Chapter 885



“Living?” Kallie echoed in shock, itching to ask more, but the pastor had already walked away.

Clayton, who had tagged along, shook his head in disbelief.

“What kind of pastor acts like that? He’s nothing but a sham. You’ve wasted eighty thousand on this farce. I’m calling the police.”

“No,” Kallie interjected firmly, her voice a whisper, as she clutched Clayton’s hand.

Kallie repeated the pastor’s enigmatic hint.

“Living? Jake is still alive. He’s out there, somewhere.”

Clayton tightened his grip on her hand, his denial palpable.

“Kallie, it’s time to face reality. Jake is dead. We both stood over his body; the DNA tests confirmed it.”

As Kallie’s tears streamed down her face, Clayton experienced a surge of compassion but maintained his stance.

“I’ve spared you the harshness of reality, fearing it would shatter you. But this avoidance can’t continue. It’s time we accept the truth and find a way forward.”

Kallie, her composure intact, met Clayton’s gaze. The coldness in her voice was unmistakable as she commanded, “Release my hand.”

Clayton’s jaw clenched in frustration, but he obeyed, letting her hand slip away.

Kallie’s voice softened slightly.

“If he’s out there, my only wish is for his safety. Even if he never comes back to me.”

Her words struck Clayton with profound force. Clayton struggled to fathom the depth of Kallie’s devotion to Jake. Her love was so profound that it ignited a fierce jealousy in him.

Distracted by his own thoughts, Clayton didn’t notice Kallie slip away to seek guidance from other pastors in the area.

Other pastors advised Kallie that true prayer required genuine sincerity. A tall tower loomed ahead, with 810 steps winding to the top. If she could reach the top and fasten a red ribbon, it would allow her to offer a prayer for someone dear.

Aware of Kallie’s resolve, Clayton knew she would attempt the climb, yet he still underestimated the sheer force of her will.

With every step, Kallie knelt and bowed deeply, a solemn expression etched on her face as she ascended the tower.

Clayton kept close behind Kallie, matching her pace. Stubbornness ran in Clayton’s veins. The eight-hundred-step climb was grueling enough, and adding a bow at every step made it almost unthinkable. He bet Kallie’s strength would waver before long, and by then, he’d carry her down.

He doubted Kallie’s unyielding devotion to Jake, refusing to believe her profound love for Jake could actually run this deep despite the passing months and the evidence of Jake’s “demise.”

Watching Kallie’s determined progress, though, Clayton felt a chill wash over him. Halfway up, Kallie was drenched in sweat, blood trickling from a nasty cut on her forehead. Her knees scraped raw, making walking upright nearly impossible. But Kallie pressed on, her jaw clenched in resolve.

When she could no longer stand, she crawled, still pausing to bow despite the bruises blooming across her forehead. Clayton’s eyes turned red, a mix of worry and exasperation knotting in his chest.

“Kallie, why are you doing this?”

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