Chapter 646



Cara took a deep breath, composing herself. She turned her icy gaze on the butler’s nephew. “You got a good look at that woman?” she asked, her voice sharp.

The nephew nodded eagerly. “Yes, ma’am. I’d know her anywhere.”

Cara let out a humorless laugh. “Good,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “Here’s your chance to redeem yourself. Stay here and keep an eye on her. She’ll have to leave eventually. I want you to take a picture of her, discreetly. Then, send it to the butler. You know what to do after that, right?”

The butler nodded, a sinister smile spreading across his face. “Of course, madam. Consider it done. A nuisance like that woman doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as us.”

Elsewhere, Kallie woke up in her own bed, Linsey sleeping soundly beside her.

Kallie stared at the ceiling, replaying the encounter with Jake in her mind. Did she imagine things at that time? But it felt so vivid. She could almost still smell Jake’s distinctive scent, a clean, crisp fragrance. But why did he claim not to know her?

Lost in her thoughts, Kallie didn’t notice Linsey stirring beside her. “Kallie?” Linsey mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

“You’re finally awake! You scared the hell out of us yesterday. You said you weren’t feeling well and went outside to throw up. I waited for ages, but you didn’t come back. Wayne and I went looking for you and found you passed out on the floor.”

Linsey’s voice jolted Kallie back to the present. She gave a sheepish grin. “Sorry for freaking you out,” she mumbled.

Linsey frowned, her voice laced with concern. “Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Linsey gently pressed her hand to Kallie’s forehead. “Good, you don’t feel feverish. When I found you yesterday, you were a complete mess, crying your eyes out and burning up. I thought you were sick. You really scared the hell out of me.”

Kallie cringed, remembering her drunken meltdown. She resolved to drink less next time.

A thought struck Kallie, and she looked at Linsey with a serious expression. “Do you remember seeing anyone else around when you found me? There was a guy there. Jake, actually. I was drunk, and someone tried to… Well, it doesn’t matter. The point is, Jake saved me.” Kallie’s eyes were filled with hope.

Linsey hesitated and then slowly shook her head.

“I didn’t see anyone else. Not Jake, not anyone. You were all alone. I looked everywhere, but he’s nowhere to be found. Kallie, I hate to say it, but you need to forget about him and move on.”

The sparkle in Kallie’s eyes dimmed. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears. It stung, knowing that Jake might never return. Maybe it was all just a dream. It had to be. There was no other explanation for Jake not recognizing her, for the coldness in his eyes.

Kallie forced a smile, trying to reassure her friend. “I’m okay, Linsey. Really.”

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