BRYSON’S HOME
The phone kept buzzing loudly to Chantelle’s frustration. She groaned out of her sleep. Whoever the caller is, they are persistent in wanting her to respond. She only wanted to sleep well, but that already felt like a far-fetched dream. Mumbling something unclear to herself, she reached for the phone and, without looking at the screen to affirm who it might be, she answered the call.
“Hello.” Her voice was coarse.
“You sneaky witch. You had to make me use someone else’s line to contact you.” Her stepbrother’s unfriendly tone came alive on the other end.
Chantelle jolted up immediately, and the sleep she thought wouldn’t fade away cleared instantly. “B..bernard?”
He cackled dryly, “I see you lost your voice. Who else do you think it is?”
She stayed quiet momentarily, try
