Chapter 98



“Did I hurt you?” Jake asked.

Kallie curled up tightly, assuming a defensive posture to keep Jake at bay.

Jake’s concern deepened. “Why are you being like this? Are you hurt?”

After feeling her abdomen and realizing she was fine, Kallie began to relax. She avoided Jake’s gaze and gestured that it was just her period.

Jake’s laugh was sharp and dismissive as he grabbed her chin. “If you don’t want me to touch you, just say it. I probably know your cycle better than you. Do you think you can fool me with that?”

A mix of anger and shame colored Kallie’s cheeks. How had Jake become so knowledgeable about her? It seemed impossible.

Kallie pondered over this briefly, which Jake interpreted as her deceit being uncovered. His glare was menacing, causing Kallie to recoil further into the bed.

Jake pulled her close, their closeness evident while his words remained icy. “You’ve become a liar. I won’t allow you to be on your own. I’ll speak to Eastonville University. You’re coming back with me today.”

Go back with him? Kallie’s eyes widened in shock. Pushing past her discomfort, she swiftly signed that she wouldn’t go back with him since she had made a commitment to someone else. She stressed that he didn’t get to dictate her life like that.

Jake sneered, “Consider this a consequence of your deceit. If you’re not keen on going back, then confess why you lied. Do you despise me so much that my touch repels you, or is there someone else in the picture? Was it Ethan who instilled the divorce in your mind?”

As Jake’s accusations intensified, Kallie transitioned from anger to deep hurt. She fixed him with a defiant stare. Why? She was carrying his child, yet here he was, hurling baseless accusations, completely oblivious to her condition.

Witnessing the sorrow in Kallie’s eyes, Jake’s stream of accusations began to falter, his own heart sinking with displeasure.

A heavy silence settled between them.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kallie noticed Jake on his phone, booking first-class tickets for their return.

Unable to contain her frustration any longer, she leaped out of bed, swung her hotel room door wide open, and gestured vehemently toward the hallway, urging him to leave.

Jake stood motionless, his face etched with frost. “Is that truly what you desire?”

Kallie signed sharply, reminding him that they were getting divorced and her actions were no longer his concern.

As Jake’s eyes narrowed dangerously, he reached out and clasped her wrist tightly.

He opened his mouth to respond but halted abruptly at the sight of Ethan emerging from the elevator, gift box in hand, making his way toward Kallie’s hotel room.

Ethan had not anticipated that the door would be open. He paused upon spotting Jake and Kallie in the doorway.

The warmth drained from Ethan’s eyes the moment he saw Jake.

Kallie, detecting Jake’s burning fury, glanced over to find Ethan standing there. She instinctively tried to pull away from Jake’s grip.

But Jake, instead of releasing her, tightened his hold and drew her in closer.

Mute, Kallie struggled, her actions screaming resistance, yet she was no match for Jake’s strength.

Jake clung to Kallie firmly, smirking provocatively at Ethan.

Ethan, unable to contain himself, stepped forward with a steely look. “Let her go. Don’t you see Kallie doesn’t want this?”

Jake’s reply was unnervingly calm. “Her willingness is irrelevant. I’m her husband. Who else would know her better than I do?”

Ethan balled his fists, his stance defensive for Kallie.

“If you genuinely cared about Kallie, I’d have nothing but good wishes for you. But seeing how you treat her, parading with a mistress… I thought Sarah was the one without shame, but today, it’s clear you outmatch her completely in shamelessness.”

Panic fluttered in Kallie’s chest. She tried to intervene to prevent Ethan from worsening things. Everyone knew that Sarah held a special place in Jake’s heart.

Jake’s face hardened, his voice slicing through the air. “It appears you’ve got too much idle time, meddling in affairs that don’t concern you. Whatever issues Kallie and I have, they are ours to settle. We don’t need input from an outsider.”

Ethan inhaled deeply, his frustration palpable. He glanced over at Kallie, who was still in Jake’s embrace. “Come, Kallie. Let’s go to Linsey,” he suggested.

Kallie instinctively squirmed, attempting to escape Jake’s hold.

Jake’s grip tightened.

A sharp hiss escaped Kallie’s lips. The pain was evident. She couldn’t shout, but tears welled up in her eyes.

Jake’s tone grew colder. “Tonight, I’ll be at the hotel with my wife. I trust you won’t be a bother, will you?”

His words struck harshly.

Ethan clenched his fists in frustration.

Seizing the moment Jake was distracted, Kallie wiggled free at last. She turned to Ethan, her gestures saying, “Don’t worry about me. You should get some rest.”

But Ethan was resolute. “Kallie, you don’t want to be alone with him, do you? Don’t be afraid. I’m here to protect you. He lost any right to keep you after what he’s done.”

Kallie kept shaking her head.

The hope in Ethan’s eyes dimmed. He read her clear refusal. She wouldn’t leave with him, and she was rejecting him.

Ethan gripped the gift box tightly and managed a forced smile as he extended the gift box toward Kallie. “I brought you some of your favorite fruits. Rest up, okay? And remember, if you need anything at all, just give me a call.”

Before Kallie could take the box, Jake intervened. With a swift motion, he grabbed it and tossed it into the nearest trash can.

Jake’s face was expressionless, his gaze unreadable.

“She’s fine. You can leave now.”

Ethan bit back his anger and stormed out, frustration evident in his stride.

Kallie turned to face Jake, her expression just as icy. Her gestures said, “I don’t want to share a room with you tonight. I need some peace, and Sarah might stop by. You’d only disturb my rest.”

Jake’s irritation flared as he snapped back, “What’s really bothering you, Kallie? Worried I’ll interrupt your sleep, or scared you’ll miss another chance to see Ethan?”

Jake reached out, gripping her shoulder with firmness that bordered on painful. “We’re still married, Kallie. Don’t you think it’s a bit soon for you to be getting so close to Ethan?”

Kallie had a comeback about his own closeness to Sarah ready, but the words died in her throat. Arguing seemed pointless. With Jake, it never felt like a fair fight. She always seemed indebted to him and the Reeves family in some way. And perhaps she was.

A heavy sadness settled in Kallie’s chest, forming a tight knot she couldn’t swallow away.

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