Chapter 71



Sarah’s proposal caused Irene to draw a sharp breath, visibly shocked by the audacity of it. If she hadn’t been holding herself back, Irene might have launched into a full-blown tirade right then and there.

Kallie turned to Jake, her expression unreadable. The thought of merely acting out hand movements, while her rightful role was being usurped without her consent, was a blatant insult to her dignity.

In the past, Kallie might have tolerated such slights, thinking that pleasing Jake would justify her discomfort. But she had learned that passivity only invited more disrespect and manipulation.

Despite her growing realization, a small part of Kallie still hoped Jake would intervene, that he would finally stand up for her against Sarah’s overreach.

For a moment, their eyes met in a silent exchange. Kallie searched for any sign of support from him, but there was none.

Finally, Jake spoke in a neutral tone, “That sounds nice. Kallie, come over.”

“How dare you!” Irene blurted out, her anger uncontained, her fiery gaze locked on Jake.

Kallie, however, responded with a calm smile—a rare, bitter smile that left even Jake momentarily stunned by its beauty.

With a decisive motion, Kallie made her choice: she quit the shoot.

“She’s not doing it!” Irene quickly voiced Kallie’s decision, her eyes flashing toward Sarah. “No one ever said Kallie had to participate. She’s here to assist, not to be forced into something she doesn’t want to do.”

Taking Kallie’s arm firmly, Irene led her toward the exit.

The studio fell into silence. Jake’s irritation was growing, while Sarah, thrown off by the sudden turn of events, forced a tight smile and said to the director, “I’ll gladly do it then.”

“Alright,” the director responded smoothly, already adjusting the camera settings for the next shot.

gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․com holds stories for every mood As Sarah reached for the tweezers, the director paused her with a raised hand. “Hold on, your grip is off. It’s too clumsy. You could damage the artifacts holding the tweezers like that,” he said, echoing Kallie’s previous advice.

Sarah looked up, a mix of confusion and embarrassment in her eyes. “How do you want me to hold them then?”

The director pulled up a clip from the previous day’s footage, showing Kallie’s technique. He played the video, emphasizing her precise movements.

Sarah watched, her face tightening as she saw Kallie’s skill. The comparison clearly stung, her expression souring.

When she tried to proceed by picking up a magnifying glass, the director stopped her again, pointing out another mistake. “Your positioning is still wrong. Do you even know how to use these tools? We didn’t cover this yesterday.”

Sarah glanced at the unfamiliar tools, realizing she didn’t know where to start. Flustered, she turned to Jake, seeking help. “What should I do?”

“I’ll find someone to handle this,” Jake said flatly, reaching for his phone without any sign of concern.

“Alright, Mr. Reeves,” the director replied professionally. “We only have this morning to shoot. This afternoon, the studio will be used by another crew, and I have other commitments.”

The director took a seat, waiting patiently for Jake to resolve the issue.

As time ticked away, it became apparent that Jake couldn’t find a replacement quickly enough to instruct Sarah.

“Jake…” Sarah’s voice wavered, her eyes filling with tears as she tried to look pitiful. “Can you please call Kallie back to film the hand movements for me? She’ll listen to you.”

Jake hesitated, recalling Kallie’s firm stance during their recent conversations about divorce. Would she really obey him now?

He sensed a change in her—she was no longer the compliant Kallie who would always bend to his will.

Without a word, Jake left the studio.

Kallie and Irene hadn’t gone far, waiting nearby for their ride.

“Kallie,” Jake called out as he approached.

“What do you want now?” Irene snapped, her voice wary and defensive as she stepped in front of Kallie.

“She’s my wife,” Jake said firmly, locking eyes with Irene as he tried to contain his frustration. “I need to speak with Kallie. This doesn’t concern you.”

Irene glared at him, her jaw clenched, but after a brief nod from Kallie, she stepped aside, though her frustration was still evident.

“I need you to film the hand movements,” Jake stated, trying to impose his will on Kallie.

Kallie stood firm, refusing to move. She gestured her refusal without hesitation.

“Just do as I say,” Jake responded, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face at her defiance. “If you cooperate this time…”

Before he could finish, Kallie gestured quickly, asking if he would agree to the divorce if she complied with the shoot. She made it clear she would help only if he agreed to divorce.

Jake was taken aback by her audacity to use the divorce as leverage. He let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Divorce? Are you trying to negotiate with me?” His laughter faded as he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer in a show of intimidation. “Just because you work for the Hayes family, don’t think you can do whatever you want. How long do you think they’ll protect you? If I go after them, do you really think they’ll stand by you?”

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