Chapter 137



Kallie repeatedly shook her head as she typed on her phone.

“I’m fine, really, just a bit chilly. Plus, I’ve got things to handle here. Thanks for the help, but I can manage it on my own.”

With that, Kallie picked up her pace and hurried away.

Boris watched Kallie’s anxious retreating figure, his warm smile gradually fading.

Sophia approached quietly, her voice low. “You should steer clear of that woman. She’s trouble.”

Boris gave Sophia a puzzled look. “What makes you say that?”

With a sly grin, Sophia’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Her prescription slipped from her bag. It’s for pregnant women only. Clearly, she’s expecting, and who knows who the father is?”

Boris’s brow furrowed in thought.

Kallie’s relationship with Jake was well known around town, even though Boris was new here. Yet, Boris doubted Jake was the father.

Given Jake’s power and influence, he’d surely take care of Kallie and accompany her for prenatal check-ups if Kallie were pregnant.

Kallie, merely an adopted daughter of the Reeves family, would likely leverage such a connection to cement her place within the family.

Kallie’s secretive behavior raised an eyebrow. It seemed to Boris that the baby might not be Jake’s. Could it be Brent’s?

Boris suddenly perked up, his interest piqued by the unfolding situation.

Sophia cautioned him, her voice laced with warning, “Remember, steer clear of women like her. Besides, with your grandfather under our control, we don’t need to take unnecessary risks.”

Boris eyed Sophia with a hint of disapproval. “You’re missing the point. High stakes mean high rewards. Haven’t you noticed? We’ve been doing pretty well, but Brent hasn’t been exactly friendly. Once he’s in charge of the Hayes family, we’ll be insignificant.”

Boris’s voice carried a trace of bitterness as he continued, “If you had brought me back to the Hayes family sooner, we’d stand a better chance now.”

Sophia’s lips quivered slightly, betraying her urge to counter his argument, yet she found herself at a loss for words.

Instead, Sophia opted for a softer approach to calm Boris. “Alright. As long as it makes you happy, I’ll support whatever you decide.”

But Boris was visibly annoyed. “I’ll take it from here. Just stop following me.”

Seeing the disappointment clouding her son’s eyes, Sophia felt a pang of heartache. She had been the cherished princess of the Hayes family, and her marriage into the Guzman family had led her through a series of challenges.

This was especially true after Sophia’s husband found out that Jerome, known for his ruthlessness, wouldn’t offer any support just because Sophia had married into the Guzman family.

Following their marriage, Sophia suffered abuse at the hands of her husband.

Upon giving birth to Boris, Sophia longed to return to the Hayes family, but her husband wouldn’t allow it.

Over the years, the Hayes family didn’t bother to ask how her married life was, let alone intervene or show support for Sophia.

Initially, Sophia harbored resentment toward her husband, but as time passed and through constant manipulation, her anger redirected toward the Hayes family. If only Jerome had checked in occasionally, provided financial aid, or secured a decent job for her husband, perhaps her life and marriage might have been less bleak.

These thoughts weighed heavily on Sophia, bringing her to tears.

At that moment, her phone rang.

Sophia hastily dried her eyes and answered, only to hear an urgent message from the hospital about Jerome’s deteriorating condition, which required family members’ presence immediately.

Although some distant relatives from the Hayes family were present, none were close enough to make decisions for Jerome.

The only direct relatives available were Sophia and Brent, and with Brent unreachable, the hospital had turned to Sophia.

Upon hearing the doctor’s declaration, Sophia’s face broke into an enigmatic smile. “Okay, I’ll head to the hospital right away,” she responded. “Have Boris search for Brent. Call me if you need anything else.”

The doctor seemed uncertain but ultimately nodded in agreement.

Sophia felt a sudden urge to inform her son about the situation. However, as she reached for her phone, Boris’s earlier disapproving expression flashed in her mind, making her hesitate.

Determined to show her capability, Sophia steeled herself and hurried off.

Time flew, and soon Kallie found herself arriving early at the restaurant for her meeting with Brent.

A BMW rolled to a stop. Since the incident involving the Hayes Group, Brent had maintained a low profile. He stepped out, his typically stern face softening into a subtle smile upon spotting Kallie, and he was holding a bouquet of light yellow flowers.

Noticing Kallie’s brow crease slightly, Brent quickly explained, “I saw these and thought they were pretty, so I picked them up as a token of thanks.”

Kallie eyed the flowers but gently shook her head, refusing them. She typed out a message on her phone, “I’m sorry. I’m allergic to pollen and can’t accept these, but thank you for the thought.”

Her response rejected Brent while saving his dignity.

Brent’s smile wavered momentarily, but he composed himself swiftly. “I should have thought of that. Don’t worry about it. My grandpa always asked me to treat you like a sister. Let’s keep it casual.”

The word “sister” relaxed Kallie somewhat, making the atmosphere a bit lighter.

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