Chapter 125



Kallie barely steadied herself. The relief from her close call eluded her, leaving her feeling cold and frantic. When had Jake gotten there? How much had he overheard?

Kallie nervously glanced up at Jake. His dark eyes were impassive, betraying no emotion.

Jake felt Kallie’s gaze but didn’t look down. Instead, he pulled her behind him and advanced step by step toward the elderly woman and her grandson.

The elderly woman flinched at Jake’s approach but stood her ground. “You claim to be her husband, correct? Well, let me share the truth with you. Your wife has been disloyal, sneaking around with a man who bought her that condo. She’s even carrying his child!”

“Oh, is that so?” Jake responded, his smile mocking as his eyes turned icy.

Jake then added sharply, “You seem quite sure of yourself, so it must be the truth.”

The elderly woman thought she had driven a wedge between Jake and Kallie and straightened up proudly.

However, Jake continued unexpectedly, “That suggests you’ve seen it all firsthand, so please describe this man to me. Tell me when he visits, and I’ll review the surveillance tapes. If I find nothing, it means you’ve been lying and spreading rumors. Such an offense can land you in jail. The duration of your stay in the police station would depend on my mood. If I’m feeling particularly upset, you could even be looking at criminal charges, which would jeopardize your grandson’s future, considering you’re his guardian.”

Jake was merely bluffing, but his words about the grandson’s future struck terror into the elderly woman.

The elderly woman’s voice quivered as she spoke. “Why am I being arrested because of your wife’s outrageous actions? I just found it odd that a woman with no means could afford the best condo in town. Plus, she’s always covering her stomach. Doesn’t that suggest she might be pregnant?”

Before Jake had a chance to reply, Kallie was quick on her phone and articulated her thoughts with the text-to-speech function. “You have no actual proof I’m pregnant. You’re just speculating. Your accusations are messing with my life. Looks like we’ll need the police to sort this out.”

“No!” the elderly woman exclaimed, her panic rising. “Whether you’re pregnant or not isn’t my concern. I merely mentioned you seemed to be. That’s all!”

The bystanders couldn’t contain their amusement, openly laughing at the elderly woman’s backpedaling.

Humiliated by their chuckles, the elderly woman collapsed onto the ground, sobbing and beating her thighs. “This world’s turned upside down! Young folks harass an old lady, topple my grandson, and don’t even say sorry, and now they’re trying to throw me in jail. Where’s the fairness in that?”

Kallie couldn’t help but laugh at the mention of “fairness” from the elderly woman.

The crowd, recognizing the absurdity, didn’t take the elderly woman’s side against Kallie and Jake.

Tired of the drama, Kallie tugged at Jake’s arm and signed to leave.

Jake looked down at her, hesitant, yet he didn’t protest.

“Who’s harassing my mother?” A furious shout came from someone within the crowd.

A fat, barrel-chested man appeared, oblivious to the spectacle his mother was causing on the floor and his son’s wailing cries. His demeanor was threatening, causing the bystanders to step aside, visibly frightened.

Kallie felt a twitch in her eyelid. These interruptions kept coming, one after another. It was exasperating.

The man scanned the crowd with a furious glare until his eyes settled on Jake. His face softened suddenly, “Mr… Mr. Reeves?” he stammered.

Kallie shot Jake a puzzled look. Were they acquainted?

Meanwhile, the elderly woman, ignoring the unfolding drama, leaped to her feet at the sight of her son and straightened herself. She jabbed a finger toward Kallie and Jake, her voice rising shrilly. “These two troublemakers! Look what they’ve done to your son! Aren’t you employed by the Reeves Group? Didn’t you boast about the promising Reeves heir taking a shine to you? Surely you can handle these brats.”

As his mother berated Jake, the man’s eyelid twitched in annoyance. He wished he could silence her forever.

Casting his mother stern glances, the man attempted to pull her away, but she reveled in her tirade, her insults becoming even more cutting.

Jake’s expression was icy as he addressed the man, known as Wade Mason, “Mr. Mason, is this really how your family operates? Today, I’ve witnessed it myself. Just because my wife resides in the premier condo in this area, your son chose to deliberately harm her, and your mother is spreading vile rumors that she’s unfaithful to me. So, it seems anyone who lives near your family suffers, right?”

Each of Jake’s words hit Wade like a thunderbolt. He shook visibly, overwhelmed by the confrontation, and then collapsed to his knees before Jake.

“Mr. Reeves, I swear I was unaware of these events. I rushed here the moment I found out. My mother’s mind isn’t what it used to be, and my son… He’s just a boy, too full of pranks. This is all my responsibility,” Wade hastily explained, his voice tinged with desperation.

As Wade spoke, he repeatedly struck himself across the face, clearly petrified.

The elderly woman’s eyes widened in her confusion, and even in her muddled state, she sensed the gravity of the situation. She turned ashen and fell quiet.

However, her spoiled grandson escalated the tension. He pointed a pudgy finger at Kallie and yelled, “Dad, why are you kneeling to her? Grandma says women like her are worthless and disgraceful. Grandma told me never to marry someone like her. I should be the one teaching her a lesson!”

Kallie stood there, dumbfounded. How could a child raised in such an environment understand respect or decency?

At that moment, Wade wished he could just vanish.

Jake’s expression hardened. His next words sealed Wade’s fate. “If your son can utter such words, it implies how you’ve raised him. Now, he brazenly insults my wife in my presence. I shudder to think what he might say when I’m not around. Therefore, I’m granting you some time off to properly teach your son some manners.”

This “time off” was nothing more than a thinly veiled dismissal.

Yet, Jake had more to say. “It appears you struggle with interpersonal dynamics here. Perhaps it’s because you’re not from around here. I suggest you go back home and learn some manners.”

“No, no, no! Please!” Wade began to beg. He was all too familiar with Jake’s tactics. This was the end of his career.

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