The Price of Favoritism

Hearing Roland's impatient voice at the other end of the line, Valerie had to fight back the urge to hang up on him.

“What is this about? I'm busy at work,” she responded indifferently.

Roland took a deep breath, and his voice turned grim as he said, “It's already the end of a workday, so come back home now. This is about your mother.”

At the mention of her mother, Valerie felt her heart leap to h