Chapter 875



Jake nodded weakly, leaning heavily on Lacey for support. As they stumbled out of the cave, the heavens opened, unleashing a torrential downpour. The rainy season was upon them, its arrival heralded by the relentless drumming of raindrops.

Soon, the rain would wash away any evidence of their presence, erasing their footsteps and silencing their whispers. If Jake hadn’t summoned the strength to climb out of that chasm, he would have been swallowed by the earth, his fate forever unknown.

Jake tilted his head back, letting the icy rain wash over him, a baptism of sorts, cleansing him of the past.

“Lacey,” Jake said suddenly, his voice flat, devoid of emotion.

“I’m leaving for overseas soon.”

The message was clear, and Lacey grasped its implications immediately. Her response was swift and earnest.

“I’ll join you, but only if you hold true to our agreement. Once you climb back to the top, you mustn’t forget to pull me up with you.”

Jake’s lips curved into a comforting smile.

“I’ll remember,” he assured her.

Lacey’s eyes lingered on the contours of Jake’s sharply defined profile, her heart pounding with anticipation. She tightened her hold on his arm, feeling the solid warmth of his presence.

Meanwhile, the activities at the foundation had come to a close, yet Kallie had stayed behind. The nagging thought that the man she had brushed shoulders with at the banquet could have been Jake haunted her. The more she mulled over the evening, the more she sensed a discrepancy.

However, the events, as they unfolded, seemed impeccably rational and seamless. She struggled to figure out exactly what piece didn’t sit right. Ultimately, she attributed her suspicion to overwhelming exhaustion from the relentless pace of recent days, convincing herself that she could have mistaken another for Jake during a brief encounter.

Her phone buzzed incessantly, the company’s demands pulling her back. A stack of critical projects awaited her discerning eyes and decisive signature. Moreover, Edgar had mentioned that pressing affairs at the Reeves Group demanded Kallie’s immediate and personal intervention.

After several days apart, Kallie found herself missing her three kids terribly.

Letting out a long sigh, she resolved to book a flight back home. As she navigated to the airline’s website, her phone rang, an unknown number flashing on the screen. With a mix of curiosity and caution, Kallie picked up.

“Hello, who might this be?”

“Kallie, it’s me.” The voice was familiar yet slightly distant.

Pondering for a brief moment, Kallie placed it.

“Miss Payne?”

“Yes. You handed me your business card and mentioned I could call you anytime,” Lacey responded.

Recalling their previous encounter, Kallie replied, “Yes, is everything alright? Do you need help with something?” Kallie had presumed Lacey needed assistance, yet Lacey’s next words took her by surprise.

“There’s no hurry. How about we meet for a coffee instead?”

Since Kallie wasn’t pressed for time, she accepted the invitation.

In the quaint town, coffee shops were few and far between. The only place nearby was a quiet café, its worn exterior giving it a slightly rundown charm. Kallie, unfazed by the aesthetic, picked a quiet corner to sit down.

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