Chapter 121



At Rachel’s words, Kallie ceased declining any further.

After bidding farewell to Rachel, Kallie left the Simpson family estate.

Most guests had already departed, but a few lingered, still buzzing about the banquet’s events.

Sarah might manage to silence Kallie, but she couldn’t control the gossip.

Donovan, by this point, had likely convinced the officials at Eastanville University to expel Vernon and vindicate Kallie.

Everything seemed to be settling down.

The cool air cleared Kallie’s thoughts. She pulled out her phone to call a cab, oblivious to the familiar black sedan parked nearby.

Kallie was about to walk past it when a honk halted her.

The sound jolted Kallie, and her heart tightened at the sight of the car model. Could it be Jake?

The driver’s side door swung open, and Ethan emerged.

Disappointment flickered across Kallie’s face, swiftly masked by her composed expression.

Ethan greeted her with a bright, cheerful smile.

Kallie regained her composure and walked over to Ethan to explain the incident at the banquet, telling him that it had all been taken care of.

Ethan nodded. “I know, and I really owe you for stepping in.” In his eyes lingered a trace of sympathy as he regarded Kallie. “It’s been quite the ordeal with Jake recently, hasn’t it?”

Kallie shook her head dismissively. She gestured that apart from Sarah causing issues, it had been manageable. Plus, she had even managed to secure some crucial evidence amid the ordeal. If faced with the same situation, she wouldn’t hesitate to live under the same roof with Jake again.

Ethan moved to open the car door for her. “There’s no need for you to go back to Jake’s place. I’ve arranged a safer, more private location for you. It’s secure, and you won’t have to deal with any similar disruptions.”

Kallie paused by the roadside, making no move to enter the vehicle. She shook her head, gently declining his offer. It was more than just a refusal of his gesture.

Seeing her response, Ethan’s complexion faded slightly, and his voice carried a note of urgency. “Kallie, please, that’s not what I meant. I don’t want you to feel obligated. I’m just trying to look out for you, purely as a friend.”

Despite his assurances, Kallie remained firm in her decision to refuse. She explained that her reluctance to trouble Jake was because they were heading toward a divorce, and it was likely they wouldn’t even stay friends, choosing to avoid each other. She added that friends shouldn’t burden one another like that, or it could hardly be counted as friendship.

A bitter sensation welled up in Ethan’s throat. “Let me at least drive you home. I’m worried about you. After seeing Jake dash off to the hospital where Sarah’s been admitted, I guessed he must have left you stranded.”

Yet, Kallie appeared unfazed. She shook her phone, gesturing that she had already booked her ride.

Just then, a taxi stopped at the curb.

Ethan extended his hand, as if to hold Kallie back, but paused and reluctantly let his arm fall. Linsey had a point. He should have moved on earlier. He was the one stuck in the past, refusing to face forward.

At that moment, Ethan’s phone rang. It was Linsey.

“Hey, where are you right now?” Linsey’s voice was cluttered with background noise. “Can you head back?”

Ethan’s forehead creased slightly. “What’s happening? Is it urgent?”

Linsey sounded uneasy. “Just come back, and you’ll see why. I can’t manage this by myself.”

Ethan had an inkling. “Have they lined up another woman for me, or is it another childhood engagement?”

Linsey’s silence was all the confirmation Ethan needed.

Ethan massaged his temples as a headache began to surge.

Linsey’s voice dropped to a whisper. “If you’re not up for coming back, that’s fine. I’ll make up an excuse for you. I only called because they pressured me to, right in front of everyone.”

Looking upward, Ethan pressed his lips together tightly. The car carrying Kallie had already departed. He exhaled heavily. “Tell them I’ll be back shortly.”

“But…” Linsey’s voice held a note of confusion. “You…”

“Twenty minutes, I’ll be there,” Ethan interrupted firmly and then hung up.

Linsey stared down at her phone, her face reflecting a mix of emotions.

Meanwhile, Kallie headed back to Jake’s place quickly, aware there were still items she needed to collect.

Knowing that Sarah was likely still at the hospital, and with Jake there too, Kallie was confident she wouldn’t encounter either of them. She found herself unexpectedly cheerful.

Upon returning to the place where she had stayed for the past few days, Kallie was greeted by an unsettling sight. The door stood wide open. A wave of dread engulfed her as she crossed the room.

Inside, chaos reigned. Two gift boxes lay ripped open, their contents strewn and shredded across the floor.

The image of Sarah’s earlier, smug smile flashed in Kallie’s mind.

Kallie had suspected Sarah might meddle with the clothes during their trip to the Simpson residence, but she hadn’t realized Sarah had orchestrated her sabotage well in advance.

Yet, that raised a troubling question: how had Sarah managed this? Kallie was certain she had locked the room before leaving.

The only plausible explanation was that Sarah had somehow acquired a key to her room.

Shaking, Kallie tried to steady her nerves and dialed Jake’s number.

The first call was abruptly disconnected.

Persistent, she dialed again and again.

It wasn’t until her fourth attempt that Jake finally answered, his voice laced with derision. “Why do you keep calling? You can’t say anything useful, can you? Or is Ethan there, wanting to speak with me? Sorry, I’m swamped right now, and can’t talk.”

Refusing to be dismissed, Kallie activated the video function, her gestures frantic as she tried to communicate her distress. Tears began to gather in her eyes, though she was too distant from the camera for Jake to notice them clearly.

Nonetheless, Jake sensed something was amiss in her expression.

Kallie managed to convey through her gestures, asking whether he had given Sarah the key to the guest room. She argued that Sarah had no right to invade her space like this.

Jake paused, his expression shifting to something darker. “What are you implying? What has she done?”

Kallie struggled to hold back her tears. She reached for her phone, about to show Jake the torn clothes scattered on the floor, but stopped herself.

Her gestures grew sharp with anger, practically yelling, “Just tell me, did you give Sarah the key? I may be just a foster daughter in your family, not holding any special place in your heart, but don’t I deserve basic respect? This humiliation is unnecessary.”

Jake must be aware that Sarah’s request for the key to Kallie’s room was not well-intentioned.

Kallie could almost see it: Sarah likely hanging on Jake’s arm, her words honeyed as she coaxed the key from him.

Jake, swayed by her sweetness, handed it over without considering the consequences for Kallie.

Jake’s grip tightened on his phone, the veins in his arms standing out. Kallie’s withholding of the specifics of the incident and accusing him directly struck a nerve.

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