Chapter 24



“Hey, I could smell something foul from a mile off. Looks like it was just a couple of piles of garbage!” Sarah’s friend had a razor-sharp tongue and a cruel nature. She pinched her nose, shot Kallie and Linsey a scornful glance, and rolled her eyes dramatically.

“People who bark are one thing, but talking dogs? Now, that’s new to me,” Linsey snapped instantly. “This is a club, not a park for dogs to wander in. Hey, manager! Are you really allowing these lowlifes as members?”

“Who are you calling lowlifes?” Sarah’s friend exploded in anger.

Linsey stood her ground, undeterred. “I’m obviously referring to you. Can’t you grasp simple things? You’re really stupid, aren’t you?”

The club manager hurried over at once. These exclusive clubs with membership requirements typically welcomed only the elite. The Brooks family was well-known locally, so the manager recognized Linsey immediately. “Apologies, Miss Brooks, for any inconvenience,” he said, trying to soothe Linsey’s irritation.

Linsey yanked out her gold membership card and flung it at the manager. “I brought my friend here for a spa day. Where’s your best natural hot spring massage pool? Book it for us, now!”

“I’d like that one too,” Sarah interjected suddenly.

“Um, miss…” The manager, not recognizing Sarah and seeing her conflict with the valued guest Linsey, began to apologize, “You haven’t booked ahead…”

“And neither has she, right?” Sarah retorted, pulling a gold membership card from her purse.

Caught off guard, the club manager was flustered, not having seen Sarah before. “I apologize. I don’t recognize this card. May I know who it belongs to?”

“Jake’s,” Sarah said with a smile, “Jake Reeves.”

At the mention of Jake, who held far more influence than the Brooks family, the manager’s demeanor shifted noticeably. “Ah, you’re a friend of Mr. Reeves! Please, come right in!”

“Hold on!” Linsey interjected, stepping forward.

“I’m sorry, Miss Brooks,” the manager said, his face clouded with worry. He knew that neither he nor the Brooks could afford to cross Jake.

“But is it really Jake’s card she’s using?” Linsey challenged, eyeing Sarah skeptically. “What if she stole it from him? Aren’t you going to verify that?”

The manager hesitated, influenced by Linsey’s questioning.

“You’re accusing me of theft?” Sarah retorted with a sneer, not waiting for the manager’s response. She pulled out her phone. “Fine, I’ll call Jake right now and have him come here. Then we’ll see how bold you remain!”

With that, Sarah settled onto a sofa in the lobby and made the call. Meanwhile, Linsey, unbothered, guided Kallie to sit beside her. It was Kallie who seemed anxious, tugging at Linsey’s arm and preferring not to have any conflicts.

“What’s there to fear?” Linsey responded confidently. “When Jake arrives, he’ll surely side with you!”

Linsey’s optimism was not unfounded. Over the recent days Kallie spent in the hospital, Jake had visited daily, sometimes bringing lunch, sometimes dinner, and his demeanor toward Kallie had softened significantly.

So Linsey’s opinion of Jake improved. She continued to hold out hope that Kallie and Jake would eventually get along well.

However, Kallie remained skeptical about Jake’s acts of kindness, unconvinced that they signified any real desire to reconcile. She shook her head dismissively, typing down her thoughts on her phone. “He won’t hold Sarah accountable. Remember the slander incident? Sarah came out of that just fine, didn’t she?”

Indeed, Sarah had likely played a role in that incident, though no concrete evidence ever surfaced. Despite everything, Jake’s relationship with Sarah appeared unaltered by the incident. He didn’t suspect Sarah.

Therefore, Kallie had little faith that Jake would defend her once he showed up. Reading Kallie’s phone screen, Linsey’s face fell. She rose, pulling Kallie to leave with her, but Sarah’s friend was quick to notice.

“What’s going on here? You two look scared. Trying to make a quick exit? Think Mr. Reeves will come and handle you?”

“It’s not certain who he’ll handle!” Linsey retorted, her irritation peaking as she sat back down with a defiant huff. “Just wait and see!”

As the minutes passed, Jake indeed arrived. Despite being in the middle of his workday, he had left everything behind at Sarah’s summons and hurried to the club.

Upon seeing Jake at the entrance, a sharp pang struck Kallie’s heart. The man she yearned for was seemingly at the beck and call of another woman…

“Jake!” Sarah dashed toward him, her excitement palpable.

“Mr. Reeves!” Sarah’s friend chimed in, grinning widely as he greeted Jake.

Yet, Jake’s expression darkened the moment his eyes fell on Kallie across the room. “Why are you here?” he asked, his tone laced with confusion and annoyance.

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