Chapter 141



Shirley gestured to the bodyguards and said, “Go ahead. But leave her face alone. Just break her legs. Since she’s disabled already, we might as well ensure she’s not a burden to anyone in the future.”

Kallie’s tears flowed freely, driven by stark terror.

She lay pinned to the floor, the fear and anxiety causing a sharp pain in her belly. Her complexion turned deathly pale.

Kallie made desperate signs at Shirley, trying to say that she was pregnant. What they were doing was as good as murder.

But Shirley failed to understand Kallie’s frantic gestures.

Melinda urged her on, saying, “Look how defiant she is. She must be cursing you right now.”

This made Shirley even more incensed. She advanced in her high heels, seized Kallie by the hair, and yanked it viciously.

Kallie winced in pain, lifting her head, her expression one of fierce determination.

Shirley scoffed, “Cursing me? It doesn’t matter. I’m going to teach you a lesson regardless. You don’t belong in the Reeves family, not by a long shot. Were it not for your manipulation of Roderick to corner my son into marrying you, you wouldn’t even be here.

Jake had far better options than a mute like you. Do you have any idea how much ridicule he faces wherever he goes? And here you are, a mute causing disgrace, cavorting with other men. A woman like you deserves nothing but damnation!”

Kallie’s lips parted, but no words came out, only a series of unsettling, eerie noises.

Shirley released her grip and tossed Kallie away disdainfully before coldly commanding, “Hit her!”

The impact of the club was severe, nearly causing Kallie to black out from the agony.

Amid the overwhelming pain, Kallie’s resolve hardened. This had to stop. She had a baby in her belly. Continued violence was sure to endanger her unborn child.

Desperately, Kallie attempted to shield her abdomen, curling up against the sharp, stabbing pain.

Melinda noticed Kallie’s protective actions, her demeanor changing as she quickly pieced things together.

Melinda’s voice took on a chilling sharpness. “Forget the legs. Target her belly!”

Shirley looked at Melinda, puzzled by her cruelty, yet she did nothing to intervene.

Terror struck Kallie as she met Melinda’s malicious gaze. Melinda had surely realized she was pregnant. How could Melinda, a mother herself, be so heartless?

As the club was about to strike Kallie’s belly, a commanding voice echoed from behind, “Stop it!”

Shirley’s eyes widened at the sight of the man. She hastened toward him, her smile forced, yet her eyes shimmered with guilt. “Jake! What brings you back so unexpectedly?”

Jake’s gaze hardened as he noticed Kallie on the floor, grimacing in agony. “Had I not returned, you might have been guilty of murder today.”

Shirley quickly retorted, “Murder? What nonsense are you spouting? Kallie was causing trouble, fussing over her meal. You’re likely unaware that she nearly drove Dean and Melinda to divorce.”

“I’m well aware,” Jake replied sharply.

Shirley, taken aback, questioned, “You knew? Then why didn’t you intervene?”

Jake ignored Shirley’s question, casting a scornful glance at Melinda.

Melinda’s face was a portrait of dread, her eyes darting anxiously with profound fear.

“Because I was the one who informed Dean about the peril his international transport business faced due to Melinda’s relatives. We dodged a bullet this time. Think about it—drunk driving on the highway. Do you grasp the gravity of that? A single mistake could have been catastrophic,” Jake explained.

Shirley listened intently and was visibly shaken.

Melinda had merely mentioned minor squabbles involving Dean’s company and the Hayes family, while Kallie apparently supported the Hayes faction. In the end, Dean and Melinda’s argument had escalated, souring their relationship significantly.

Shirley was taken aback, having not realized the severity of the situation until now. The stakes were high. If anyone were hurt, prison was a real possibility.

Shirley nearly lost her footing in shock. She whirled around to face Melinda, her eyes blazing with fury. “Melinda, how dare you lie to me!” she barked.

Melinda’s eyes welled up with tears as she hurried to defend herself. “I never intended to lie to you. It’s all Kallie’s doing. Everything was about to be resolved. If she hadn’t sought justice for the Hayes family, none of this would have happened. Furthermore, I was on the verge of firing my incompetent cousin. This mess is truly Kallie’s doing.”

Even at this point, Melinda continued to blame Kallie.

“What you’re saying makes no sense,” Jake scoffed. “Following that logic, I’m to blame as well, since I informed Dean about your cousin’s misdeeds. Should I now kneel and accept punishment?”

“No! I mean… That’s not what I mean!” Melinda stammered, shaking her head vigorously.

Shirley took a deep breath and gently grasped Jake’s hand, still attempting to justify her actions. “Jake, I did this for your benefit. I’ve noticed Kallie’s been causing you distress, and I’m aware that you two are considering divorce. Moreover, Kallie should have stayed out of it this time. If she had remained out of the fray, I wouldn’t have targeted her. She’s always been a troublemaker. Now, with things having escalated to this point, why not just end your marriage?”

Jake forcefully shook off Shirley’s hand, his expression icy. Despite Shirley being his mother, he did not soften his biting sarcasm. “Mom, are you really doing this for me, or is it just your ego at play? You’ve always felt that my marriage to Kallie was a blow to your prestige.

You’ve never liked her, and now, you seize this opportunity to lash out at her. You had her attacked like this, not realizing that’s illegal? There were other ways to handle this, but you had to use my name to soothe your conscience. Did you ever stop to consider how I’d feel? Did you even think about me at all?”

Caught off guard by Jake’s confrontation, Shirley found herself speechless, her eyes wide with a deeply hurt expression. “What are you implying, you ungrateful child? Is it wrong for me to look out for you? Fine. Maybe I shouldn’t have bothered worrying over you or caring for you at all! Would that make you happy?”

Expecting him to console her, Shirley was met instead with Jake’s cold dismissal as he carefully picked Kallie up from the floor.

While carrying Kallie in his arms, Jake didn’t spare his mother another glance.

His voice was frosty as he spoke before leaving. “I’d be much better off if you just left me alone.”

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