Chapter 438



Joanna thought about it for a moment, and then it clicked. Jake had planned this all meticulously. He’d waited for the perfect moment to strike when everyone was watching. He’d used public opinion to deliver a knockout punch, leaving her with no way to fight back. The sun was still shining, but a shiver ran down Joanna’s spine.

Just then, Jake looked straight into the camera. His dark eyes were sharp, piercing, like a hawk’s, seeing right through Joanna. Fear and unease washed over Joanna.

She took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and gritted her teeth. “Jake, you brought this on yourself!”

By the time Kallie and Sophie arrived, the venue holding the conference was swarming with people. Kallie spotted a few cars that belonged to the Reeves family. Her heart skipped a beat. She grabbed a reporter who was rushing past. “What are the Reeves family doing here?”

The reporter shook his head. “No idea—I’m just here for the press conference.”

Kallie’s face went pale. She rushed inside, holding Sophie tight. Once inside, Kallie saw the Reeves family pointing at Jake. “Don’t listen to him! He’s Jake, the one who killed his own mother! How can you trust a murderer?” The crowd erupted into chaos.

The reporters swarmed around Jake like a pack of hungry hyenas, eager to tear into fresh prey. They surged forward, cameras flashing, desperate to get closer. A few bold ones even tried to yank off Jake’s mask, desperate for a glimpse of the face beneath.

But Jake was no easy prey. Flanked by a wall of formidable bodyguards, he remained untouchable. Getting close enough to remove his mask was out of the question.

Kallie’s heart pounded as she spotted Stan. Without a second thought, she rushed toward him, her steps quick and determined. “Stan!” Kallie called out, her voice icy despite the paleness of her face. “This man is my fiancé, not—”

Stan lazily lifted his head and said, “Oh, Kallie. Are you getting nervous now that Jake’s secret might be exposed?”

Kallie drew in a deep breath, composing herself. “Jake ditched me for Sarah. Why would I take him back now? He nearly killed my daughter and me with Sarah. I hate—”

Stan’s gaze lingered on her, his expression teasing yet meaningful. “Why the rush, then? If he’s not Jake, why not just prove it? One quick pull of the mask, and all this could be over.”

Kallie’s hands clenched into fists as she fought to keep her voice steady.

“And who do you think you are, daring to demand that he show his face? Push this any further, and you’ll have the Nixon family and the black market breathing down your neck. Can the Reeves family really afford that?

My fiancé values his privacy. Forcing him to reveal himself under public pressure would be a grave mistake. If you pull your men back now, I can forgive you. If you still don’t trust me, I’ll talk to him privately and let you see his face.”

Kallie was stalling, desperate to buy time, hoping Jake’s identity could remain hidden a little longer.

Though the Reeves family might be powerless against Jake, Kallie grasped that he might have some other plan since he had been back for some time yet his identity was still shrouded in secrecy. She owed him a great deal, so she was determined to help him safeguard his secret.

“That’s a fair point you just made,” Stan’s tone was deceptively agreeable, but his men remained in place, and his smile held a predatory edge. Stan reached out, patting Kallie’s shoulder gently. Kallie recoiled, a frown crossing her face as she took a few steps back, feeling a wave of nausea. Stan’s eyes flickered with something dark before he burst into evil laughter.

The evil laughter was so cold and hollow that it caused a shiver down Kallie’s spine. Kallie instinctively shielded Sophie, pulling the little girl closer and covering her eyes.

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