Chapter 60



“She clumsily spilled juice all over me!” Shirley exclaimed, clearly upset.

“I’m sorry! Let me help you clean it up, okay? I’m really, really sorry!” Cicely hurriedly apologized, bowing deeply to Shirley, her demeanor meek.

Shirley continued to chastise Cicely a few more times to release her frustration before she finally let Cicely go.

Kallie observed the situation from a distance, struck by how oddly flawless the timing seemed. Sarah arrived promptly, coincidentally familiar with the woman who had caused the spill. It was almost too perfect. In such a vast mall, this woman had just happened to walk by the store’s entrance and collided with Shirley. It seemed almost orchestrated.

“Hello, I’m Sarah. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?” Sarah approached Shirley with a respectful and composed air.

“Yes, I remember you from when you were little…” Shirley hesitated, taking in Sarah’s expression.

Sarah’s reputation as a shameless mistress was no secret among their social circles, and Shirley, being Jake’s mother, was certainly aware of it.

Shirley harbored disdain for Sarah, wishing instead for Jake to leave his current wife, Kallie, for a woman of stature and pedigree. Yet, encountering Sarah here today, Shirley found her initial impression surprisingly positive.

“Oh, you remember me? That makes me elated! Since we’ve bumped into each other, how about grabbing a bite together? What do you say?” Sarah was as thrilled as if she had hit the jackpot when she learned Shirley remembered her. She affectionately clasped Shirley’s arm.

“Well… How about having dinner at my place? You’ve helped me out and kept that woman from bothering me!” Shirley proposed, shooting Kallie a sharp look from a distance.

Despite Sarah’s tarnished reputation and her family’s lesser status, Shirley found Sarah infinitely preferable to Kallie.

“Can I really come over for dinner? That’s wonderful!” Sarah exclaimed, her voice brimming with childlike excitement.

“Let’s get you out of those wet clothes first. Come on. I’ll help you change,” Sarah said, easing Melinda aside as she took Shirley’s hand, leading her toward the changing room.

With nothing left to keep her there, Kallie texted Gilbert for a ride. It would be a while before Gilbert arrived, and Shirley and the others were quick to leave.

By the time Kallie reached home, Shirley, Melinda, and Sarah were already gathered in the living room, and Jake had returned as well.

Sarah continued to hold Shirley’s hand, chatting and laughing, lighting up the room with her smiles. Jake, typically stern, relaxed in a single chair nearby, his demeanor softened.

Kallie observed with a twinge of sadness, thinking they looked like a family. It would have been better if she had seen it earlier. Jake’s affection and Shirley’s fondness for Sarah were clear. Soon, Sarah would bear Jake a healthy heir, solidifying their happy family picture.

“Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.” The butler approached to announce that dinner was served. Shirley, with a warm smile, invited Sarah to join them, inadvertently excluding Melinda. Kallie was left unnoticed.

As Kallie walked toward the stairs, passing by the sofa, Jake intercepted her. “Dinner’s ready. Aren’t you hungry?” he asked.

Kallie hesitated, and at his words, Sarah and Shirley paused their conversation to look in her direction.

“Kallie, come and have dinner with us,” Sarah called out, her tone gentle, sounding like a compassionate hostess.

“Why invite her? She’s an adult. She won’t let herself starve,” Shirley remarked with a frown, her voice tinged with disdain.

Feeling more like an intruder in someone else’s home than a member of the household, Kallie couldn’t bring herself to join them. She shook her head and gestured to Jake that she had no appetite and preferred to rest for a while.

Then, Kallie turned and ascended the stairs. Jake stayed behind and didn’t follow her. Once Kallie reached her bedroom, she closed the door, cutting off the sound of Shirley’s loud voice. Leaning against the door, she allowed herself a quiet cry.

Roderick, before his passing, had encouraged Kallie to get along with Jake, but likely never foresaw such a day. Kallie pondered what advice Roderick would offer if he were still alive. Would he suggest persevering, or would he think it best to part ways?

Drawing a deep breath, Kallie resolved herself. Ever since she was young, Roderick had advised her never to suffer in silence and not to cling to what wasn’t meant to be hers.

Kallie no longer felt obliged to hover around Jake like a burden to him. After five years without winning his affection, she realized there was no reason to persist in a joyless marriage. Moreover, she couldn’t continue living a life filled with discontent.

Kallie pulled out her phone and sent a message to Brent. “I’m ready to start working as an advisor in your company anytime. But could I ask you for a favor?”

Brent responded swiftly, “That’s wonderful! My grandfather will be thrilled! How can I assist you? I’ll help however I can.”

“Could I possibly get an advance on my salary for the next two years? That’s twenty million. I urgently need some cash…” Kallie fumbled for words to explain her situation, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. As she phrased her response, she accidentally sent the half-completed message.

Although Linsey had offered to loan her ten million, Kallie knew assembling such a sum would require pulling resources from multiple places. By comparison, the Hayes family had deeper pockets, and if Brent could agree, Kallie preferred to manage the financial matter independently.

Yet, twenty million was no small amount. Jerome had already stretched generosity by offering to advance Kallie a year’s salary, and Kallie felt her current ask might be pushing boundaries. Aware of the magnitude of her request and the possibility of not fulfilling her responsibilities, and consequently not being able to repay the advance, Kallie typed again. “I can draft an IOU. I promise I won’t let you down.”

But before she could send her message, Brent’s reply popped up. “No problem at all! Just send me your bank details, and I’ll arrange the transfer immediately!”

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