Chapter 487



“Truth be told, it is the same designer who got embroiled in that plagiarism mess.”

Clayton looked even more astonished but remained silent, and a pause fell between them. Kallie sipped her coffee with serene patience. By the time she reached her third cup, Clayton stood up. “I’ll mull it over, Miss Nixon,” he replied before heading out.

It wasn’t until the Morgan family car had left the underground garage that Edgar started the engine. He glanced at Jake, who was resting with his eyes closed in the back seat. “Mr. Reeves, should we tail him?”

Jake massaged his temples and replied, “No need. How long was he with Kallie?”

Edgar glanced at his watch and replied, “Only twenty minutes. That’s hardly enough time. I doubt they struck a deal.”

Yet, Jake grinned. “You obviously don’t know Kallie well enough.”

Jake’s smile lingered briefly before a thought seemed to erase it. “I was with her for just five minutes before getting kicked out. Who am I to judge?”

Edgar almost replied but thought better of it, feeling Jake was sounding quite like a disgruntled partner now. Then, a notification chimed. It was a text from Kallie. The sullen look on Jake’s face vanished instantly. Her message was brief: “Pick up the kid.”

Jake immediately asked Edgar to drive fast. It felt less like he was following an order and more like he was accepting a personal favor.

During their stay in Halstead, Kallie had previously arranged a class here catering to Sophie’s interests, fearing she might get bored at home. Trent normally arrived an hour early to collect Sophie. Today, however, Kallie had requested Jake’s presence specifically, sparing Trent the need to mobilize the bodyguards.

Despite Jake’s past mistakes, Kallie had maintained her belief that he was a good father. However, her confidence in this belief would soon falter. Within thirty minutes of receiving Kallie’s message, Jake was outside the building. He scanned the area, but Sophie was nowhere to be seen.

Puzzled, Jake entered the building and was greeted by a faint crying sound. He quickly identified it as belonging to Sophie and, feeling a pang of anxiety, hastened toward the source. Approaching the door, Jake’s heart sank as the scene before him came into view.

Sophie was seated, sobbing quietly, while a familiar figure loomed over her. It was none other than Anna! Despite her gentle smile, Anna’s eyes betrayed chilling indifference.

“Come now. You’ve broken my things. Surely, you can muster an apology?” Anna’s voice was smooth, yet it earned an unmistakable edge. “Isn’t that basic logic?”

Lifting her tear-streaked face, Sophie retorted with defiance, “You’re lying! I didn’t break anything. You hit me first! It’s you who should be apologizing, not me!”

Anna’s smile waned, replaced by a slowly encroaching aura of menace, though she remained outwardly calm. Lenny chimed in, “Miss, let her go. She’s just a child. She knows nothing.”

Anna snapped, “Oh, come on! She may be a child, but I cannot stand her face.”

Jake rushed over and scooped up the weeping Sophie. He gave Anna a stern look and questioned, “What are you doing here?”

Anna’s expression shifted quickly to one of innocence and sweetness, yet her words chilled the room. “I couldn’t find you, so I had to make an effort. Jake, why did you lie to me? You and Kallie were married and even had a child. Why keep that a secret?”

.

.

.