Chapter 117



“Even though you have issues with Miss Miller, what she passed on to you holds value. Is this really how you handle those clothes? Those are my mother’s things. How can I not hold you responsible?” Rachel’s voice carried an undertone of moral coercion.

Everyone in the room grasped Rachel’s predicament. They all knew how deeply Rachel missed her mother, who had passed away. When Rachel finally received news about her mother’s possessions, only to discover they were damaged, the blow was hard to bear. Who could possibly accept that?

Sarah barely contained her amusement, her laughter threatening to spill over. She placed a comforting hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I didn’t foresee my disagreement with Kallie affecting you like this. It’s partly my fault. Had I known, I wouldn’t have gifted her those clothes.”

Rachel dabbed at her tears. “It’s not on you. How could you have anticipated any of this? The blame lies with Kallie. She’s the one at fault here.”

“Rachel,” a male voice cut in sharply.

A middle-aged man approached briskly, followed closely by a young man. Sarah’s and Kallie’s expressions shifted dramatically at the sight of the young man. It was none other than Jake.

Rachel noticed the middle-aged man. She managed a forced smile and murmured, “Dad.”

Phillip Simpson quickened his pace as he noticed the redness around his daughter’s eyes. Rachel was known for her resilience, rarely showing any signs of vulnerability in public, much less crying. Something serious had probably happened.

“Rachel, has someone been giving you trouble?” Phillip asked, his voice cold, his eyes scanning the gathering.

Almost immediately, explanations began to pour in. As each person recounted their version, the blame gradually settled on Kallie, fueled by past resentments. The narrative built up to a consensus: it was all Kallie’s fault.

Phillip turned his stern gaze on Kallie after hearing everything. Without allowing Kallie a chance to defend herself, Phillip declared, “No matter the circumstances, it’s clear that my daughter doesn’t want you here right now. I hope you understand that. Today is her birthday, and she deserves to be happy. Her wishes are the top priority today.”

Kallie’s complexion turned a shade paler as she stood speechless, unable to respond. After all, it was obvious that Phillip considered only Rachel’s feelings.

Kallie saw no reason to linger, yet giving up wasn’t an option for her. She was conscious that leaving today might only intensify the rumors surrounding her.

Although Jake was present, he remained silent throughout, merely standing there, detached, like an onlooker.

Kallie hadn’t expected Jake’s assistance in any case. Still, the sight of Jake’s apathetic expression deepened her sorrow. She would have preferred he hadn’t come at all, rather than see her humiliation like the rest of them.

Confronted with Rachel’s overt disdain, Kallie clenched her teeth and typed out a message: “I apologize for today’s trouble, but I assure you the clothes are unharmed. I’ll sort them out and deliver them first thing when I return. I may leave now, but I need to make it clear that I have never hurt anyone. I did not push Sarah, nor should you mock me over this. I was unaware those clothes belonged to Miss Simpson’s mother, and damaging them was never my intent, even though they were gifted to me by Sarah.” Her words were disregarded by everyone.

Phillip gestured toward the door, “Please.”

With a soft sigh, Kallie didn’t even glance at Jake as she began to walk away. She had only taken a few steps when she heard Jake’s voice from behind. “Let’s take a moment. I have something crucial to ask you, Mr. Simpson.”

Jake pulled an invitation from his pocket. “I found out that this invitation is a fake,” he announced, his frustration evident. “What does this mean? Are you trying to keep me out? If I hadn’t run into you at the entrance, I probably would’ve been turned away.”

Rachel turned toward Jake as he spoke, her expression shifting dramatically at the sight of the invitation in his hand. It was an exact copy of the one Kallie had.

Confusion clouded Rachel’s features. What was happening?

Immediately, Rachel’s eyes darted to Sarah, who stood beside her. Sarah was caught off guard by Jake’s words. She had, in fact, asked Jake earlier whether he planned to attend the party precisely for this reason. Had he confirmed his attendance, she would have made sure to switch out his invitation.

However, Jake had been adamant then about not coming, prompting Sarah to discard the idea. Yet here he was, unexpectedly present.

Sarah’s mind raced as she processed the unfolding events. She hadn’t grasped the gravity of the situation until now, especially since Jake had arrived with Phillip. Their arrival together could have been mere chance, and Jake didn’t really require the invitation. However, she was taken aback when Jake specifically inquired about the invitation.

Sarah was too startled to notice Rachel’s reaction.

The guilt and panic were unmistakable in Sarah’s eyes. Rachel’s expression instantly changed. She had suspected Sarah might be involved but didn’t want to delve too deeply into it. After all, Sarah, as her friend, should know she despised this type of behavior most of all. Moreover, Sarah had been her support during the time her mother passed away. Given the reasons above, Rachel was a bit more forgiving toward Sarah.

Phillip appeared confused, while Jake’s demeanor suggested he wasn’t kidding.

Rachel stepped up to address the issue. “It’s possible someone under my supervision mishandled the situation. Mr. Reeves, please be assured, I will deal with them appropriately.”

Jake then tucked the invitation away. He glanced at Kallie, who hadn’t gone far yet, and raised his voice, “I’ve also learned that my wife had a similar unpleasant experience upon her arrival, even facing mockery. Miss Simpson, since this has all been a misunderstanding, perhaps you owe her an apology?”

Kallie froze, turned around, and stared at Jake with a mix of surprise and confusion. Why was he defending her?

Yet, it quickly made sense to her. She was, after all, representing the Reeves family. If this got out, it wouldn’t sound good.

With a tight-lipped frown, Rachel approached Kallie hesitantly. “I’m sorry for misunderstanding you. Regarding the invitation, I had assumed you had ulterior motives.”

The further Rachel went with her apology, the quieter her voice became, and her face flushed with embarrassment. Upon reflecting, Rachel found it ridiculous to think Kallie had any malicious intent. Kallie was no child. Why would she tamper with an invitation without cause?

The forgery was clumsily done. It was obviously fake at first glance.

Kallie didn’t lose her temper. She resumed her explanation about the clothes with the help of her phone. “Miss Simpson, I truly hope you can trust me again. I’ve preserved your mother’s clothes carefully, but they have been circulated outside for a while, so there might be some wear and tear. Once I’ve mended them, I’ll bring them right to your doorstep. Those are your mother’s belongings, after all. Even if I recreated them, you would notice the difference, wouldn’t you?”

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