Chapter 160



Sophia’s interest was immediately piqued. “Really? That’s fantastic! Who is it?”

Boris, however, didn’t elaborate. “It doesn’t matter who it is. Look, I’ve got things to handle, I need to go.”

With that, Boris ended the call abruptly. After disconnecting, he threw his umbrella to the side with a decisive motion. Choosing instead to face the pouring rain, Boris knelt outside Jake’s opulent villa.

A security guard, spotting Boris, quickly approached him. “Sir, may I help you with something? If you’re here to see Mr. Reeves, it’s best to schedule an appointment. If you insist on kneeling here and won’t leave, I’m afraid I’ll have to call the police.”

Boris appeared drained and vulnerable. “I’m in a dire situation and need to see Mr. Reeves right away,” Boris pleaded desperately. “Please, help me get a message to him. Tell him Boris from the Hayes family is here. I just need a moment of his time for an answer, and then I’ll leave immediately.”

With little option, the guard reluctantly used his walkie-talkie to contact a servant inside the villa. After a brief wait, the response came back, Jake’s voice crackled through the speaker dismissively, “If he likes kneeling so much, then let him be.”

Boris’ complexion turned ashen. He wanted to protest and ask if Jake didn’t care about the public’s opinion of a man kneeling outside his villa. But, he refrained from doing so, biting his lip and enduring the humiliation.

Boris reasoned that the fact that he wasn’t outright rejected meant he still had a chance. He knew he had to endure this treatment since cooperating with Jake was his only option left; otherwise, given what he had done, he would be as easily disposed of as an ant in Brent’s presence.

Meanwhile, after sorting out her things, Kallie was overwhelmed by fatigue and longed for sleep. Just as she was about to drift off, a knock at her door jolted her awake. “Madam, may I enter? I’ve prepared some nutritional soup for you, which is excellent for the baby.”

The mere mention of “baby” from others startled Kallie, sending a jolt of anxiety through her. She recalled the ordeal the primary doctor had caused her, claiming care for the baby while his actions suggested otherwise.

Opting to ignore the interruption, Kallie pulled the blanket over her head and pretended to be asleep. Then, the tone at the door softened. “Kallie, it’s Hazel speaking. Surely you remember me?”

Hazel? Kallie finally reacted, and she hesitantly began to lower her blanket. Perhaps the exhaustion of the day had dulled her ability to even recognize Hazel’s voice. Kallie quickly rose and opened the door.

Upon seeing Kallie, Hazel’s eyes immediately filled with concern. “Kallie, it looks like you’ve really lost a lot of weight.”

Indeed, Kallie had noticeably lost weight. She had been making an effort to eat enough for her baby’s health, ensuring it received all the necessary nutrients. Yet, beyond fulfilling that need, she felt little desire to eat.

galnovels .com hosts great stories Contrary to other expectant mothers who might put on weight, Kallie had become increasingly thin due to discomfort like morning sickness. At three months pregnant, her slight frame cloaked in loose clothing barely showed signs of pregnancy. Kallie offered Hazel a comforting smile. Through a series of gestures, she conveyed that she was alright and there was no need for worry.

Hazel brought the nutritional soup and set it on the table, dabbing at her eyes to dry her tears quickly. “I get why you are frightened, but please, try this soup. I made it for you. I was so thrilled when I learned about your pregnancy.”

Kallie was taken aback. Jake had shown no desire for the baby she was carrying. She had assumed he would keep her pregnancy under wraps, yet it seemed even the household staff was aware. Exhausted, she gave up trying to decipher Jake’s motives.

Comforted by the knowledge that Hazel had prepared the soup, Kallie helped herself generously.

The warm broth brought a hint of color back to her cheeks.

Hazel seemed unaware of the strained dynamics between Kallie and Jake. After a pause, she spoke. “You know, Mr. Reeves does care about you in his own way. Despite how tough he seems since you’ve returned, he’s quite concerned about your health. I saw him consulting with several doctors earlier.”

Bang! The sudden revelation made Kallie’s hand jerk involuntarily, and the bowl she was holding crashed to the floor.

Kallie stared at Hazel, her expression one of stark disbelief. Why would Jake have doctors visit? She doubted it was out of concern for the baby. Hadn’t he agreed to wait until the baby was born? Was he reconsidering his decision?

Kallie’s alarmed reaction frightened Hazel, who expressed her concern. “Are you alright?”

Kallie shook her head slightly, striving to regain her composure. She signaled to Hazel, conveying through gestures that she was merely exhausted and wished to rest. Hazel looked at Kallie with worry but respected her wish for rest, quietly exiting the room.

With a tumult of thoughts swirling in her mind, Kallie eventually drifted into a restless sleep, her intent to confront Jake for answers the following day.

Elsewhere, the scene was starkly different. Jake’s room was ablaze with light, filled with a sense of urgency. Several doctors gathered around, their expressions grave as they shook their heads, unable to alleviate Jake’s suffering.

Jake’s forehead was lined with bulging veins, his body rigid with tension. Typically a master at masking his feelings, Jake now lay overwhelmed by pain. Sweat drenched his skin, his brow deeply furrowed, and his face was an ashen shade of pale. In his agony, he gripped the bed sheet so tightly it was nearly torn to shreds.

Edgar watched anxiously from the sidelines. These were top-tier doctors, yet they seemed at a loss.

“Is there really nothing more you can do?” Edgar asked.

One of the doctors responded with a helpless shake of his head. “This neurotoxin is unlike anything we’ve encountered before. We need more advanced equipment to analyze it properly. I still recommend that Mr. Reeves consider traveling to Ysland, where the technology is significantly more advanced. Even if they can’t cure him immediately, they might at least be able to identify the toxin.”

“Useless!” Jake growled, the pain twisting his features. Leaving was not an option for him. Too many people were watching, and his departure could raise suspicions he couldn’t afford.

Edgar, looking both worried and helpless, signaled to one of the doctors. “As usual, please administer a sedative and some pain relief.”

The doctor hesitated, concern etching his features. “I understand the need for immediate relief, but we’re still in the dark about the nature of this toxin. Using sedatives and painkillers is only a temporary solution and might exacerbate the condition in the long term…”

“Just give it to me now!” Jake insisted, his teeth gritted so tightly that his lips turned white, his vulnerability more apparent than ever.

With a resigned sigh, the doctor went to prepare the pain relief. After the medication took effect, Jake’s condition showed slight improvement. Still dizzy and pressing a hand to his forehead, his voice was weak as he instructed Edgar, “Send them out. You know what to tell people.”

“Yes, sir.” Edgar nodded solemnly as he escorted the doctors out.

Jake gazed out the window, his expression icy. He had been grappling with this affliction for two weeks, ever since that pregnant employee mysteriously lost her baby. It was clear to him that someone from the shadows had targeted him.

The idea that he had been poisoned was almost unbelievable to Jake, a man who prided himself on his vigilance. He racked his brain but couldn’t pinpoint the source of the toxin.

Over time, the pain had intensified. Now, it felt as though thousands of ants were relentlessly gnawing at his brain, a torment that was becoming unbearable.

Pain itself wasn’t Jake’s greatest fear. He had endured much in his life, but the necessity to maintain a clear mind was paramount. He worried that any perceived weakness could be exploited by his enemies.

Later, Jake found temporary reprieve in alcohol. It seemed to dull the excruciating pain.

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