Chapter 212



Courtney pursed her lips together, her reluctance to accept Stan’s words evident. Deep down, she acknowledged the logic in Stan’s argument.

Previously, when Stan had approached Melinda for his schemes, Courtney merely felt displeased.

This time, however, Stan’s attitude toward Kallie triggered a sense of unease in Courtney.

Stan was known for his rigid demeanor. Yet, his unexpected gentleness toward Kallie was striking. This clearly indicated his interest in her.

Oblivious to the shadow of disquiet in Courtney’s gaze, Stan merely waved her off. “Take her back first,” he instructed.

Courtney raised her eyebrows, slightly taken aback. “Aren’t you coming with us?”

Stan’s sneer was sharp. “When Jake regains his wits, he’ll realize the truth in Kallie’s messages. Jake, groomed to command obedience as the heir of the Reeves dynasty, might disregard Kallie’s well-being, yet they remain married. Someone is now challenging him by attempting to whisk away his wife. This will undoubtedly provoke him. I suspect he will soon be after me. Let’s divide our men into two groups. You’ll escort Kallie discreetly. This should throw him off.”

Understanding the plan, Courtney nodded, her anxiety palpable. “Jake is not someone easy to deal with,” she remarked.

Stan smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry about me. Just ensure Kallie’s safety and don’t let anything happen to her.”

“You care too much about her,” Courtney responded, her tone tinged with displeasure.

Stan closed his eyes and said nothing.

It didn’t take long to prove Stan had guessed it right.

Although Stan had blocked one route intentionally, there were several other winding paths available.

Stan’s men opted for the broadest trail to descend the mountain. However, they were swiftly intercepted.

Edgar and his team quickly subdued Stan’s men, but a thorough search of each vehicle revealed no sign of Kallie.

Meanwhile, Courtney was leading Kallie through the woods.

Actually, there was a drivable road downhill on this side, but Courtney was deliberately complicating Kallie’s journey.

Kallie, already weakened by the day’s earlier shocks, turned even paler under this torment.

Seeing Kallie’s fragile state only increased Courtney’s displeasure.

Courtney scoffed. “Who are you trying to gain sympathy from? You only know how to play the victim. Disgusting!”

Kallie chose not to engage with Courtney’s hostility. She extricated herself from Courtney’s grasp and found a spot to sit and rest alone.

Kallie was aware that Stan had no intention of killing her. As one of Stan’s subordinates, Courtney wouldn’t dare contravene his commands.

Courtney, sensing Kallie’s understanding, felt a surge of irritation mixed with embarrassment. She glared at Kallie. “Don’t forget, I’m a doctor. While I won’t harm you or your unborn child, I know how to make you miserable.”

Kallie looked up at Courtney with a hint of confusion and then took out her phone to type a message. “You like that man, right? Why? He clearly seems to be using you.”

The smile on Courtney’s face suddenly froze, and anger flashed in her eyes. “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s not your place to meddle in my affairs.”

Kallie, however, smiled knowingly. She swiftly typed her response on her phone. “No need to get angry or feel embarrassed. It’s almost as clear as day that he’s been using you. I just want to advise you not to place a man’s love above all else. Whether he loves you or not, I can tell at a glance. You’re a talented doctor. Why compromise yourself this way?”

“Shut up!” Courtney snapped, her anger boiling over.

Courtney then raised her hand and violently smashed Kallie’s phone to the ground. “Who are you to judge me? You’re a pathetic mute! Just because you failed to keep a man’s heart, do you assume all women are like you?”

Seeing Courtney getting emotional, Kallie felt a sudden wave of sorrow. Why must Courtney resign herself to a life filled with illusory and fleeting love?

Kallie sympathized with Courtney. In her eyes, Courtney was undeniably pretty, her competent charm irresistible. Moreover, Courtney was such a skilled doctor. If she hadn’t entangled herself in Stan’s schemes, she might have had a bright future.

Yet, for those too stubborn to reconsider their paths, no amount of persuasion would suffice.

Setting aside her turbulent thoughts, Kallie was slightly relieved since she had reached her objective by provoking Courtney with those words.

Kallie covertly glanced at her phone lying in the grass. She reasoned that despite Jake’s seeming indifference toward her and lack of any intention of rescuing her, he wouldn’t tolerate anyone provoking him by abducting her.

Kallie was pretty sure that Jake would soon sense something was amiss, leading to his speculation of her being taken away. She hoped her phone in the grass would provide him with further clues.

Perhaps because Kallie’s words had struck a nerve, Courtney grew visibly agitated and abruptly yanked Kallie to her feet.

Courtney roughly pushed Kallie forward, barking, “Hurry up and move! What are you waiting for?”

Kallie clenched her teeth, wary of what Courtney might do in a fit of rage, and compliantly advanced.

After receiving Edgar’s report, Jake’s expression turned even icier. The orchestrator behind the scenes was cleverer than he had anticipated.

Edgar queried over the phone, “Should our men comb the mountain thoroughly?”

“No need.” Jake inhaled deeply and remarked, “Since I’ve shown that I don’t care about Kallie, there’s no reason to act in a way that might arouse their suspicions. Besides, if their sole intent was to end Kallie’s life, they would have simply killed her and departed. There’s no need for these mind games. It’s possible they have other motives. For now, Kallie isn’t in immediate danger.”

Edgar found the rationale compelling but couldn’t help asking, “Mr. Reeves, why are you still ascending the mountain?”

Jake had reached the location pinpointed by the tech team where Kallie was amid the phone call. Staring at the ordinary small house before him, his gaze hardened with malice. “The mastermind behind this insists on a face-to-face meeting. How could I refuse such an invitation?”

Jake swung open the door and spotted a man murmuring words about wishing Roderick rest in peace, his head lowered. The man’s actions seemed to display deep respect.

Jake gazed at the man’s back icily and said, “No need for theatrics. Who exactly are you?”

Feigning surprise, Stan turned his head. He didn’t wear his mask. Flashing a smile at Jake, he said, “I didn’t expect you to hold me in such high regard as to meet me in person. Does this mean you consider me a genuine threat?”

Jake eyed Stan, finding the latter unfamiliar. Logically speaking, Stan’s terrifying scar should have left an impression on him, should they have met before. Yet, Jake racked his brain but could not place any memory of Stan.

“Who are you?” Jake inquired.

The smile on Stan’s face instantly vanished. He straightened up his clothes slowly, his eyes glinting with a chilling intensity.

Stan advanced toward Jake, step by deliberate step. “Mr. Reeves, does my appearance look like a demon crawled up from hell? Have you ever thought that a casual remark you made years ago might have led to the deaths of two innocents?”

As he listened, Jake’s confusion deepened. “I really don’t recognize you. Have you mistaken me for someone else?”

Stan got emotional at Jake’s words. He charged forward and gripped Jake’s collar. “I am not mistaken. I remembered it clearly! It was definitely you!”

Witnessing Stan’s frenzied state, Jake instantly became alert. He swiftly raised his hand and delivered a forceful punch.

Stan reeled back from the impact, panting heavily, his eyes on Jake filled with the ferocity of a wild animal confronting its prey.

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