Chapter 161



Upon finding that alcohol could alleviate his pain, Jake often drowned himself in it. However, when he sobered up, the pain resurfaced with even greater intensity.

Edgar observed Jake’s gradual recovery and let out a mixed sigh of relief and frustration. “Mr. Reeves, I realize you’re upset, but drinking isn’t the solution. Look at the toll it’s taking on your health.”

Jake, with a flicker of impatience in his voice, shut his eyes. “What? You think I’m on my deathbed?”

Edgar didn’t reply to this, though he felt compelled to persist. “The doctors make a good point. You might want to consider…”

“Edgar!” Jake cut him off sharply. “If you bring this up again, I’ll let you go on the spot, got it?”

Edgar exhaled quietly to himself. After a moment’s thought, his mind turned to Kallie. Perhaps she was the only one Jake might listen to.

Noticing Edgar’s thoughtful look, Jake opened his eyes, his gaze stern. “If you even think about telling Kallie, it won’t just end with firing you. This needs to stay under wraps. No one else can find out. She’s close to Brent; that complicates things.”

Edgar grasped the depth of Jake’s concerns. It wasn’t just about secrecy. Jake didn’t want Kallie to worry.

Respecting Jake’s decision, Edgar complied and said nothing more.

Discover your escape on g aln ov el s .com Night had fallen, prompting Edgar to arrange for the doctors’ overnight stay in the villa, planning their departure for the next morning.

Boris, however, spent the entire night kneeling outside, and by dawn, he had succumbed to exhaustion, now sprawled and unkempt on the ground.

Kallie, disturbed by restless thoughts, had barely slept and rose early. Curiosity drove her to discover why the doctors were present.

Stepping outside, Kallie was taken aback by the sight of someone lying on the ground outside the villa.

Hearing footsteps, Kallie swiftly concealed herself in a nearby room, holding her breath as the sounds moved past her hiding spot and gradually faded. With a quiet sigh of relief, she cracked open the door to peek outside just as a light drizzle began to fall.

Chilled to the bone, Boris stirred from his cold slumber. He stood up, keenly aware of his ragged appearance without needing a mirror.

A bitter resentment filled Boris. Despite rumors of Jake’s unpredictable nature and disregard for others, he had hoped he would be an exception.

Jake hadn’t directly driven Boris away the previous night, leading Boris to believe he would eventually be invited inside. Yet, the dawn found Boris still kneeling outside.

When Boris stayed with the Guzman family, although they lacked wealth, he enjoyed the status of being his father’s only son.

Upon his return to the affluent Hayes household, he experienced a life of indulgence. Such hardships were foreign to him.

Boris found the degradation unbearable, yet lacked the courage to depart, fearing what Brent would do to him once he returned, given what he had done. Swearing under his breath, his tirade continued until he caught sight of several pairs of polished leather shoes before him.

Lifting his gaze anxiously, Boris met Jake’s strikingly handsome countenance.

Jake regarded him with a frosty smirk. “You seem to have quite a bone to pick with me. Your curses were audible from a distance. Perhaps you’d care to share what grievances you have against me?”

Boris trembled at Jake’s mocking tone and hastily shook his head. “No, no, it’s not you. I was berating myself for my incompetence, allowing Brent to corner me like this.”

In stark contrast to Boris’s pitiful demeanor, Jake appeared effortlessly chic in his casual yet elegant attire.

A wave of envy washed over Boris. He yearned for the authority and stature that Jake embodied, aspiring to usurp Brent’s position.

“Why shouldn’t I possess shares and wield power as well?” Boris grumbled to himself, his gaze burning with ambition and madness.

Unperturbed by the turbulent emotions flickering in Boris’s eyes, Jake signaled with a hand, and an assistant promptly brought a chair for him to sit.

Nearby, bodyguards stood guard, each sheltered by an umbrella, yet none extended such courtesy to Boris. It was obvious that Jake was behind this directive.

Boris was seething with resentment, yet he masked it with a sycophantic smile. “Mr. Reeves, could you help me?” he asked.

“Let me guess, you want to take down Brent, don’t you?” Jake replied with a question.

Boris nodded. “Yes, Brent has crossed the line. I wouldn’t have come to you otherwise. I…”

Boris’s words were cut short by a swift kick. The bodyguard who delivered the blow growled, “Answer Mr. Reeves straight and cut the chatter. Understand?”

Boris nodded, gobbled apologies.

Jake asked, “So, what can you tell me about Brent?”

“Jerome is his Achilles’ heel, and he seems quite fond of Kallie too, though I’m not sure how significant she really is to him,” Boris explained.

Jake’s eyes narrowed. “From what you’ve observed, how close are Brent and Kallie?”

Boris spoke in a hushed tone. “It was me who sent you those photos and videos. They aren’t fake. If you doubt their authenticity, feel free to have them verified by an expert.”

Confidence radiated from Boris as he spoke.

A wave of anger washed over Jake, triggered by the photos’ contents.

In those photos, Brent and Kallie were sharing lunch, both radiating joy.

Kallie’s smile was particularly dazzling when she was with Brent, her eyes shimmering with delight. It had been ages since she had shown such a radiant smile to her own husband.

Jake’s mood turned icy, his presence growing increasingly intimidating.

Boris, oblivious to the storm brewing in Jake’s mind, kept his silence.

After what felt like an eternity, Jake finally broke the silence. “I’ll arrange for someone to drive you back. In a few days, I have a venture with the Hayes family, and you’ll be in charge. That way, Brent won’t dare to trouble you.”

Boris couldn’t hide his elation, nearly bursting with gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Reeves. I’m deeply grateful for your support.”

“Get lost,” Jake declared with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Boris quickly made his exit.

Edgar observed Boris with a look of contempt. “I thought he had more brains than that.”

Jake offered a thin smile. “You’re the only one who truly gets it.”

The longstanding partnership between the Reeves and Hayes families meant that the tensions between Jake and Brent were unlikely to disrupt their collaboration.

There was no reason for Jake to sacrifice anything on account of Boris. Brent would surely see the logic behind Jake’s strategy.

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