Chapter 74



Kallie regarded Jake with a calm expression, her expectations low. She suspected that Jake’s questions stemmed from curiosity rather than concern. He wasn’t the type to defend her, and she doubted he would challenge Shirley or shield her from the relentless bullying.

Instead of going into detail, Kallie signed simply, her gestures saying, “Every year, on your mother’s birthday, I end up working like a servant at the mansion for a week. I can’t keep doing this. Is that a problem?”

“Did she force this on you? What exactly were you made to do? What happened last year?” Jake probed, seeking clarity. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”

Kallie nonchalantly listed a few of her previous tasks in sign language, her gaze distant and cold. She described duties akin to those of any household servant, including washing dishes for all the guests and kneeling to scrub the hallways. Cleaning the dusty cellar left her with a persistent cough from her allergies.

Jake’s face slowly registered disbelief. “Why didn’t you bring this up sooner?”

Kallie’s response was sharp, her gestures asking, “Would you have believed me if I had? Even now, would you believe me? When have you ever believed me?”

Jake fell silent, recognizing his long-standing skepticism toward Kallie and others. He often relied on his own judgment, mistrusting the perspectives of those around him. Now, faced with Kallie’s revelations, his initial thought was whether she was fabricating the story to push for a divorce.

Kallie’s eyes were filled with disappointment. She gave Jake a brief, piercing look before turning to gaze out the window, choosing to remain silent.

Jake restarted the engine and began driving toward the house.

“I had no idea about any of this,” Jake muttered, his voice laced with sympathy.

Kallie remained indifferent, giving no response. She knew there were many things Jake didn’t know, but only because he never truly cared enough to find out. If he wanted to know the truth, he could have. His blind eye toward anything involving Sarah was a prime example.

When they arrived at the villa, Jake stopped the car but made no move to exit. Instead, he turned to Kallie. “You go in first.”

Kallie, eager to escape the tension, quickly agreed and stepped out of the car.

Jake, still seated, took a moment to gather his thoughts before deciding to call Shirley.

“What is it, Jake?” Shirley’s voice was light and carefree, as if she was in the middle of a lively game.

“Can you find somewhere quiet? I need to ask you something,” Jake said, his tone serious.

Sensing the gravity in his voice, Shirley excused herself and moved to a more private area. “What’s the matter? Is something wrong with the company?”

Without hesitation, Jake asked, “When Kallie came to help at the mansion for your birthday last year, what exactly did you have her do?”

There was a brief pause before Shirley replied, “Why do you want to know?”

“I just need to know,” Jake insisted.

Shirley sighed. “She helped with the party preparations—organizing the guest list and checking what was needed. That’s all. She slept in most mornings.”

“Is that the truth?” Jake pressed, his tone skeptical. He knew Kallie wasn’t the type to sleep her mornings away.

“Absolutely! When have I ever lied to you?” Shirley responded, her voice filled with mock innocence.

Jake paused for a moment before revealing what Kallie had told him. “You didn’t make her do any housework? No scrubbing floors or washing dishes?”

Shirley stammered, caught off guard by the specifics. “Kallie said that? She’s lying! We have housekeepers for that. Why would I make her do those things? I’ve always treated her like a daughter!”

“I caught you trying to hit her with a cane. And that wasn’t the only time,” Jake replied coldly.

Shirley fell silent again, clearly searching for an excuse. After a pause, she finally said, “Yes, I hit her a few times, but only because she made mistakes! Isn’t it my right to discipline her if she’s like a daughter to me?”

“Mistakes? You thought she was involved with Brent?” Jake asked sharply.

“Yes! And even if she wasn’t, she should have kept her distance. Are you telling me I was wrong to think that?” Shirley replied, her tone self-righteous. It was as though, in her mind, Kallie was always at fault, even when she wasn’t.

Jake almost responded but decided against it, biting back his words.

Witnessing Shirley’s attitude unsettled Jake, especially considering how similarly he had treated Kallie in the past.

Neither Shirley nor Jake had ever taken Kallie’s perspective into account, always assuming she wouldn’t speak up for herself due to her muteness. They had judged her by appearances, never seeking the truth, and Kallie had been the one to bear the brunt of their mistreatment.

Without another word, Jake ended the call and immediately dialed another number. “Mateo,” he greeted with respect.

Mateo Schultz had been Roderick’s butler and assistant for years, managing many of the Reeves family’s affairs. Even after Roderick’s passing, he had stayed on, as per Roderick’s arrangements for his retirement.

“Mateo, I need to ask you something,” Jake began, his voice a mix of urgency and seriousness. “Can you tell me how my mother treated Kallie when she was at the mansion?”

The accuracy of Kallie’s troubling account—that she had been made to scrub floors on her knees—depended on whether anyone had witnessed it.

Mateo hesitated, his voice rasping slightly before admitting, “I know.”

“How did my mother treat her?” Jake asked again, pressing for answers.

“Why do you ask?” Mateo responded, his tone curious. “Your grandfather always believed that every action has its reasons. Are you seeking the truth to defend your wife, or to justify your mother?”

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