Chapter 211



Stan was taken aback by the turn of events. “I know a bit about your relationship with Jake. You two have shared your lives since childhood. Although Sarah now holds his affection, I can’t help but feel he still harbors feelings for you. His lack of reaction to your predicament really puzzles me.”

Weary, Kallie ceased trying to discern whether Stan was merely being sarcastic or testing her.

Kallie tapped a response into her phone. “Sarah was Jake’s first and most profound love. Without my stepping into his life, they would have been married ages ago. Sarah confided in me once that Jake had intended to elope with her abroad to avoid marrying me, but Roderick stopped them. Even to this day, Jake still suspects it was I who tipped off the news.”

The memory of Sarah’s face, etched with resentment and dissatisfaction as she recounted the story, remained clear in Kallie’s mind. And there was a trace of complacency in Sarah’s tone.

At that time, shortly after their wedding, Kallie had been completely unaware of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface or of Jake’s deep-seated resistance to their marriage.

Feeling like an outsider in her own marriage, Kallie sought out Jake for a candid conversation.

Unexpectedly, Jake’s response was terse and dismissive. “Why do you bother with these trivialities? They are of no consequence to you.”

Although Jake neither confirmed nor denied the accusation, his tone spoke volumes.

Now, observing Jake’s demeanor around Sarah, Kallie couldn’t help but believe in Sarah’s past revelations.

Stan appeared taken aback by this disclosure. A sinister thought flickered in his eyes.

“I never would have guessed that my half-brother is still so infatuated with that woman,” Stan commented.

“But…” Stan flashed Kallie a meaningful grin. “I can’t shake a feeling of unease.”

With these words, Stan took Kallie’s phone from her hands and coerced her into unlocking it.

Jake’s contact was promptly located in Kallie’s phone.

Actually, Kallie had changed her phone several times, but each time, Jake was the first to grab it from her and ensure his number was saved.

Before their marriage, Jake would boastfully declare, “If you need anything, come to me. You shouldn’t have other men’s numbers. Those schoolboys are clueless and no good. You’re a little naive and I don’t want them to trick you.”

Once married, Jake’s tone shifted slightly. “Call me if there’s trouble. I don’t want to have to track you down if something happens. It’s too much of an inconvenience.”

As Stan began dialing Jake’s number, a wave of panic washed over Kallie. The thought of confronting those painful words filled her with trepidation. She preferred Jake to ignore her messages altogether, as indifferent as he always was.

Desperate, Kallie reached out to snatch her phone back from Stan.

Dodging her hand, Stan sneered, “Why so nervous? Scared I’ll uncover something?”

Before Kallie’s fingers could even brush her phone, she heard Jake’s dispassionate voice from the other end. “What’s up?” His query was brief.

A lump formed in Kallie’s throat. So, he had been near his phone. It had rung for merely two seconds before he picked up.

At Kallie’s silence, Jake seemingly grew impatient. “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. I need to go backstage to meet Sarah.”

Stan glanced at Kallie, whose eyes were brimming with tears, and then signaled to Courtney.

Courtney got the cue and brought over a burly man whose expression was fierce.

Just as Jake was about to end the call, the burly man interjected sharply, “Jake Reeves, right? I have your wife now. If you don’t come to the address I’m sending within half an hour, you know the consequences.”

Jake went silent.

Although Kallie didn’t harbor any hope, her heart raced during these silent moments.

Suddenly, Jake chuckled icily. “What? Do you want to kill her? Be my guest. Kallie, I never expected you to resort to such a kidnapping ruse just to catch my eye. You know today’s award ceremony means everything to Sarah, yet you chose to disrupt it. You’ve truly let me down.”

Kallie closed her eyes. Jake’s response was within her expectations. Yet, why did her heart still ache?

Stan instantly grinned, signaling the burly man to end the call.

This time, as Stan looked at Kallie, his gaze softened with a trace of sympathy. “I thought you and Jake were staging a charade to fool me. Now, it seems I’ve underestimated how cold Jake can be. After years of marriage, he harbors no affection for you.”

Kallie’s face remained stoic, choosing not to reply.

Stan stood up, gesturing for the others to escort Kallie away. “Kallie, you’ve lost the bet. If you must blame someone, blame Jake, not me. Remember, Jake is the one who abandoned you.”

Meanwhile, Jake, staring at his phone, fought the urge to call back. He tossed his phone aside, clenched his fists, and struck the wall forcefully.

Edgar, alarmed by Jake’s aggressive demeanor, quickly pressed the technical team. “How’s it going? Have you located them yet?”

“The call was brief, but it was enough.”

Jake regained his composure and stated icily, “If you can’t find her location, you’re fired.”

Five minutes later, an uplifting piece of news came. Kallie’s location was pinpointed. It was in an old residential building on the neighboring hill.

Jake immediately prepared to head there with his team.

Edgar intervened, “Mr. Reeves, please, don’t act rashly.”

Jake’s expression remained stern. “No matter what, I must confront the person behind all this today.”

Elsewhere, after Kallie was bound and placed in the car, Courtney returned to Stan, clearly upset. “Mr. Reeves, I don’t understand why you treat her with such courtesy. She’s merely a schemer. She deceived that naive old man into letting her stay with the Reeves family. That old man preferred Kallie over you coming home. Doesn’t that infuriate you?”

“What’s the point of bothering with that?” Stan, reclining with his eyes closed, responded with a sardonic smile. “Turning the tables on Jake is what truly matters. Courtney, I’ve mentioned before that she is carrying Jake’s child. Calm yourself.”

Courtney was not reconciled. “But aren’t you confirmed that Jake doesn’t care about Kallie at all? You heard his tone. Sarah is the only one he loves. Why waste our energy on Kallie? Besides, Sarah and Jake are still young. Having children is just a matter of time for them.”

Abruptly, Stan opened his eyes and fixed Courtney with a steady gaze. “Sarah will not have children.”

His offhand comment caused Courtney to shudder.

Observing Stan’s resolute expression, Courtney realized he was not misleading her. She was left at a loss for words.

Stan continued, “Thus, the child Kallie is carrying becomes my biggest bargaining chip. I must ensure her safety and the baby’s delivery.”

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