Chapter 744



“Jake!” Kallie cried out in despair, desperate to dive in after him. Clayton caught her hand, his face lined with worry.

“Kallie, you can’t jump in. It’s too dangerous.”

Ignoring his plea, Kallie shouted, “Please, I need to save him! Call for help, now!”

Clayton resolved himself and pointed to the two frightened children. “Kallie, think for a moment. Your children are right here. What will happen to them if something happens to you?”

Kallie turned to see Sophie holding Elma. Elma’s eyes were dull and swollen from crying, and she seemed oblivious to the surrounding chaos. Sophie had just seen Jake disappear into the river’s depths, her tears flowing freely.

Clayton pulled Kallie to her feet firmly. “I’ll find someone to look for him, but you can’t rush into danger. You need to come back with me. I have something crucial to tell you.”

Kallie, now somewhat calmer but still shaking, shook her head stubbornly. “I won’t be reckless, but I need to stay here. I must wait for Jake to return.”

Pain flashed in Clayton’s eyes. “Is he truly that significant to you? Kallie, try to think clearly. Even if Jake seems indifferent toward my sister now, think about it. Why would they have given birth to Elma if there were no feelings? How can you be sure that Jake didn’t choose to go into the water with Cara, like some suicide attempt for love?”

Kallie shut her eyes, overwhelmed by pain, and whispered, “Stop it. I don’t want to hear it.”

Holding Kallie’s hand tenderly, Clayton said, “Just accept it, Kallie. Jake has moved on. Chasing after a man who doesn’t love you anymore means you’re not the Kallie I once knew. Let’s go.”

Kallie hesitated as she processed his words.

Just then, Sophie’s voice pierced the air with clarity. “No, it’s not like that! Mom, my dad did nothing wrong. Elma isn’t his child with that wicked woman.”

Upon hearing this, Clayton and Kallie both turned their gaze toward Sophie.

Sophie looked disheveled, one side of her face still swollen, clearly having endured much. She held back her tears and pulled Elma along. She gently nudged Elma toward Kallie. “Mom, Elma’s actually Chloe. I heard Cara say it. Cara mentioned having given Elma a potion to stunt her growth, and that’s why Elma and Calvin appear different in age. Cara said that solely because she had no desire to let me survive today. She forced you to choose between Elma and me and figured you would definitely choose me over Elma. She had planned to tell you Elma is actually your daughter after Elma’s demise, ensuring you broke down because of her revelation. Even if you chose to save me, Cara never intended to keep me alive.”

Sophie inherited Jake’s intelligence and his calm. In such a trying moment, her thoughts remained clear.

A wave of disbelief and fear crashed over Kallie. It became clear why Cara had been in no hurry to let Sophie fall into the river when she chose Elma. Cara’s plan was for Kallie to experience the agony of losing two children in a single day.

“My child, my Chloe?” Kallie gasped, reaching out to Elma, her hands trembling.

Elma looked on, bewildered, not fully grasping the situation.

Kallie embraced Elma tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. “Sweetheart, it’s me, your mom. I’m so sorry. How did I fail to see what was amiss sooner?”

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