Chapter 767



Clayton gave her a warm smile before turning to the thieves, his expression hardening. “If I see you causing trouble here again, you won’t get off so easily next time.”

The motorcyclists nodded frantically before speeding off again.

With Clayton’s intimidating bodyguards surrounding him, no one in their right mind would dare defy him.

Kallie frowned, her confusion growing. “Why not just report them? These guys clearly haven’t learned their lesson.”

Clayton exhaled slowly, his tone deliberate. “It’s more complicated than that. They may seem like small-time troublemakers, but they’re connected to gangs in the city. This isn’t Avalon. Things are rougher here. Getting involved could cause more problems, especially with Sophie’s competition so close. We can’t afford any distractions right now.”

Kallie considered his words, nodding. “I understand. Thank you. My handbag has something incredibly important in it. Without your help, who knows what might have happened.”

Before Clayton could respond, Sophie darted over, her face glowing with excitement. “Thank you, Mr. Morgan!” Clayton’s features softened immediately. He knelt slightly and ruffled Sophie’s hair. “No need to thank me. Just focus on doing your best in the competition. I know you’ve got this.”

Sophie grinned and bounced away to rejoin her siblings. As the children laughed and played, Kallie’s smile faded. Her eyes sharpened, and her expression hardened as she turned to Clayton. “Clayton, are you secretly following me?”

The warmth from earlier had vanished, replaced with suspicion. She hadn’t told Clayton about her trip. She hadn’t mentioned Sophie’s competition. And yet, he knew every detail. She was grateful for his help a moment ago, but this was something else entirely. Needless to say, she didn’t like being followed.

Seeing the anger in Kallie’s eyes, Clayton quickly explained, “That’s not what I meant.” He cleared his throat as a slight flush crept up his cheeks. “I know you’ve been going through a lot lately, and I just couldn’t stop worrying about you. That’s all. As for Sophie’s competition, it’s no secret. If I wanted that information, I wouldn’t need to follow you.”

He hesitated, searching her face. “But if I’ve made you uncomfortable, I’ll leave right now.”

Kallie sighed softly, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. The truth was, she had turned Clayton down more times than she could count. Yet, for some reason, he persisted. He wasn’t a bad man. In her eyes, he was kind and thoughtful. But her heart belonged to Jake. Even in death, her feelings wouldn’t change. She couldn’t imagine herself loving anyone else.

Lowering her gaze to hide the emotions flickering in her eyes, Kallie spoke calmly. “Mr. Morgan, I’m sorry if my words were harsh. I didn’t mean to hurt you. There are many wonderful people in this world. You don’t need to waste your time on me.”

“I don’t see that I am wasting my time on pursuing you.”

Clayton opened his mouth, desperate to say something more, but Kallie cut him off with a gentle smile. “For the rest of my life, I only want to watch my children grow up in peace. That’s all I need. I don’t want anything else.” Her voice softened even further. “Please, Mr. Morgan, don’t waste your time on me anymore.”

Clayton’s heart clenched. Bitterness settled deep inside him, but he hid it well, forcing a casual smile. “I understand,” he said lightly, though his voice betrayed a touch of sadness. “I don’t want to cause you any trouble.

When I return home, I’ll follow my family’s wishes and settle down.

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