Chapter 163



For the following days, Kallie made a point of steering clear of Jake. Despite sharing the same house, their encounters became increasingly rare. However, they occasionally still crossed paths.

Whenever they did, Kallie’s face remained an icy mask, betraying no recognition of Jake.

One day, as relentless rain seemed intent on flooding the world outside, they met in the hallway.

A chilling wind swept through, cutting against Kallie’s back. Yet, the coldness of the breeze was nothing compared to the frost in her heart.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com, where the best stories live Kallie maintained her composed facade, but the sight of Jake’s indifferent expression twisted a knife in her heart.

Jake caught her eye briefly. “What’s up?” he asked casually.

In fact, it was Kallie who had sought him out this time. She took a deep breath, attempting to steady her frazzled nerves. With a gesture, she conveyed her feelings of being suffocated in the house and her desire to get out, even if just for a while.

Jake simply pursed his lips, offering no response.

Seeing him like this, Kallie grew even more anxious. Was he about to refuse? She continued gesturing, signaling her intention to stay put as per their agreement. She indicated that if he had concerns, he could always have someone keep an eye on her.

Jake finally broke the silence, his words sharp and piercing, “Why bother watching you? I only kept you here to signal to Brent not to stir trouble. Run if you wish. I have countless ways to retrieve you.”

His tone carried a palpable threat, and Kallie sensed he was dead serious. He truly meant what he said.

With her anxiety mounting, Kallie averted her gaze from Jake’s icy stare and looked downward. Her hand waved faintly, querying whether this meant she could indeed leave.

“Yes, you can leave.” Jake’s eyes lifted, his smile enigmatic. “I’ll let you go on one condition. You must fulfill my request first.”

Kallie was taken aback by this. Perhaps Jake’s consent was merely the result of a favorable mood.

After a brief pause, she gestured her agreement, provided his request wasn’t unreasonable.

Jake waved at Kallie, prompting her to follow him.

They departed from the villa just as Melinda arrived, hoping to catch Jake.

Melinda caught a glimpse of Kallie climbing into Jake’s car, her face shadowed by a frown.

Melinda even questioned her own eyesight for a moment. If everything had gone according to her schemes, the primary doctor should have already informed Jake about Kallie’s pregnancy, barely a month underway. Jake would have believed it wasn’t his child.

Knowing Jake’s temperament, Melinda was certain he wouldn’t tolerate any betrayal. How could he possibly keep Kallie close?

Was he losing his senses?

However, that wasn’t the crucial issue. The critical point was that, in time, it would become apparent that Kallie’s pregnancy was further along than a month.

Once Jake noticed the discrepancy, he would connect the dots back to the primary doctor and eventually to Melinda. In no time, Jake would understand he was misled.

The mere thought of Jake’s potential retaliation sent a chill through Melinda. She pondered the situation. What maneuvering was Kallie employing to maintain her place here?

Melinda knew she couldn’t merely sit back and watch events unfold.

A flicker of icy resolve passed through Melinda’s eyes. If it came to it, she would ensure that the child growing inside Kallie vanished without leaving a single trace behind.

Once the child was no longer in the picture, even if Kallie eventually pieced things together, there would be no proof to support her suspicions.

Melinda composed herself, smoothing the emotion from her face.

“Excuse me, who are you?” A voice unexpectedly called out from behind, jolting Melinda from her dark reverie.

Melinda turned around to find a striking woman standing there. The woman’s beauty was undeniable, yet her gaze carried a calculating sharpness. It appeared they were cut from the same cloth.

A spark of recognition lit Melinda’s eyes. This had to be Jake’s infamous other woman, Sarah.

Quickly devising a strategy, Melinda offered a warm smile as she approached. “You must be Sarah. I’m Melinda, Jake’s sister-in-law. His mom has been under the weather recently, and I’m here to convince him to come visit her.”

Upon hearing this, Sarah’s expression softened, and she greeted Melinda with a smile. “Oh, you’re his sister-in-law? Come on in, I’ll show you around.”

As Sarah assumed the role of hostess, Melinda couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disdain. Mistresses were the people she despised most, yet her success now hinged on Sarah’s cooperation.

Once settled, Sarah turned to Melinda with genuine curiosity. “We’ve hardly met before, yet you remember me. Does Jake mention me often at home?”

With feigned innocence, Melinda replied, “Oh, absolutely. Everyone at home is actually quite saddened that you and Jake didn’t marry. If only it had been you… Well, let’s not dwell on what could’ve been. Kallie would make a scene if she knew we discussed this.”

At this, the smile nearly faded from Sarah’s face. “Make a scene? What kind of scene are you talking about?”

Melinda lowered her voice. “Even though she can’t speak, her temper is fierce. Every time Jake mentions your name at home, it sparks a major argument with her. She’s the adopted daughter of the Reeves family and, nominally, Jake’s wife. Our hands are tied. Before they were married, Kallie was relentless. She wouldn’t let Jake anywhere near other women. There was nothing we could do.”

“That’s absurd!” Sarah’s outrage was palpable as she slammed her hand on the table, her expression seething with anger.

Melinda’s lips curled into a sly smirk, knowing she had struck a nerve. She sighed, offering Sarah a look of sympathy that felt strangely unsettling.

Sarah shifted uncomfortably under Melinda’s gaze. “Is there something wrong?”

“I just think, after our chat today, that we really click,” Melinda remarked, her voice tinged with feigned regret. “But it’s such a shame you might not have a future with Jake.”

Sarah’s anxiety spiked. “Why wouldn’t I? Jake and I are deeply in love. It’s only because Jake and Kallie haven’t divorced yet. If we manage to get Kallie out of the picture, there will surely be talk. It’s all Kallie’s fault. She has no shame. I wouldn’t ever come back if I were in her shoes.”

“That’s not it,” Melinda said, fixing Sarah with a steady gaze. “Jake’s decision to keep Kallie here isn’t what you think. I understand his motives, but I’m worried you might find them too hard to handle.”

Sarah felt her heart skip a beat. Her eyes widened as she asked, “Is it because Kallie is pregnant?”

Melinda nodded.

After Melinda left, Sarah’s rage boiled over. She smashed everything in sight, consumed by a fury so intense that she imagined seizing a knife and ending Kallie’s life herself.

Sarah was livid. Why was Kallie pregnant? How could Kallie possibly be pregnant? That had to be the reason she refused to leave.

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