Chapter 69



Irene bristled with anger at the woman’s insinuation, but Kallie gently tugged at Irene’s sleeve, signaling her to remain calm. Kallie gestured to Irene in sign language, saying, “Things don’t always go as planned, but as long as we give it our best, there will be no regrets.”

These wise words had once been shared with Kallie by Roderick.

With a composed nod, Kallie stepped back, allowing the test shoot to proceed.

“Action!” the director called, though his voice lacked enthusiasm. He didn’t comment further as the camera rolled. The woman positioned herself skillfully, instantly finding a flattering angle. She moved with the composure of a practiced student, her profile photogenic under the camera’s gaze.

When the cameras stopped, the woman turned confidently to the director. “How did that look?” she asked.

The director’s response was lukewarm, his brow furrowing slightly. “It was… acceptable,” he muttered, unimpressed.

Sensing what she thought was her moment, the woman looked at Kallie dismissively. “So, I suppose that wraps it up for Kallie, doesn’t it? Thanks for your time.”

Irene’s frustration was obvious, but Kallie calmly motioned for her to interpret her next words carefully.

Sidestepping the woman’s comment, Irene addressed the director after translating Kallie’s sign language. “The techniques used just now don’t fully capture the essence of the artifacts.”

“Oh? Explain,” the director’s interest was piqued as he leaned forward.

“The way she handled the tweezers was too forceful. It could leave permanent marks on the artifacts,” Kallie observed, pointing out the errors. Irene translated her words with precision. “Also, her approach angle was wrong. Anyone familiar with artifact restoration would know it’s inappropriate. Plus, she held the magnifying glass upside down. From that angle, it’s impossible to properly examine the details.”

As Kallie’s list of corrections grew, the woman’s confidence faded, her expression darkening under the scrutiny.

“Let me try again,” the woman pleaded with the director, realizing her mistakes.

But the director’s patience snapped. His voice grew stern as he replied, “Do you understand the essence of what we’re doing here? This is about professionalism. We’re promoting our school’s new major, not making just any ad!”

His frustration was evident as he continued, “You may have the look, but your techniques are wrong. If we continue this way, the final product will be misleading. It could even cast doubts on the credibility of our program.”

Ga ln ovels . com fuels your imagination He paused, visibly irritated, then fixed a firm gaze on the woman. “Why are you still here?” he asked sharply.

Her confidence shattered, the woman quietly gathered her things and left.

“Sorry about that,” the director apologized to Kallie and Irene. “She’s the daughter of one of the school’s directors. She wanted to audition, and I felt obligated to give her a chance.”

Irene, concerned, asked, “But you were harsh. Aren’t you worried she’ll cause trouble through her father?”

The director shrugged casually. “My dad has more influence than hers. She won’t dare cause problems.”

He then turned his focus back to Kallie, helping her prepare for her turn in front of the camera.

“You don’t need to exaggerate your emotions,” he explained. “We’re going for professionalism, not a commercial or music video. Just focus on your techniques, and that will be perfect.”

Kallie nodded, understanding the expectations.

The test shoot proceeded smoothly. With the preliminary issues resolved, they planned to return the next day for the final shoot, confident in the setup.

After finishing at the university, Kallie and Irene headed to their accommodation, a nearby hotel arranged by Gregory. They checked into two adjacent rooms, both in excellent condition.

“This trip feels so luxurious,” Irene remarked, delighted. “Mr. Lyndon treats us much better than the Hayes Group ever did!”

Before heading to her own room, Irene checked on Kallie. “Dinner will be up soon. If you don’t need anything, I’m off to relax in the massage tub!”

Kallie nodded, signaling that she was fine and encouraging Irene to enjoy her evening.

Left alone, Kallie changed into something more comfortable and began to relax. Her peace was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Assuming it was her dinner, Kallie casually went to open it. But the moment she unlocked the door, it burst open, and a figure pushed her back against the wall.

It was Jake, his presence intense and sudden, his familiar scent filling the room. His expression was stern, his energy frantic as if he had come straight here in a hurry.

“What’s gotten into you? Feeling bold? Not interested in listening to me anymore?” Jake’s tone was accusatory as he gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

But Kallie’s response was not what Jake expected.

The once tearful and vulnerable eyes he was used to seeing in Kallie were now cold and detached, as if she were looking at a stranger.

This steely gaze took Jake by surprise. He had never seen such an expression on her before.

Kallie mouthed a simple “yes,” confirming that she no longer cared to follow his commands.

Stunned by her audacity, Jake let out a frustrated chuckle before leaning in to kiss her.

But before he could, Kallie’s knee sharply connected with his abdomen. The sudden pain caused him to stagger backward, clutching his stomach.

Seizing the moment, Kallie quickly put distance between them and swung the door wide open, signaling it was time for him to leave.

“I’m your husband…” Jake began, his words trailing off as he hesitated, searching for the authority he was used to. After a moment, he straightened up, meeting her unwavering gaze. “I’m staying with you tonight.”

Without hesitation, Kallie firmly declined.

A cold smile tugged at the corners of Jake’s mouth as he glanced around the room before picking up Kallie’s bag.

“So, how was the shoot?” Jake asked as he began to unzip her bag.

Kallie hadn’t expected him to invade her personal space so boldly. At first, she stood still, taken aback. Then she suddenly remembered something important. She lunged forward, trying to grab her bag back.

Inside was her pregnancy test report—a deeply personal document she couldn’t allow Jake to find.

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