Chapter 636



Jake’s heart ached as he pulled Elma into a tight hug.

Elsewhere, Kallie and Sophie approached Calvin. Luckily, his foot wasn’t badly hurt. He just had some bruises and scratches.

Kallie asked him what happened, but Calvin didn’t tell her the whole story. He just said he got bumped into by accident.

Kallie felt awful and guilty. “I’m so sorry, Calvin. I should have been here sooner,” she said.

Calvin shook his head and tried to change the topic. “Mom, is that little girl doing okay now?”

“She’s getting better,” Kallie nodded. “With the right care, she’ll be back to normal in no time. You two need to be careful and make sure you don’t catch a cold.”

Calvin suddenly felt a little sad. “We are here for fun. But now I’m hurt, and in a week, we have to go back, and you’ll be busy again. It’s all my fault.”

Kallie gently pinched Calvin’s cheek. “We can stay a little longer if you’d like,” she said.

Sophie’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really?” she asked, her voice full of hope. “Don’t you want to rush back to work?”

Kallie laughed softly. “I’m not addicted to work, you know. And being here with you two is actually quite relaxing.” For the past few years, Kallie had buried herself in work just to keep her worries at bay.

Every spare moment, Kallie’s mind replayed the day Jake and Chloe vanished. She’d dream of going back, of changing things, but no matter how many times she rewrote the scene in her head, she couldn’t stop the nightmare. The choice between Jake and Chloe haunted her, a constant ache in her heart.

For three long years, sleep had been a stranger. But now, surrounded by her children, Kallie felt a peace she hadn’t known in years.

Kallie paused to think. “Hey, there’s a local festival coming up in a couple of weeks. I hear it’s a blast. Maybe we could stick around and check it out. Calvin’s foot should be better by then.”

Sophie’s eyes widened with excitement.

Even Calvin, usually so reserved, cracked a grin.

But life had a way of throwing curveballs.

One sunny afternoon, Kallie and Sophie were out shopping when someone suddenly rushed up and hugged Kallie tight.

Kallie was about to shove them off when a familiar voice stopped her cold. “Kallie, I’ve missed you so much!”

“Linsey?” Kallie asked, her voice full of disbelief.

Linsey pulled back, a beaming smile on her face. “Surprise! Didn’t expect to see me here, did you?” After everything that went down with the Brooks family, Ethan had left the country and never returned.

Linsey, heartbroken, had started traveling the world. Kallie and Linsey stayed in touch online, but Kallie never thought she’d bump into Linsey here.

Kallie’s brow furrowed. “Hold on. You never said you were coming here. Did you…” Her voice trailed off, a question hanging in the air.

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