The Battery Rule That Only Applied To Me Chapter 07

Caleb stood outside the door without going in. Inside, Mrs. Langford kept talking. 

“You’ve already had an engagement party. All the 

relatives know about it.” 

“Keep crying to him. Tell him your reputation’s 

ruined. You think he can just walk away without taking responsibility?” 

Sophie’s reply came quietly. 

“But he knows Winona got married. He’s really shaken up.” 

Her mother snorted. 

“Men are always like that. They only panic once they’ve lost something.” 

“Keep telling him your ex–husband’s harassing your 

and your family’s trying to force you into marriage. He’ll feel sorry for you.” 

Outside the door, Caleb’s hands slowly curled into 

fists. 

The pieces started falling into place. 

At the airport, Sophie had claimed her phone was 

dying. 

Then there was her story about someone messing 

with her front–door lock. 

When Winona’s father was hospitalized, Sophie 

claimed her family was forcing her into a blind 

date. 

Whenever Sophie asked for him, he went. 

Whenever Winona needed him, he found a reason 

to refuse. 

Her mother’s voice sounded again. 

“And don’t turn off those low–battery alerts.” 

“The more scattered Winona looks, the more 

put–together you seem.” 

Sophie laughed. 

“I know, Mom.” 

“The day her dad was in the hospital, I deliberately‘ 

told Caleb my family was pressuring me to marry. 

He didn’t go help Winona, did he?” 

Caleb shoved open the door. A glass hit the floor 

and shattered. 

Sophie’s face went white. 

“Caleb?” 

He stared at her. 

“You’ve been lying to me this whole time?” 

Tears immediately spilled down her cheeks. 

“No! I just love you so much.” 

“I was scared you’d marry Winnie. I only wanted 

you to spend more time with me.” 

His voice was icy. 

“Nobody tampered with your door lock.” 

“And nobody was trying to force you to marry 

someone else.” 

She shook her head through her tears. 

“But every single time, you chose to come to me.” 

Caleb fell silent. He wanted to argue, but not one 

word came out. 

Sophie had lied to him. That much was true. But 

he’d been the one who kept choosing her. 

He remembered the look on Winona’s face after 

Sophie’s mother slapped her at the hotel. He remembered her cracked phone screen, too. 

49%. 

He could have stood beside her then. 

Instead, he’d told everyone she wasn’t herself. He’d 

claimed they used to be friends and had security 

escort her out. 

Back at the hospital, Dad’s condition had 

stabilized a little. I’d spent the night sitting in the 

hallway. When my phone battery began running. 

low, I instinctively reached into my bag for a 

charger. 

There wasn’t one. Owen held out his phone. 

“Use mine.” 

I glanced at the battery indicator. 

9%. 

“Yours is almost dead, too.” 

He plugged a charging cable into the wall. 

“Then we’ll wait together.” 

I watched the little battery icon slowly fill. 

“Owen,” I said quietly, “you don’t have to be this 

good to me.” 

He looked at me. 

“I want to be.” 

“You can take your time getting used to it.” 

I didn’t answer. But my eyes stung. 

That evening, Caleb returned to the hospital. 

His eyes were bloodshot. 

“Winnie, I know the truth now.” 

“Sophie lied to me.” 

I stood outside Dad’s room, my face calm. 

“And?” 

He rushed to explain. 

“I’ll deal with her.” 

“I’ll get the house back, too.” 

“I’ll apologize to your parents.” 

“We can start over, can’t we?” 

Owen came out of the room holding Dad’s 

medication list. The moment Caleb saw him, his face darkened. 

“I’m talking to Winnie. What gives you the right to interfere?” 

Owen’s voice remained level. 

“She doesn’t want to see you.” 

Caleb turned to me. 

“You’re letting him speak for you?” 

“No,” I said calmly. “I’m telling you myself. I don’t want to see you.” 

He started toward me. I took a step back and stood beside Owen. 

From the hospital room came my father’s weak voice. 

“Winnie, let Owen take you home.” 

“Stop wasting your time on people who aren’t 

family.”