Chapter 437



Then she heard the reporters’ pointed questions. “Did Kallie Nixon really kill Charlee Martel?” one reporter questioned. “You didn’t report her to the police. Are you protecting her, or are you an accomplice?”

“You said she was set up. So why didn’t you call the cops? And where’s Charlee Martel’s body?”

“You’re saying the killer was Joanna, Charlee’s own daughter? But they were super close. How’s that even possible?”

“I heard Kallie meddled in Joanna and Ethan’s relationship. Is that true? Do you know anything about it?”

Kallie’s phone slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor. She stood up, shoulders slumping in defeat. She hadn’t expected Jake to take all that heat without saying a word.

At that moment, Kallie’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Truth be told, she hadn’t wanted him to protect her like that. She couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering for her, yet she was reluctant to admit it. Instead, she made excuses and told herself that she just didn’t want to be in his debt again.

With that thought, Kallie made a move to rush out. Sophie was right on her heel. “Mommy, please take me with you! I’m scared you’ll come back like you did last time…”

Tears welled up in Sophie’s eyes, threatening to spill.

After a moment’s thought, Kallie instructed some people to take Sophie with her. Stepping outside, Sophie was chattering away excitedly.

“Today, when Jake went out to deal with those jerks who hurt you, he didn’t let me tag along. He told me to stay home and protect you. Are we gonna go teach them a lesson now?”

Kallie felt a knot form in her throat. “Did he say anything?”

Sophie shook her head.

Kallie sighed. “Honey, from now on, tell me everything Jake says to you, okay?”

Sophie didn’t quite get it, but she nodded obediently.

At the press conference, Jake remained remarkably composed despite the bombshell allegations. He had been gathering evidence all along. One by one, he laid out the damning proof. Witnesses and surveillance footage showed Joanna speeding away from the Martel residence on that fateful day.

Joanna had meticulously erased all the in-house security footage, but she had overlooked this one crucial clip. While the footage didn’t directly link Joanna to the murder, it contradicted her claim of being out of the country when Charlee died.

Previously, facing the media, Joanna had asserted she was out of the country, completely unaware of what had transpired at the Martel house. Yet, the footage clearly captured her leaving the scene of the crime on the very day Charlee died.

And to top it off, Joanna had purchased the same nerve toxin found in Kallie’s system while Joanna was abroad. The evidence piled up, leaving everyone in the room stunned into silence.

Previously watching the press conference with a smug look on her face, Joanna’s composure quickly crumbled.

Before this press conference, Jake had always seemed cornered by Joanna. Joanna hadn’t expected Jake to have so much dirt on her! Why the heck hadn’t he used it before?

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