something this small?” 

I looked at him calmly. 

“My parents gave me that money for the home we 

were supposed to share.” 

“Not so you could move Sophie in.” 

His fingers tightened. 

“I’ll make her move out.” 

“Too late.” 

I held his gaze. 

“The moment you put those keys in her hand, that house stopped being my home.” 

He opened his mouth, then closed it without a word. After leaving the hospital, Caleb didn’t return. to the hotel. He drove to the house we’d planned 

to share. 

The front door wasn’t fully closed. From inside, he heard Mrs. Langford’s smug voice. 

“Winona’s married someone else now.” 

“You need to find a way to get Caleb to put the 

whole house in your name.”