Chapter 107



As Jake left Sarah’s hospital room, Edgar hurried to catch up.

“Mr. Reeves, there’s still so much uncertainty here. It’s possible your wife didn’t push Miss Miller down. Why would you agree to those demands? That’s so…”

Edgar trailed off before finishing.

Kallie, seemingly fragile, possessed a stubborn streak that defied her appearance. The knowledge of Jake’s agreement would likely spark yet another intense dispute between them.

Jake shot Edgar a chilling look. “Do you have a better solution?”

At a loss for words, Edgar fell silent.

The situation was deteriorating daily. Although the Millers weren’t powerful enough to pose a real threat to Jake, their relentless agitation was becoming problematic.

Without solid proof of Kallie’s innocence, allowing the Miller family’s resentment to simmer could lead to unpredictable outcomes.

Reaching the end of the hallway, Jake stopped to light a cigarette. The tip glowed as he took a drag, his expression growing even more distant and frosty.

“If there were other ways to solve it, Kallie shot them down. She’s hell-bent on defending Ethan. She’s chosen her path,” Jake muttered, more to himself than to Edgar.

Edgar opened his mouth to respond but reconsidered, casting a final glance at Jake’s retreating figure before falling silent.

In her ward, Kallie woke up suddenly in the dead of night.

Ethan remained at her bedside, vigilant even in sleep. At the slightest movement from Kallie, he was wide awake.

“How are you feeling?” Ethan asked, his voice laced with concern. He noticed Kallie’s discomfort and reached out to help her sit up.

Kallie gave a slight shake of her head, gently avoiding Ethan’s hand.

Kallie gestured that she was much better, despite feeling a bit exhausted. She added that she was grateful for his timely help and intervention but was reluctant to drag him into the mess. Then, she urged him to go home since it was too late, reassuring him that she could manage on her own.

Ethan responded with a firm shake of his head, his voice serious. “Leaving you here alone isn’t an option. The Miller family is still around. What if they come back to harass you after I’m gone?”

Kallie shook her head in response, signing that she would manage to protect herself.

Kallie’s anxiety grew as she saw Ethan’s hesitation. She almost wanted to get out of bed to usher him out.

Ethan noticed her resistance and felt a twinge of sadness but didn’t push further. “I know you hate to cause trouble for others, but you need to understand, you’re never a burden to me. I’m here for you, no matter what,” he said earnestly.

Kallie’s gaze flickered momentarily before she averted her eyes, avoiding Ethan’s.

She heard the scrape of a chair and then the fading footsteps of Ethan.

When the door finally shut, Kallie breathed a deep sigh of relief. She felt sorry for Ethan, yet she had no other option. She was aware of Ethan’s feelings toward her and valued his kindness.

However, she just couldn’t reciprocate his feelings. His affection turned into pressure for her. She knew she couldn’t give him what he desired. The least she could do was to spare him further pain.

Kallie drifted back to sleep, only to be roused by the sensation of a nurse entering to adjust her medication.

She quickly became alert and attempted to sit up, hindered by the IV in her arm. Struggling to type with one hand on her phone, she made several errors. Nonetheless, she managed to ask about the state of her unborn child.

The nurse, ever patient and empathetic, waited while Kallie fumbled to express herself. Realizing Kallie’s concerns, she comforted her, “Don’t worry. Your baby is alright. You simply need to rest because you are quite weak right now. Your doctor would like to speak with you once you feel better. Head over to his office whenever you’re up to it.”

Relieved to hear that her baby was unharmed, Kallie experienced a rush of relief wash over her. Yet, the nurse’s last remark reignited her anxiety. She nodded meekly and cradled her belly, caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

After her final IV drip was administered, Kallie managed to eat a little to gather some strength.

Once she felt somewhat stronger, she followed the nurse’s instructions to find the doctor.

The doctor motioned toward a chair across from him. “Miss Cooper, right? Take a seat.”

With nerves fluttering, Kallie sat and immediately voiced her concern through her phone, “Is my baby in any danger?”

The doctor exhaled deeply. “It seems you can sense that something is off.”

Kallie’s anxiety spiked, and she nearly let her phone slip from her grasp as she typed hastily, “What’s wrong with my baby? Please, be straightforward with me!”

The doctor took out her medical report and explained, “Basically, your physical weakness, coupled with your stress and emotional turmoil, is impacting your baby. The likelihood of your baby being born healthy is low, and even if the baby does survive, there might be significant weakness. You’ve experienced a miscarriage previously, haven’t you?”

Kallie was taken aback by the sudden question. She merely nodded.

The doctor’s face quickly grew serious. “It appears your uterine wall is unusually thin. Additionally, you should be aware that terminating this pregnancy may prevent you from conceiving in the future given your current condition.”

Kallie’s hands clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms. A wave of heartache and helplessness washed over her.

Noticing Kallie’s pale and frail demeanor, the doctor softened his voice. “I suggest you have a detailed discussion with your family. This decision impacts your body significantly, and it should not be taken lightly.”

Kallie shook her head, hiding the bitterness in her gaze. Her phone articulated her response with the text-to-speech function, “I don’t have any family.”

The doctor was stunned. “What about your husband?”

Kallie bit her lip, too weary to engage with more questions.

The doctor seemed to grasp the gravity of Kallie’s situation and cleared his throat. “You need to think this through carefully. For the time being, my recommendation is that you stay in the hospital for treatment and come in for regular check-ups. If you don’t have other options, I will arrange for you to be admitted right away. What do you think?”

Kallie shook her head again, her eyes wide with a hint of panic. Her response was firm on her phone. “No, I can’t stay in the hospital.”

The Miller family, along with Jake, were at the hospital. Kallie couldn’t bear lingering around any longer.

Noticing Kallie’s resolved demeanor, the doctor didn’t push her. Instead, he handed her a prescription and directed her to the pharmacy downstairs.

With a heart weighed down by sadness, Kallie approached the payment desk, prescription in hand. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a familiar figure.

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and as Kallie looked up, she saw Jake heading her way.

Her heart surged to her throat, her grip on the prescription tightening.

It seemed Jake hadn’t seen her yet.

The hospital bustled with people through the corridors. Amid the crowd, Jake’s tall frame was unmistakable.

As Jake drew near, Kallie clenched her teeth and made her way to the nearby emergency exit. She hurried down the stairs to avoid being spotted by him.

Unbeknownst to her, Jake caught the whole scene. His lips formed a tight line, and with a scoff, he remarked, “Look at that, avoiding me as if I’m a virus.”

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