Chapter 12



Jake tossed Kallie onto the expansive bed in their bedroom. Kallie placed her hands against his chest, attempting to push him away, though her actions were weak and appeared more like a hesitant acceptance than genuine resistance.

“Be a good girl,” Jake murmured, his voice low and enticing as he leaned closer, his breath warm against Kallie’s ear.

Kallie relaxed slightly, but as Jake moved to kiss her, she turned her head aside, rejecting his advance. A single tear escaped, trailing down her cheek. Kallie’s face was pale, her lips quivered as if she were undergoing a hardship rather than sharing a tender moment.

Disinterested, Jake stood, towering over her. “You don’t want me to touch you?” he questioned, his voice a mix of confusion and frustration.

Kallie clarified that she was simply feeling unwell, her gaze fixed on the floor, avoiding his eyes.

“Feeling unwell because of quitting your job? Feeling unwell yet still went to dinner with Linsey?” Jake pressed her, his tone growing harsh as he sought answers.

Kallie felt at a loss for words. Ever since she had brought up the idea of a divorce, Jake had become unusually attentive, though not in the way she desired.

Receiving no response, Jake abruptly left the room.

Kallie assumed he had gone for good and curled up under the blanket, seeking comfort. Yet, the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs jolted her.

To her surprise, Jake returned, her handbag in his grasp.

Kallie abruptly sat up, barely minding the darkness that edged into her vision as she reached for her handbag.

“Do you want this?” Jake asked, tossing the handbag aside and holding up Kallie’s hospital records.

“You were at the hospital this morning? Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded, reading the records.

Kallie retreated two steps and then raised her hand to gesture her wish not to bother him.

“You’re my wife. You got sick, and you think telling me would bother me?” Jake moved closer, backing Kallie against the wall.

Recalling Linsey’s phone call, Jake’s face darkened even more as he connected the dots, realizing Linsey might have called to tell him about Kallie’s sickness.

Explore fresh tales at g aln ov el s ; com Her eyes welling with tears, Kallie hurried to explain she was indeed sent to the hospital, only to recover not long after. Her decision against telling Jake was because she deemed it a minor incident.

Jake’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “From now on, let me know if anything’s wrong, okay?”

Kallie nodded emphatically.

Just as Jake seemed ready to respond, his phone interrupted him.

“Honey, aren’t you at the office? We planned to have lunch together.” Sarah’s voice came from the phone.

Kallie was eager to leave, yet Jake’s proximity made that impossible. She bowed her head, feigning ignorance of the phone conversation.

“I have a meeting with some clients outside. I’ll return later,” Jake announced slowly, his gaze lingering on Kallie’s quivering lashes before he departed.

Startled, Kallie lifted her head just as Jake exited, puzzled by his lie to Sarah. Could it be for her sake?

By the time Kallie descended the stairs once more, Jake had already vanished.

“Madam, will you be preparing dinner yourself this evening?” the butler inquired, offering Kallie a glass of water as he noticed her descent.

Kallie used to make dinner herself, but with Jake’s frequent absences, she had ceased doing so.

However, today was different. Jake’s unexpected return ignited a spark of excitement in Kallie’s eyes.

Kallie nodded, smiling at the butler.

Kallie meticulously selected and handled the ingredients procured by the staff. After washing, chopping, seasoning, and marinating the ingredients, she even orchestrated the cooking times to ensure all dishes would be ready simultaneously, preventing any from cooling.

A gentle smile graced Kallie’s lips as she cooked. Before her marriage, she had dreamed of these moments, of lovingly preparing meals for Jake. However, reality had tempered her expectations over time.

Just as dinner was nearly complete, Kallie’s phone chimed with a new message from Jake. “I’ll be working late tonight. Bring dinner to my office.”

Jake wanted her to deliver it to the office? Kallie had never set foot in the Reeves Group headquarters and, in fact, had always been kept away as if she were somehow unfit to be seen there.

With the food freshly prepared, Kallie packed it into a thermal container. She hadn’t even managed to taste it herself before she hailed a cab and rushed to Jake’s office.

Though the day was almost done, the headquarters of the Reeves Group were still ablaze with light, bustling with employees far from ready to call it a day.

As soon as Kallie stepped into the building, she was halted. “Hello, do you have an appointment?” the receptionist inquired.

Kallie quickly typed out a response on her phone. “I’m here to see Mr. Reeves.”

“What for? Do you have an appointment?” The receptionist’s demeanor shifted as she took in Kallie’s appearance. Initially, she had treated Kallie like any other visitor, but now her expression twisted as if she were staring at a ridiculous lunatic.

“Mr. Reeves asked me to bring him dinner,” Kallie typed once more, hoping to clarify.

The receptionist couldn’t help but laugh.

“Miss, do you realize how many people come here daily concocting all kinds of stories to meet Mr. Reeves? If you’re really here to deliver food, you might as well pose as a delivery worker. Why the charade of being mute? Are you a man? Are you scared you’ll give yourself away the moment you speak?”

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