Chapter 45



Spotting Jake on the first floor clutching food containers, Kallie froze in her tracks.

The memory of Jake forcibly kissing her in front of Gregory flashed through her mind, making her hesitant to move closer—especially today, with everyone gathered downstairs for the meal. The prospect of Jake pulling another stunt filled her with dread. It would be utterly mortifying in such a public setting.

“Why are you just standing there? Come and eat,” Jake called out, noticing her reluctance.

To her surprise, his tone was inviting rather than demanding.

Trying to appear composed, Kallie approached him cautiously. Jake guided her to a seat on the sofa and began unveiling the contents of the containers one by one.

Although the meal was brought in, the chefs and nutritionists Jake had employed were top-notch, elevating the food well above ordinary takeout.

If Jake weren’t there, Kallie might have been inclined to share the feast with everyone else. However, Jake’s presence was overwhelming, his imposing aura deterring anyone from coming too close.

Kallie lowered her gaze and began to eat hurriedly.

Jake observed her for a moment before leaning closer, his voice low. “What’s bothering you?”

Startled, Kallie nearly choked, managing to swallow her bite before turning to look at him, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

“You’re bold now,” Jake remarked.

Blinking, Kallie felt a surge of injustice. She was merely trying to enjoy a meal outside her usual confines. Why did Jake feel the need to comment on her behavior? Why couldn’t she just have her moment of freedom?

Shielding herself behind Jake’s body, Kallie cautiously raised her hand, her gestures hidden from others. She covertly signed to Jake that she had the entire fifty thousand from Hayden after handling the restoration for Stella.

Jake’s expression darkened as he turned to face her.

Kallie hesitated before suggesting they handle the divorce now, proposing to hand over the fifty thousand to him immediately while paying the rest bit by bit.

Kallie’s words visibly altered the air around Jake. She sensed the shift and instinctively stepped back, instantly regretting her decision to mention the divorce in such a setting.

“This rush for the divorce?” Jake sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Found your next husband already? That eager to be rid of me?”

Color rose in Kallie’s cheeks. It was absurd. Jake was the one who had moved on to someone else. How dare he make such accusations?

Words failed her. Though she had laid out all her reasons for the divorce, Jake stubbornly clung to their failing marriage, ignoring her financial independence.

Jake’s mood darkened further as he stared into Kallie’s earnest eyes. Memories of the azure glazed porcelain set Jerome had gifted her surfaced in his mind. Valued in the hundreds of millions, its sale could easily fetch a billion. Kallie had the means to pay off the twenty million he had demanded and still pursue the divorce. His leverage over her was slipping away.

“Why are you in such a rush?” Jake pressed, his tone reflecting a mix of curiosity and fury when Kallie didn’t respond.

Locking eyes with Jake, Kallie gestured that she thought he was supposed to be the one rushing for a divorce. The reason behind his dragging his feet baffled her. She had assumed he would love the idea of expediting the divorce since he could marry Sarah afterward.

Kallie tensed, expecting Jake to lose his temper publicly. However, while his anger was palpable, he simply stood up and walked away without uttering a word.

Kallie pondered what his silence signified, a rueful smile playing on her lips as she continued her meal. Despite the years they had shared, she realized she had never truly understood him.

After finishing her meal, Kallie went back upstairs to resume her work.

Later, as evening fell and the sky grew dark, Jerome’s loud voice echoed from below, announcing his arrival. “I’m here to explain the situation and apologize to Hayden on my granddaughter’s behalf.”

True to his word at the banquet, Jerome had made the trip to make amends with Hayden personally.

Choosing to stay out of the fray, Kallie turned on her desk lamp and focused on her tasks.

Soon, footsteps neared, halting at her desk.

“Kallie, have you already started on the restoration of the azure glazed porcelain? Impressive!” Jerome exclaimed as he appeared with Hayden.

Kallie stood up quickly in response, but Jerome gestured for her to remain seated. “Please, continue your work and don’t mind us.”

Kallie smiled at Jerome, gesturing that she had just finished the task.

The azure glazed porcelain set consisted of eight pieces, five of which had various defects. The piece Kallie had been working on was the least damaged, enabling her to complete it swiftly within a day.

Kallie illuminated the translucent, shallow dish with a beam of light, signaling Jerome to take a closer look.

“Wow! I can’t spot a single flaw! How did you manage this? Some sort of magic?” Jerome quipped, utterly bewildered by the impeccable restoration.

If the material had been entirely opaque, perhaps it would have hidden any signs of repair when glued. But with a semi-transparent material, any fix should leave noticeable marks. Yet, the dish Kallie had mended showed no signs whatsoever—a feat that seemed nothing short of miraculous.

Beside Kallie, Hayden beamed with pride, praising her efforts. “You’re really something when you put your mind to it.”

“You’re destined for great things! Us older folks can’t help but feel a bit jealous,” Jerome commented jokingly, complimenting Kallie.

Then, Jerome asked, “Kallie, how about I take you out for a meal as a way to make amends for my granddaughter’s behavior?”

Kallie blinked, taken aback, not quite catching his drift. Could Jerome possibly know about the bookstore fire from yesterday? Was it something he heard from Jake?

Piecing it together, Kallie guessed that Jake might have expected Jerome to visit her today. So, she agreed to the meal, deciding not to inform Jake that she wouldn’t be home for dinner tonight.

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