Chapter 27



Panting slightly from the dance, Kallie felt a rush of energy. Jake led Kallie away from the dance floor, her cheeks glowing with a flush of excitement. Kallie’s smile, now brighter and more sincere, showed a spark of her old self reemerging.

Turning to Jake, Kallie gestured, saying he should check on Sarah since Sarah might be impatient. Jake gave her a long, evaluating look. “Stay here,” he instructed, his tone gentle yet firm.

Kallie nodded in agreement, her eyes following him as he melded into the crowd. She accepted a glass of orange juice from a passing waiter, feeling a twinge of sadness as she watched him disappear.

It surprised Kallie, this chance to be by Jake’s side again, especially after their marriage had seemed to set their paths so firmly apart.

Had her younger self foreseen the insecurities this marriage would bring, would she have felt deep disappointment?

Kallie’s thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tap on her arm.

“Hello, I’m Cyril Walker,” a young man greeted her with a polite smile. He had an air of familiarity about him. “I’ve worked with Mr. Reeves before, but this is my first time meeting you. Would you care to dance with me?”

Cyril held out his hand to Kallie, his invitation clear.

Kallie’s eyes widened in surprise as she was asked to dance by someone else. She couldn’t help but wonder if Jake would be upset by this. However, since the man claimed to be Jake’s client, she reasoned that it should be all right.

Kallie enjoyed the rhythm of the dance floor and had noticed others changing partners frequently. Thus, she nodded in agreement and placed her hand in Cyril’s waiting palm.

Across the room, Sarah made her way toward Jake with eager strides. “You’re breaking my heart in front of everyone again. What are you going to do to make it up to me this time?” she questioned.

“Anything you want,” Jake responded casually, as if throwing money at the problem could fix anything.

“Why did you come here?” he queried.

Sarah’s face momentarily tightened before she retorted, “Didn’t you tell me to meet you tonight? Who would have guessed you’d be dancing with that mute! You even took her out to style her hair and choose a dress while you ignored me!”

Unconcerned with the onlookers, Sarah looped her arm through Jake’s and strolled toward the dance floor. Suddenly, she gasped dramatically and covered her mouth. “Oh my, why is that mute dancing with another man?”

Jake’s expression turned stormy at the sight. Cyril was holding Kallie close by the waist, moving her across the dance floor with elegance, her face alight with joy. There was a considerable distance between Cyril and Kallie, and Cyril’s actions were nothing but courteous. He showed no intention of taking advantage of Kallie.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jake made his way toward them with determined strides. Watching him depart swiftly, Sarah clenched her teeth, her expression fierce.

She whispered sharply, “Cyril, you coward! Scared that Jake might punch you? You didn’t even dare lay a finger on Kallie!”

As the rhythm of the music intensified, Kallie danced faster, her smile widening. She hadn’t felt this joyful in ages. But suddenly, a strong grip seized her wrist, yanking her away from Cyril’s embrace. She stumbled into another set of arms.

Looking up, Kallie found herself staring into Jake’s enraged eyes, her heart skipping a beat.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Reeves, I assumed she wanted to dance with me. I didn’t realize it would upset you,” Cyril hastily said, trying to appease Jake with a nervous smile and a bow.

Kallie’s eyes widened in disbelief. Catching Sarah’s gaze from the edge of the crowd, her heart raced. Could it be that Cyril was deliberately arranged to invite her to dance?

“Didn’t I tell you to stay put? Couldn’t you wait? Have you never been to a party before?” Jake pulled Kallie into his arms. His whisper in her ear carried a harsh edge of anger.

“Maybe the little mute doesn’t get out much, hasn’t seen this many people, and got overwhelmed and messed up.” Next to them, Sarah’s voice carried a hint of amusement, almost as if she were making a joke.

Jake paid no heed to Cyril, and once Cyril realized he wasn’t in trouble, he quickly vanished into the crowd.

“Stick with me.” At Jake’s sound of the command, heavy with threat, Kallie bowed her head, and the smile on her face disappeared. She was Jake’s wife, confined to their home by him, with no duties to occupy her. But why couldn’t she be her true self? Was it just because her vocal cords were damaged, rendering her mute?

Jake led Kallie away from the dance floor to a quieter spot. This time, no one dared approach her. Yet, Jake was soon encircled by a group of people eager to flatter and appease him, with Sarah standing by his side as though they were the perfect couple.

Kallie watched them blankly, again puzzled as to why Jake wouldn’t just divorce her.

“Jealous?” Sarah’s voice cut through Kallie’s thoughts.

Sarah had managed to sidle up to Kallie, each of her hands holding a glass of red wine. With a smile, Sarah handed one glass to Kallie.

Although Kallie accepted it automatically, she was cautious and chose not to drink. Sarah didn’t seem bothered by this as she stood facing Kallie, sipping from her own glass. “You know, even though you’re his wife, you’re not really in his heart,” Sarah remarked casually. “He only brought you back because seeing you dance with someone else would embarrass him.”

If Linsey had been there, she would have definitely chastised Sarah, reminding the latter that Jake had been the one who had brought Kallie along in the first place. However, Linsey wasn’t around, and since Sarah didn’t understand sign language, Kallie found it futile to argue.

In a surprising turn of events, Sarah suddenly leaned in closer to Kallie. Startled, Kallie’s eyes went wide. Before she could react, Sarah had seized her hand, the one holding the red wine.

Kallie, mistaking Sarah’s intentions, instinctively stepped back, but Sarah tugged at her hand, causing the red wine to splash all over Sarah’s dress.

“Ah!” Sarah exclaimed, stepping back in mock horror, her white dress now stained red. “I came over just to say hello, and look what you did!”

Sarah’s voice, loud and dramatic, immediately captured the attention of most of the people in the hall.

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