Chapter 1053



“What are you doing?” Jake remained silent, offering no response. For a moment, Kallie wondered if he was sleepwalking, moving without awareness.

She hesitated before lifting her hand, intending to stop him. Before she could, his hand caught hers. The warmth of his touch enveloped her wrist, firm yet gentle.

Her eyes widened in surprise as he guided her hand back to the bed. Then, leaning closer, he shortened the gap between them. In the darkness, all Kallie could hear was the pounding of her heart, echoing loudly in the quiet. Her eyelashes flickered before she shut her eyes, unsure of what was coming next.

But it wasn’t what she expected. Instead, she felt the weight of a blanket settle over her.

Jake’s voice broke the silence, calm and measured.

“It’s getting colder at night. Don’t catch a chill. If you do, Elma will stay close to you as always. With her health being so fragile, catching a cold would only make it worse.”

Though Jake’s words were spoken for Elma’s benefit, the concern in his tone was unmistakable, and it reached Kallie deeply. Her cheeks grew warm. Quietly, she murmured her thanks, her voice soft and barely audible.

Jake let his eyes close, the gentle patter of rain outside easing him toward sleep.

Since Jake’s return to Burmoos, it had been ages since he slept soundly. The moment his head hit the pillow, his mind stirred with a rush of thoughts. Past events flooded his mind, tinged with disheartened, joyful, and annoying memories. As time stretched on, his drowsiness always gave way to the chaos in his mind, leaving him wide awake and restless throughout the night. Most nights, he would abandon the bed entirely, heading off to focus on work instead.

galnovels .com hosts great stories Leo had noticed this routine and had grown increasingly concerned about Jake. He knew illness would eventually catch up to him if this continued.

At Leo’s insistence, Jake had started using melatonin. It helped, but only a little. Jake’s sleep remained shallow and fragile. The faintest sound could pull him out of it.

Leo had even suggested therapy, but Jake declined. It wasn’t that he was against seeking help. He just couldn’t bear the idea of showing his vulnerability. Opening up to anyone, especially strangers, felt impossible to him.

Understanding Jake’s refusal of therapy, Leo hadn’t given up on finding a solution for Jake’s struggles.

Tonight, for the first time in a long while, Jake felt sleepiness settle over him naturally. He found himself treasuring the moment. Being here with his family felt rare and precious, a fleeting comfort he hadn’t known since Roderick’s passing.

In the past, Jake had spent many nights beside Kallie. But back then, her tension around him was undeniable. She always seemed wary and on edge. Deep down, he knew the fault was his. Despite everything that had transpired, he couldn’t bring himself to hate Kallie. He often wondered if things could have been different if he had treated her better. But the past was unchangeable, and now, he understood her choice. It was his mistake to bear, and he couldn’t deny that.

Jake had long stopped expecting anything from life and had resigned himself to the prospect of solitude forever, never intending to demand his children’s company. His children were free to choose whether they wanted to spend time with him or Kallie. After all, he had a less-than-merry past. Why should his children follow the same path?

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