Chapter 496



Kallie reached the stairwell, closing the door behind her. In the dimly lit space, the soft glow of the green emergency light was the only source of illumination. She stood still, breathing deeply, allowing the darkness to swallow her as she slowly regained her composure.

Just then, she heard footsteps approaching. She turned quickly, ready to defend herself, but a firm hand grasped her wrist before she could react. A familiar voice spoke softly. “If I had been a second slower, you would’ve slapped me.”

The tension in Kallie’s eyes eased, though her annoyance lingered. “You were sneaking up on me. How am I supposed to know it wasn’t someone with bad intentions? You can’t blame me for that.”

Jake released her wrist and stood across from her, his expression serious, as if searching for something in her face. “Are you still angry with me?”

Kallie hesitated, unsure how to respond. What she had said to him before had been a bit too much. After everything that happened today and seeing how Jake had protected Sophie, her feelings were no longer as clear.

Kallie bit her lip, speaking softly. “Whether mad or not doesn’t matter. You saved Sophie today, and for that, I’m grateful.”

Jake chuckled, his laughter deep and knowing. “It doesn’t matter as long as you don’t hold anything against me,” he said softly, his eyes locking onto hers. “If you ever need anything, just call me. I promise I’ll never push you to do something you don’t want.”

Kallie shook her head, feeling a little conflicted. “Wouldn’t that be rude of me? I can’t take advantage of you like that.”

Jake’s expression grew more serious. “It’s alright. I owe you, Kallie. I’m willing to do anything for you.”

His voice held a weight that made her pause. She could sense the sincerity behind his words, and her heart raced. Kallie turned away, not trusting herself to meet his gaze, thoughts swirling in her mind. Had he said these words to others before? Was this just another promise he made to anyone?

Unexpectedly, Kallie found herself voicing her doubts aloud. Her words escaped before she could stop them. Jake hastily stepped forward. “No, I’ve only ever said that to you,” he said firmly. “Not to anyone else—Jack, who has done me favors in the past. I’ve wronged you and ignored your feelings. I owe you, Kallie, and I want to make things right. I’ve been proud, and I’ve done things wrong, but I’m only willing to compromise for you. Don’t believe me? I swear…”

Kallie coughed, cutting him off before he could continue. “Okay, enough of that. Go back to Sophie. She is probably scared being alone in the ward.”

Kallie glanced at him, a hint of amusement in her voice. “And don’t say things like that again. Sophie might hear and start laughing at us.”

Jake had been tense, but Kallie’s undertone made him smile. His smile broke wide and genuine, brighter than ever. His eyes lit up with joy. “Alright, I get it. But tell me, honey, what do you want to eat? I’ll have it brought to you right away.”

Kallie pouted. “Don’t call me that.”

But Jake, acting as though he hadn’t heard her, kept trailing behind, calling her “honey” at every opportunity. As they passed Edgar, Edgar couldn’t help but glance at Jake. It was the first time he’d seen Jake so genuinely happy.

Time flew by, and soon Sophie had nearly fully recovered. Meanwhile, the Turner Group’s reputation soared, attracting a growing number of customers eager to buy its products.

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